Rotator cuff repair

1. Infection after shoulder arthroscopy is rare but does occur. If it happens, there is often a need for further surgery to eradicate the infection and it can require up to 6 weeks of IV antibiotics. 2. Stiffness can occur after rotator cuff repair and can at times require further surgery in order to regain motion. Rehabilitation is clearly a balance between keeping the shoulder still to protect the repair and getting the shoulder moving to avoid undue stiffness. The size of the tear will often dictate how early you can begin moving the shoulder after surgery. 3. Neurovascular injury can occur during any arthroscopic intervention. It can lead to temporary or permanent numbness and/or weakness in the involved extremity. Fortunately, this is a rare phenomenon after arthroscopy. 4. Not all tears are repairable. In some situations the chronic of the tear and degree of atrophy/retraction make the rotator cuff un-repairable. Often, patients with a incomplete repair will still realize some improvement after surgery. Their pain at rest and at night may diminish, but return of function and strength may not be as complete as they anticipated. 5. Anesthesia risks are always a concern with any surgical intervention. Your risk with anesthesia is closely tied to your overall medical health. The anesthesia staff will give you a better sense of what your anesthetic choices are and the inherent risks of each.