Author: University of Washington Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Seattle, WA 2008-08-13
Shoulder rotator cuff tear arthropathy treatment with shoulder replacement surgery Rotator cuff tear arthropathy (arthritis with a massive rotator cuff tear) is a devastating condition that seriously compromises the comfort and function of the shoulder. This condition is characterized by the permanent loss of the rotator cuff tendons and the normal surface of the shoulder joint. These tissues cannot be restored to their normal condition and the lost comfort and function of the shoulder cannot be totally regained. However, in the hands of an experienced surgeon and in a well-motivated individual, shoulder replacement surgery with a cuff tear arthropathy (CTA) head prosthesis along with post-surgical rehabilitation can help restore substantial comfort and function to shoulders damaged by cuff tear arthropathy.