Rotator cuff tear treatment in Dubai

Where in Dubai

Dr. Subhash Ushakoyala, Specialist Orthopaedic Surgeon, sees shoulder pain and rotator cuff tears at Grand Infinity Medical Center in Al Muteena, Deira, Dubai. Shoulder pain often builds over months of overhead work, lifting or gym training. The first visit is about finding out whether a tendon is torn and how badly. He may arrange an ultrasound or MRI, and he starts with treatment that does not need an operation wherever that is sensible.

What is a rotator cuff tear?

The rotator cuff is four muscles and their tendons that cover the top of the arm bone like a cuff. They keep the ball of the shoulder centred in its shallow socket and let you lift and turn the arm. A tear can be partial, where the tendon is frayed but still attached, or full thickness, where it has come away from the bone. Some tears happen suddenly, in a fall or a heavy lift. Many more come on slowly, as the tendon wears with age and repeated overhead use. Tears are more common after 40. Not every tear causes pain, and not every painful tear needs an operation.

Common signs

• A dull ache deep in the shoulder that is worse when you lift the arm sideways or overhead.
• Pain at night that wakes you, especially when you lie on that side.
• Weakness when you lift or turn the arm, such as reaching for a high shelf or combing your hair.
• A tearing feeling and sudden weakness after a fall onto the arm or a heavy lift.
• A crackling feeling when you move the shoulder in certain directions.

How Dr. Subhash approaches it

Dr. Subhash performs shoulder arthroscopy, including rotator cuff repair and subacromial decompression, and he also performs shoulder replacement. Arthroscopy is one of his stated main interests. For many tears, especially wear-related ones, he starts with physiotherapy and pain relief. He advises surgery when a tear is sudden and large, or when pain and weakness carry on despite good treatment.

What to expect

1. 01

   Consultation

   He asks how the pain started and what you cannot do, then tests the strength of each tendon by moving the arm in different directions.

2. 02

   X-ray and scan

   An X-ray looks for bone spurs and arthritis. An ultrasound or MRI shows whether the tendon is torn, how big the tear is and how healthy the muscle is.

3. 03

   Treatment without surgery

   For many tears the plan is rest from painful overhead work, pain relief and a programme of physiotherapy to strengthen the muscles around the tear.

4. 04

   Reviewing progress

   He sees you again after some weeks of exercises. If the shoulder is getting stronger and less painful, you carry on.

5. 05

   Repair if needed

   If the tear is large and sudden, or the shoulder stays painful and weak, he explains keyhole repair, its recovery and its risks, so you can decide together.

Getting better

Every patient is different. These are typical milestones, not a promise; your own plan comes from your consultation.

• Many people with partial or wear-related tears improve with several weeks to a few months of physiotherapy.
• Strengthening the other shoulder muscles can make up for a tendon that is not working fully.
• Some tears slowly get larger with time, so a shoulder that becomes weaker should be checked again.
• After a repair, the arm usually rests in a sling for some weeks and full recovery can take many months.

Risks to know about

• Leaving a sudden, large tear for too long can make it harder to repair later, as the muscle shrinks.
• Steroid injections can ease pain for a time but do not heal the tendon, and repeated injections may weaken it.

When to book a visit

Where to book