Shoulder Tears
The most important symptom of shoulder tears is pain. In diagnosis, imaging methods such as X-ray and MRI are used in addition to physical examination. The most appropriate treatment is determined depending on the degree of tear along with the patient's general health condition.
What is a Shoulder Tear?
A shoulder tear can be defined as the tearing of the muscles that cover the joint bones in the shoulder.
How Does a Shoulder Tear Occur?
Shoulder tears occur as a result of sports injuries in young people, while in advanced ages, they generally occur spontaneously. Those who are involved in sports among young people are at risk. They are more common in patients who use their hands to make movements above their head, diabetic patients, and the elderly.
What are the Symptoms of Shoulder Tears?
Clinically, it is usually characterized by pain that strikes the outside of the arm, but the pain can extend from ear level to fingertips. Usually, the most important finding that leads patients with tears to the doctor is nighttime pain. These patients feel severe pain, especially when they lie on their shoulders. In addition to this, the disease manifests itself with complaints of limited joint movements and pain, such as difficulty lifting the arm, inability to lift the arm, and difficulty in retracting the arm.
How is a Shoulder Tear Diagnosed?
During the initial evaluation, the patient's age, job status, how much they use their hand, and accompanying diseases should be evaluated first. Radiological tests such as X-ray and MRI are used to diagnose when necessary after evaluation.
How is a Shoulder Tear Treated?
In patients with detected tears in the shoulder, conservative treatments are applied first. These generally consist of rest, painkillers, and physical therapy in the first place. In the later period, if patients complaints do not improve with these, injection therapies and surgery are recommended.
The surgery is performed as closed surgery. Patients are discharged from the hospital the next day after staying in the hospital on the same day. Afterwards, physical therapy is applied. It takes about 2-2.5 months for patients to return to work. The results have a success rate of 80-85%.
