Rotator cuff repair is surgery to reattach a torn shoulder tendon to the bone. Dr. Levongood performs rotator cuff repair in Lawrenceville after non-surgical care such as therapy and injections has been tried, using arthroscopic techniques to relieve pain and restore strength when a tear no longer responds to those steps.
Gary Levongood performs rotator cuff repair in Lawrenceville when it is the right step, and reviews every alternative with you first.
What is Rotator Cuff Repair?
The rotator cuff is a group of four tendons, the ropelike tissue that attaches muscle to bone, that hold the shoulder in its socket and lift the arm.
A tear means one of these tendons has pulled away from the bone. Rotator cuff repair is the surgery that anchors the torn tendon back to its place.
Repair is considered when non-surgical care has not restored comfort and strength, when a tear is large, or after a sudden tear in an active person. It is a choice made together, not an emergency for most tears.
Before surgery is discussed, non-surgical care comes first. The section below outlines what is tried before an operation and what the surgery itself involves.
What happens during Rotator Cuff Repair, step by step?
Rotator cuff repair is most often done with arthroscopy, a small camera passed through tiny incisions so the surgeon can see and work inside the joint.
Through these small openings, Dr. Levongood cleans the frayed tendon edges, prepares the bone, and uses small anchors with attached sutures to hold the tendon against the bone while it heals. Some larger or more complex tears are repaired through a small open incision instead. The approach depends on the size and shape of the tear and the quality of the tendon. Repair is usually an outpatient procedure, meaning most people go home the same day.
What is recovery like after Rotator Cuff Repair?
Recovery from rotator cuff repair happens in stages and calls for patience, because the tendon needs time to reattach to bone.
Most people wear a sling for a period after surgery to protect the repair, then begin gentle guided motion.
Physical therapy usually progresses from protected movement, to active motion, to strengthening over several months. Many people return to light daily activities within a few weeks, while fuller strength and return to demanding tasks or sports commonly takes around four to six months, according to general guidance from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. These are ranges, not promises. Your timeline depends on the size of the tear, your health, and your rehabilitation. Your surgical team will map it with you.
Read the full guide to preparing for surgery →
Your own recovery instructions come from the office and are specific to you. This page describes the general course, not a plan to follow.
What do patients ask most?
How long does it take to recover from rotator cuff repair?+
Will I need to wear a sling after surgery?+
Is rotator cuff repair done arthroscopically?+
How painful is recovery after rotator cuff repair?+
What are the treatment options?
- 01Physical therapy to strengthen the shoulder and the muscles around it, which often restorePhysical therapy to strengthen the shoulder and the muscles around it, which often restores function.
- 02Activity changes to rest the tendon and avoid painful overhead motionsActivity changes to rest the tendon and avoid painful overhead motions.
- 03Anti-inflammatory medicine for pain and swellingAnti-inflammatory medicine for pain and swelling.
- 04A corticosteroid injection, a shot that reduces inflammation, to calm pain enough to complA corticosteroid injection, a shot that reduces inflammation, to calm pain enough to complete therapy.
- 05Rotator cuff repair, offered when these steps do not relieve pain and weakness, or for larRotator cuff repair, offered when these steps do not relieve pain and weakness, or for larger tears in active patients.
Fellowship trained at The Hughston Clinic (Sports Medicine). Sees patients in Lawrenceville.
About Dr. Levongood →