Surgery For The Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

And Rotator Cuff Tears

 

 

The outcome

 

Driving should wait until the patient can perform the necessary functions comfortably and confidently. This obviously depends on whether the car is automatic or manual. I will be delayed if the surgery was on the left shoulder because of the increased demands of changing gears.

A steering knob an be added to the car to aid in early return to driving.

You may return to activities such as

• golf -putting at six weeks

• Golf driving at three months

• over arm swimming, and tennis at six months after their surgery.

Patients should avoid activities that involve major impact (chopping wood, contact sports, sports with major risk of falls) or heavy loads (lifting of heavy weights, heavy resistance exercises). These activities may increase the chance of repeat rotator cuff tear. You may in the long term return to some of these activities but it is not unusual for it to take 18months before you have made a complete recovery from surgery. 

In summary

Rotator cuff surgery can be a most effective method for restoring comfort and function to shoulders with rotator cuff tears in a healthy and motivated patient. 

The outcome of the surgery has many different factors. These would include:

• The size of the tear

• The age of the tear

• Acute large tear ideally are best repaired within thee months

• Chronic large tear have a very poor prognosis after two years

• The quality of the tendon itself

• acute tears may be good and strong

• old tears in elderly people may be (but are no necessarily) very frail

• Complying with the rehabilitation plan

As the full  recovery may take up to 18 months, a  persistent rehabilitation efforts will help assure the best possible result for you.

 

 

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