Acute and chronic shoulder injuries are often difficult to diagnose and treat, and choosing an experienced orthopedic shoulder surgeon can massively decrease recovery times and improve outcomes. Dr. Michael Bercik and our team at Lancaster Orthopedic Group can help ensure the root cause of your injury is being treated to improve outcomes and reduce recovery times. Residents of Columbia, PA, should waste no time in making an appointment today.

When treating ailments of the shoulder, it doesn’t get better than Dr. Michael Bercik. As a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Bercik has spent years training under some of the best shoulder surgeons in the world to learn state-of-the-art techniques and methods to treat complex conditions of the shoulders and elbows. He is dedicated to excellence in his field, and he has shown this through his academic and professional endeavors. He was recognized with the Mark D Chilton award for outstanding patient care, as well as the annual Orthopaedic In-training Examination award for achieving the highest score in his residency program.

Outside of clinical pursuits, Dr. Bercik has published multiple peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. He is dedicated to pushing forwards the field of orthopedics and improving shoulder and elbow treatment methods.

What Are Common Complications for Rotator Cuff Repairs?

While most people experience improved strength after a rotator cuff repair, a small percentage of patients experience complications. These complications are rare but knowing possible complications can help to recognize indications early.

Possible complications from rotator cuff repairs include:

• Nerve damage (under 2% of patients experience this)
• Infection of the shoulder (under 2% of patients experience this)
• Stiffness of the shoulder (usually resolves within 6 to 12 months)
• Stroke, heart attack, pneumonia, or blood clot from the anesthesia (extremely rare)

It is also possible, although rare, for patients to tear to their repair. This increases in likelihood for patients with larger original tears.

What Impacts Rehabilitation After Rotator Cuff Surgery?

Multiple factors can influence how quickly patients are able to rehabilitate their shoulder after surgery. These factors include, but are not limited to:

• The type of surgery performed. Arthroscopic procedures tend to involve less extensive recovery times than traditional open surgeries.
• The size of the rotator cuff tear. Generally, smaller tears take less time to rehabilitate than larger tears (defined as those over 5cm in length).
• The quality of the soft tissues in the shoulder. Patients’ rehabilitation is influenced by tissue quality, which can be analyzed through an MRI scan prior to surgery.
• The location of the tear. Tears on the back portion of the shoulder typically require longer rehabilitation times.
• The rehabilitation method. The quality of the physical therapy plan will affect the time needed to rehabilitate the shoulder.
• The patient’s lifestyle. The age, lifestyle, activity level, hobbies, and occupation of the patient will all affect recovery times. Patients over 65 typically have longer recovery times, along with those with chronic conditions such as diabetes or arthritis. Patients with higher activity levels also tend to have shorter recovery times.

While many factors can affect the rehabilitation time after a rotator cuff repair, above all it is important that both the patient and the orthopedic shoulder doctor work in tandem to closely monitor the recovery of the shoulder and observe what is benefitting recovery and what is not. Each patient is different and requires a unique combination of recovery methods to achieve optimal results.

Ready to Begin?

If you are a resident of Columbia, PA, and looking for an orthopedic shoulder surgeon, look no further than Dr. Michael Bercik at Lancaster Orthopedic Group. Dr. Bercik is dedicated to achieving outstanding patient outcomes and will be with you every step of your treatment and recovery process. To get started today, schedule your first appointment by clicking the “Schedule An Appointment” link in the top right of the website or calling (866) 564-1000.