Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
With the advancement of science and technology, a procedure called arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is a minimally invasive technique compared with the conventional rotator cuff repair procedure used in the past.
Also called shoulder arthroscopy, it is a valuable way to treat rotator cuff tears. Experienced surgeons can evaluate the entire shoulder joint and fix tears through very small incisions using specially-designed instruments and devices. Large tears are particularly appropriate to arthroscopic repair because of the ability to visualize and access to the tear.
To restore normal and painless motion and full strength to the affected shoulder, the following repairs are used:
- Débridement – where the rotator cuff tear is identified and loose, degenerated, and frayed tissue around the cuff edge is removed back to healthy tissue.
- Mobilization – where the edge of the cuff tear is brought back to its normal position without undue tension. In larger tears, a technique called margin convergence is used.
- Suture Anchors – when the tear is fixed into place using specially-designed devices that secure the cuff tear to the bone.
Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is performed in one of the two following ways.
ALL-ARTHROSCOPIC REPAIR
An arthroscope is a miniature camera your surgeon places into the joint of your shoulder during the repair. Your doctor creates a slight incision and guides the camera into the effected joint of your shoulder. The camera transfers images of your shoulder onto a video monitor. This allows your doctor a reference while guiding the small-scale surgical instruments designed specifically for this procedure. The arthroscope also increases the doctor’s ability to view the shoulder in significant detail while the repair is taking place. Arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs use small incisions versus the larger openings required for the conventional rotator cuff repair, makes this a preferred procedure for patients.
MINI-OPEN ARTHROSCOPIC ROTATOR CUFF REPAIR
A mini-open repair procedure also uses newer technology and instruments to perform a repair through a small incision. During a mini-open repair, the surgeon views the tendons of the shoulder directly and does not use a video monitor or screen.
This procedure provides the doctor the opportunity to evaluate additional damage in surrounding areas. Once the arthroscopic portion of the procedure is completed, the surgeon repairs the rotator cuff through the mini-open incision. During the tendon repair, the surgeon views the shoulder structures directly, rather than through the video monitor.

All surgical rotator cuff repairs report comparable outcomes relative to pain, functional strength improvement and overall satisfaction. Arthroscopic repair is typically performed as an outpatient procedure, with following associated benefits:
- Less anesthesia
- Lower chance of infection
- Outpatient versus hospital procedure
- Quicker recovery
- Reduced pain associated with recovery
- Reduced scarring
- Smaller amount of damage to soft tissue and muscles
- Smaller incisions
Whatever your rotator cuff repair choice, it is critical that you select a surgeon who is experienced with the type of procedure, are familiar with the various techniques and instruments and who perform this surgery often. The following doctors at Florida Orthopaedic Institute specialize in arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs.
Areas of Focus
- Shoulder
- Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
- Bankart Repair
- Bicep Tendon Tear
- Bicep Tenodesis
- Bioinductive Implant
- Broken Collarbone
- Bursitis of the Shoulder (Subacromial Bursitis)
- Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Fractures Of The Shoulder Blade (Scapula)
- Glenoid Labrum Tear
- Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) of the Shoulder
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Shoulder Replacement
- Shoulder Socket Fracture (Glenoid Fracture)
- SLAP Tears & Repairs
The following Florida Orthopaedic Institute physicians specialize in Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair:
Specialties
- Achilles Tendinitis - Achilles Insertional Calcific Tendinopathy (ACIT)
- Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Achilles Tendonitis
- ACL Injuries
- ALIF: Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery
- Ankle Fracture Surgery
- Ankle Fractures (Broken Ankle)
- Ankle Fusion
- Arthritis & Adult Reconstruction Surgery
- Arthroscopic Chondroplasty
- Arthroscopic Debridement of the Elbow
- Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
- Artificial Disc Replacement (ADR)
- Aspiration of the Olecranon Bursa
- Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)
- Back Surgery Types
- Bankart Repair
- Basal Joint Surgery
- Bicep Tendon Tear
- Bicep Tenodesis
- Bioinductive Implant
- Broken Collarbone
- Bunions
- Bursitis of the Shoulder (Subacromial Bursitis)
- Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- CARTIVA® Implant For Big Toe Joint Arthritis
- Charcot Joint
- Chiropractic
- Colles’ Fractures (Broken Wrist)
- Community Outreach
- ConforMIS Knee Replacement
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH)
- Discitis
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Dupuytren’s Disease
- Elbow
- Elbow Bursitis
- Elbow Injuries in Throwing Athletes
- Epidural Injections for Spinal Pain
- Finger Dislocation
- Flexor Tendonitis
- Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg
- Fractures Of The Shoulder Blade (Scapula)
- Fractures Of The Tibial Spine
- Functional Nerve Transfers of The Hand
- Ganglion Cysts
- General Orthopedics
- Glenoid Labrum Tear
- Golfer's Elbow
- Growth Plate Injuries Of The Elbow
- Hallux Rigidus - Cheilectomy
- Hand & Finger Replantation
- Hand & Upper Extremity
- Hand & Wrist
- Hand Nerve Decompression
- Hand Skin Grafts
- Hip & Thigh
- Hip Arthroscopy
- Hip Dislocation
- Hip Flexor Strains
- Hip Fractures
- Hip Hemiarthroplasty
- Hip Muscle Strains
- Hyperextension Injury of the Elbow
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome
- Interventional Pain Management
- Interventional Spine
- Intraarticular Calcaneal Fracture
- Knee & Leg
- Kyphosis
- Labral Tears Of The Hip (Acetabular Labrum Tears)
- Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injuries
- Lisfranc Injuries
- LITTLE LEAGUER'S ELBOW (MEDIAL APOPHYSITIS)
- MACI
- MAKO Knee Replacement Surgery
- MAKO Total Hip Replacement
- Mallet, Hammer & Claw Toes
- Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries
- Meniscus Tears
- Metatarsalgia
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Muscle Spasms
- NAVIO Surgical System
- Nerve Pain
- Neuromas (Foot)
- Olecranon Stress Fractures
- Orthopaedic Total Wellness
- Orthopedic Trauma
- Osteoarthritis of the Hip
- Osteoporosis
- Outpatient Spine Surgery
- Partial Knee Replacement
- Patellar Fracture
- Pelvic Ring Fractures
- Peripheral Nerve Surgery (Hand) Revision
- Pinched Nerve
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Podiatrist or Orthopaedic Physician?
- Primary Care Orthopedics Sports Medicine
- PROstep™ Minimally Invasive Surgery for Bunions
- Quadriceps Tendon Tear
- Revascularization of the Hand
- Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
- Revision Knee Surgery
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) of the Shoulder
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Of The Hand
- Robotics
- ROSA® Knee Robotic Surgical Assistant
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Senior Strong
- Shin Splints
- Shoulder
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Shoulder Replacement
- Shoulder Socket Fracture (Glenoid Fracture)
- SLAP Tears & Repairs
- Spinal Fusion
- Spine
- Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis
- Sports Hernias (Athletic Pubalgia)
- Sports Medicine
- Sprained Ankle
- Sudden (Acute) Finger, Hand & Wrist Injuries
- Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR)
- Tendon Transfers of The Hand
- Tennis Elbow
- Thigh Fractures
- Thigh Muscle Strains
- Total Ankle Replacement
- Total Hip Arthroplasty
- Total Hip Replacement - Anterior Approach
- Total Knee Replacement
- Triceps Tendonitis
- Trigger Finger
- UCL (Ulnar Collateral Ligament) Injuries
- Ulnar Neuritis
- Valgus Extension Overload
- Verilast
- Vertebroplasty
- WALANT (Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet)
- Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD)
- Wrist Arthroscopy
- Wrist Fractures
- Wrist Sprains
- Wrist Tendonitis