Rotator Cuff Tears and SLAP Tears

Rotator Cuff Tears and SLAP Tears services offered in Los Angeles, CA

Rotator cuff tears and SLAP tears are some of the most common shoulder injuries, sending millions of Americans to the doctor each year. At Keck Medicine of USC, Orthopaedic Surgery, in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, orthopaedic and sports medicine specialist George Hatch, MD, has years of experience diagnosing and treating rotator cuff and SLAP tears. Dr. Hatch takes a conservative, patient-centered treatment approach that eases pain and promotes healing. Call Keck Medicine of USC, Orthopaedic Surgery, today to schedule rotator cuff or SLAP tear treatment or book an appointment online.

What are rotator cuff tears and SLAP tears?

Rotator cuff tears and SLAP tears are common shoulder injuries. Though often mentioned together, they aren’t the same:

Rotator cuff tear

This injury tears your rotator cuff, a complex of muscles, tendons, and other tissues surrounding your shoulder joint that enables you to lift and move your arms. Rotator cuff tears vary in severity. You can experience a partial tear, where the tendon still attaches to the arm bone, or a complete tear, where the tendon separates entirely from the bone.

SLAP tear

This injury, also called a labrum tear, damages the cartilage inside the shoulder joint. Your labrum connects your shoulder blade to your bicep tendons and cushions your upper arm bone. Damage to it causes pain and affects your shoulder’s mobility.

What are the symptoms of rotator cuff and SLAP tears?

Rotator cuff and SLAP tears present various symptoms, including:

Shoulder pain
Shoulder weakness
Dull, sharp ache deep in your shoulder
Difficulty raising your arm or lifting objects above your head
Popping, clicking, or cracking noises

Anyone can experience a rotator cuff or SLAP tear, but they’re particularly common in folks with bicep tendinitis (tendon inflammation) and tendinopathy.

How are rotator cuff tears and SLAP tears diagnosed?

Dr. Hatch reviews your medical records and asks about your symptoms. He’ll want to know when the pain started, what it feels like, and if activities like bathing or combing your hair make it worse. He then examines your shoulder, checking for bruising, redness, and swelling. Dr. Hatch gently presses on your shoulder to identify sensitive spots and assesses your range of motion.

Last, Dr. Hatch orders diagnostic imaging (X-rays or an MRI). These procedures let him look for tendon tears and other problems like bone spurs or a dislocated joint.

How are rotator cuff tears and SLAP tears treated?

At Keck Medicine of USC, Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr. Hatch takes a conservative, patient-centered approach to treating rotator cuff and SLAP tears. He could suggest:

Wearing an arm sling to promote healing
Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Physical therapy
Corticosteroid injections
OrthoBiologic treatments (for example, platelet-rich plasma)

If your symptoms continue or get worse after these treatments, Dr. Hatch could recommend surgery. During surgery, he repairs the damaged tendon or cartilage, relieving pain and restoring your shoulder’s range of motion.

Call Keck Medicine of USC, Orthopaedic Surgery, today to schedule rotator cuff tear or SLAP tear treatment, or book your appointment online.