Rotator Cuff Surgery: Any that failed?

[planuntilthefisthits]

Just a few weeks past my shoulder surgery which involved repairing two rotator cuff tendons and re-attaching my dislocated biceps tendon that was tearing into a rotator tendon.

Question for any of you folks that have had this type of surgery or perform these: Did anyone have a repair that failed, e.g., detached? If so, what happened?

Not looking forward to the process of regaining ROM, as the rehab I had on my other arm was grueling....

Thanks!

PS: Here is an article on failed cuff repairs: Failed Rotator Cuff Repairs

 

[levindb]

DW had shoulder surgery in 2018, and the doctor was planning on a cadaver graft due to the amount of repair needed. Once inside, he found enough good tissue to reconnect tendons using her own muscles, a few pins, and some surgical thread.

To help with the healing, she had 30 days of NO MOVEMENT, She just carried around her arm in a sling. The next 30 days, the PT consisted of her letting someone else move her arm. The next 30 days, she had to move her own arm in PT sessions...no riding a bicycle for a year...in fact a year before normal activities.

It was frustrating at time, but she worked hard to move her arm to get her range of motion back...and would use a hot room (sauna or Bikram Yoga) to do stretching.

Net, the surgery is a significant event, but exercise before the surgery to build up muscles, and the PT afterwards are so important in the success of shoulder repair, please do not focus on just the surgery itself.

 

[wrigley]

Wife just has her rotator cuff surgery last Thurs 5/8. 4 anchors with numerous tear repairs and she also has bicep reattachment to go along with everything else. No shoulder movement of any kind for one month. The long road to recovery has begun. A lot of people put this surgery off until they absolutely have to have it because of the long recovery time. We were able to remove the bandages on Sunday and she was able to shower so that made her happy for now.

 

[Aerides]

They do fail, but if you've recently had surgery (I think that's what you are saying) and are following your surgeon's directions, stay positive and stop reading about them.

 

[Looking4Ward]

Had rotator cuff surgery and bicep tenodesis on my left shoulder six years ago. It was close to 4 months before I had full ROM and no pain.

Then had rotator cuff surgery and bicep tenodesis on my right shoulder four years ago. Pain free and full ROM restored in less than a month. We attributed that to a plasma injection the surgeon performed before finishing up.

No complications with either shoulder ever since.

 

[skyking1]

I've had both shoulders repaired. The first one there was sufficient tissue to put me back together great. That shoulder has great ROM and decent strength.
The other shoulder was a bad tear, and no way could she get it back together without a graft. She knew that going in and had donor tissue there, but she took a whole lot of pictures and one of them was the old college try to pull that one together.
That shoulder has good ROM but not the horsepower of the other one.
Just do as you are instructed and be careful during the recovery process.

 

[planuntilthefisthits]

Had rotator cuff surgery and bicep tenodesis on my left shoulder six years ago. It was close to 4 months before I had full ROM and no pain.

Then had rotator cuff surgery and bicep tenodesis on my right shoulder four years ago. Pain free and full ROM restored in less than a month. We attributed that to a plasma injection the surgeon performed before finishing up.

No complications with either shoulder ever since.

Wow about the plasma therapy. Where did you have this done?

 

[YellowSubmarine]

Just a few weeks past my shoulder surgery which involved repairing two rotator cuff tendons and re-attaching my dislocated biceps tendon that was tearing into a rotator tendon.

Question for any of you folks that have had this type of surgery or perform these: Did anyone have a repair that failed, e.g., detached? If so, what happened?

Not looking forward to the process of regaining ROM, as the rehab I had on my other arm was grueling....

Thanks!

PS: Here is an article on failed cuff repairs: Failed Rotator Cuff Repairs

It takes time to heal. If the Doc says you will be good in three months...give it 15 months. (my experience from back lumbar and knee surgery -years apart). Also get PT as soon as permitted.

 

[skyking1]

Oh and what @Aerides said. Nobody talks about the vast majority of successful surgeries like all of the ones I have had over the years.
They heal up and move on.

 

[molly312]

Just a few weeks past my shoulder surgery which involved repairing two rotator cuff tendons and re-attaching my dislocated biceps tendon that was tearing into a rotator tendon.

Question for any of you folks that have had this type of surgery or perform these: Did anyone have a repair that failed, e.g., detached? If so, what happened?

Not looking forward to the process of regaining ROM, as the rehab I had on my other arm was grueling....

Thanks!

PS: Here is an article on failed cuff repairs: Failed Rotator Cuff Repairs

Yes, I had rotator cuff surgery with a graft. It was complicated and after nearly 6 months of PT I quit and so did my PT. I cannot lift my arm higher about than 5 inches below my ear. However, I don't have pain anymore. I am 78 and both shoulders have had rotator cuff repair. 1st one is ok now. My right shoulder is the problem and shoulder replacement has been suggested. There are certain things I cannnot safely do ex: life a hot dish out of the oven. However, I am stopping here. As long as I can no sleep with no pain, I can make accommodations for my bum arm. I am 78 and don't intend to play golf again. I am done with Rotator Cuff.

