{"id":842,"date":"2023-06-02T18:50:43","date_gmt":"2023-06-02T15:50:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drgpanagopoulos.com\/?page_id=842"},"modified":"2026-03-09T13:20:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T11:20:20","slug":"rixi-strofikou-petalou","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/drgpanagopoulos.com\/en\/rixi-strofikou-petalou\/","title":{"rendered":"Rotator cuff tears"},"content":{"rendered":"

Georgios Panagopoulos MD | Orthopaedic Surgeon<\/p>\n\n\n

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Rotator cuff tears<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\u03a1\u03ae\u03be\u03b7<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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A rotator cuff tear<\/strong> is a condition in which one or more tendons of the rotator cuff in the shoulder are partially or completely torn<\/strong>.\nThe rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and tendons that stabilize the shoulder joint and allow the arm to lift and rotate.\nRotator cuff tears may develop gradually over time due to wear and degeneration<\/strong> or occur suddenly after an injury<\/strong>.\nThey can cause shoulder pain, weakness, and reduced ability to move the arm, especially during overhead activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Key takeaways at a glance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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What's the rotator cuff?<\/strong><\/div>\n
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The rotator cuff is a group of tendons that stabilize the shoulder and allow lifting and rotation of the arm.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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What causes cuff tears?<\/strong><\/div>\n
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Rotator cuff tears can develop gradually due to wear and degeneration or suddenly after injury.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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What are the symptoms?<\/strong><\/div>\n
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Common symptoms include shoulder pain, weakness, reduced range of motion, and difficulty with overhead activities or sleeping on the affected side.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Is surgery always needed?<\/strong><\/div>\n
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Not all rotator cuff tears require surgery; many patients improve with physiotherapy, activity modification, and targeted treatments.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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How is it diagnosed?<\/strong><\/div>\n
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Early diagnosis with clinical examination and imaging (such as ultrasound or MRI) is important to guide appropriate treatment.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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When do I need surgery?<\/strong><\/div>\n
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Surgical repair may be recommended for full-thickness tears, persistent symptoms, or loss of shoulder function.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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What's the benefit of arthroscopy?<\/strong><\/div>\n
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Arthroscopic (keyhole) surgery allows tendon repair with minimal soft-tissue disruption and faster recovery.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Table of contents<\/strong><\/p>