If you are young and there is a complete torn rotator cuff muscle or tendon, then Surgery is the best option.
How does one know if there is a complete tear?
The only way is to have either an MRI or US scan, both of these will show rotator cuff tears.
Rotator cuff radiography will not show tears of the muscles or tendons.
If a rotator cuff tendon has been torn completely, it usually will not heal fully without surgery. To go ahead with surgery will depend on several factors.
The person's age and general health comes first, then the extent of the injury and if the injury is to the person's dominant side and how much the tear affects use of the shoulder.
It is best if the operation is within three months of the injury.
A healthy rotator cuff that has been torn as the result of an acute injury, is the ideal for surgery, however one torn as the result of chronic shoulder impingement and has not responded to nonsurgical treatments is also a candidate.
Age need not determine whether someone is a good case for surgical repair of a torn rotator cuff but, if the injury affects the non-dominant arm, surgery may not be recommended.
If the muscle or tendon has been torn for some time, the damaged tissue retracts making the gap between the ends too far apart making it impossible to join them.
After surgery Physical Therapy is required during the recovery process. At this stage it is important to only do the exercises the surgeon designates. Over stretching tendons too soon will make them too loose later.
The idea situation is to get early treatment to any rotator cuff injury before there is any tear. Small rotator cuff injuries can lead to an impinged shoulder and on to a tear.
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