Supraspinatus re-tear

[MashedTaters]

Orthopod says stay in sling, NO REHAB whatsoever, for 6 weeks. Not even passive ROM work, other than 2-3 pendulum swings daily.

Normal for a re-tear?

I followed Rip’s protocol for the first tear 7 yrs ago; worked great.

I’m 73 now.

Thanks.

[Griffin727]

I would be very tender since you are 73. It's just 6 weeks.

[Mark Rippetoe]

If you have to have the cuff repair revision done, do what the guy tells you. If it fails again, it won't be your fault.

[Will Morris]

Can you explain in a bit more detail what you mean by a re-tear? Did you have a rotator cuff repair and now you are concerned about a re-tear......did you get a RTC repair and it is now retorn......or, did you not have surgery but have a tear in your RTC tendon?

[MashedTaters]

You’re correct, Will. I should have been more clear.

RC surgery in 2017 repaired supraspinatus and 2 other tendons, labrum, cleaned up frayed biceps tendon, etc.

In April of this year I fell and broke my fall by sticking out my arm. That tore my supraspinatus again.

So last Friday the Orthopod repaired it again and did a biceps tenodesis.

I questioned no rehab for 6 weeks and they said for a re-tear it’s necessary.

The “before” surgery picture showed the original screw completely dislodged and floating around.

[Will Morris]

You’re correct, Will. I should have been more clear.

RC surgery in 2017 repaired supraspinatus and 2 other tendons, labrum, cleaned up frayed biceps tendon, etc.

In April of this year I fell and broke my fall by sticking out my arm. That tore my supraspinatus again.

So last Friday the Orthopod repaired it again and did a biceps tenodesis.

I questioned no rehab for 6 weeks and they said for a re-tear it’s necessary.

The “before” surgery picture showed the original screw completely dislodged and floating around.

The re-rupture rate for a RTC repair is drastically high, even when you do the right things. No physical therapist is going to touch your case for 6 weeks, and if they do, that would either border on malpractice, or they would have to have a very, very strong justification for why they were performing therapy prior to 6 weeks. The rupture rate for a biceps tenodesis is high, too, but I have some questions as to why they performed the biceps tenodesis rather than just a biceps tenotomy, since the outcomes are essentially the same, and a biceps tenotomy is far easier to rehab. Bear in mind, I don't know the surgeon and he had his reasons for doing what he did.

[MashedTaters]

Thank you!