 

[planuntilthefisthits]

Yes, I had rotator cuff surgery with a graft. It was complicated and after nearly 6 months of PT I quit and so did my PT. I cannot lift my arm higher about than 5 inches below my ear. However, I don't have pain anymore. I am 78 and both shoulders have had rotator cuff repair. 1st one is ok now. My right shoulder is the problem and shoulder replacement has been suggested. There are certain things I cannnot safely do ex: life a hot dish out of the oven. However, I am stopping here. As long as I can no sleep with no pain, I can make accommodations for my bum arm. I am 78 and don't intend to play golf again. I am done with Rotator Cuff.

Sorry to hear that your surgery result. Did any of your providers scan you post-surgery and detect a failure?

 

[Looking4Ward]

Wow about the plasma therapy. Where did you have this done?

It's something the ortho surgeon did during the surgery. I had full thickness tears on both shoulders, and the right one healed much faster than the left. The only difference was the plasma injection. My PT was amazed at the progress and when he looked into the surgery records and saw there had been a plasma injection, his only comment was "Ah! That's why!"

Studies do seem to question the efficacy, though:

Does platelet-rich plasma accelerate recovery after rotator cuff repair? A prospective cohort study - PubMed

The results suggest that PRP application during arthroscopic rotator cuff repair did not clearly demonstrate accelerated recovery clinically or anatomically except for an improvement in internal rotation. Nevertheless, as the study may have been underpowered to detect clinically important...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[bfc]

Just a few weeks past my shoulder surgery which involved repairing two rotator cuff tendons and re-attaching my dislocated biceps tendon that was tearing into a rotator tendon.

Question for any of you folks that have had this type of surgery or perform these: Did anyone have a repair that failed, e.g., detached? If so, what happened?

Not looking forward to the process of regaining ROM, as the rehab I had on my other arm was grueling....

Thanks!

PS: Here is an article on failed cuff repairs: Failed Rotator Cuff Repairs

18 years ago the Surgeon said "you don't have a large tear, nor a big tear, but you have a massive tear"! I had surgery and the surgeon said it should be good for at least 15 years or more. I'm still going 18 yrs later. ROM is still good although my shoulder is a little weak when lifting something over my head. I do not think I would want to go through the surgery and long rehab again, but you do have to do the rehab after surgery. At least it all worked for me.

Good luck and take care!

 

[ApeX]

Yes, they can certainly fail. Any surgery can fail. But yes, the shoulder is complex and the repair(s) can certainly fail.

Options become limited in that scenario - many end up with a shoulder replacement (usually a reverse secondary to RTC insufficiency) at some point.

Luckily, failures are relatively rare. Follow your (carefully researched) surgeon's protocol, be patient and find an excellent ortho PT.

Good luck.

 

[skyking1]

I put my two shoulder repairs to the test over the long weekend, working overhead all day. The massive tear of my dominant hand fared very well, because I forced the stupid hand to drive 90% of the screws. That extra 2 pounds at the end of my arm all day is not good on the smart hand, but the dumb one is learning.

 

[planuntilthefisthits]

18 years ago the Surgeon said "you don't have a large tear, nor a big tear, but you have a massive tear"! I had surgery and the surgeon said it should be good for at least 15 years or more. I'm still going 18 yrs later. ROM is still good although my shoulder is a little weak when lifting something over my head. I do not think I would want to go through the surgery and long rehab again, but you do have to do the rehab after surgery. At least it all worked for me.

Good luck and take care!

Thanks! I'm four weeks post-surgery and my PT is pleased with my progress!

 

[planuntilthefisthits]

Yes, they can certainly fail. Any surgery can fail. But yes, the shoulder is complex and the repair(s) can certainly fail.

Options become limited in that scenario - many end up with a shoulder replacement (usually a reverse secondary to RTC insufficiency) at some point.

Luckily, failures are relatively rare. Follow your (carefully researched) surgeon's protocol, be patient and find an excellent ortho PT.

Good luck.

Thank you!

 

[KarenF]

I had rotator cuff surgery in 2011 and the rehab and recovery took 11 months. It worked though. I still do my shoulder exercises (both shoulders) and have full shoulder mobility.

 

[steady saver]

It's something the ortho surgeon did during the surgery. I had full thickness tears on both shoulders, and the right one healed much faster than the left. The only difference was the plasma injection. My PT was amazed at the progress and when he looked into the surgery records and saw there had been a plasma injection, his only comment was "Ah! That's why!"

Studies do seem to question the efficacy, though:

Does platelet-rich plasma accelerate recovery after rotator cuff repair? A prospective cohort study - PubMed

The results suggest that PRP application during arthroscopic rotator cuff repair did not clearly demonstrate accelerated recovery clinically or anatomically except for an improvement in internal rotation. Nevertheless, as the study may have been underpowered to detect clinically important...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

FWIW, I had PRP on my knee to avoid surgery about 5 years ago. It was still in its infancy stage and I ended up having it done 3 separate times, each one a little more concentrated with the plasma. The pain and swelling in my knee dissipated and I avoided surgery. It was nothing short of amazing in my book. I'm 5 years older and sometimes my knees (both of them) feel a bit stiff going down the stairs in the morning (arthritis). But never any swelling (Baker's cyst) and the meniscus is healed.

My sister needs rotator cuff surgery and I'm going to tell her she might ask about PRP. Thanks for the heads up.