Helped Over 500,000 patients with 98%+ satisfaction.

Connect & Get Personalized 1-to-1 Answers from Expert Doctors

DoctorSpring > Question Home

Is surgery preferred for SUPRASPINATUS TENDON TEAR?

Resolved Question:

Hi,

A little over a year ago I sustained a tear in my right shoulder as a result of an automated door closing on my arm while I was going in (of a store). The doors were open to begin with and then I started going in and all of a sudden the doors started closing on me. I stuck my arm out against the door while it was closing and right away I felt some discomfort in my shoulder. I had my shoulder checked out by a doctor who recommended an ultra sound. My results are as follows:

The right suprasinatus tendon contains a partial width full thickness tear measuring 4 by 2mm, in the anterior fibers approximately 8mm lateral to the biceps tendon. The infraspinatus contains a subtle hypochoic region measuring 0.5cm within the tendon substance consistent concerning for an intrasubstance tear. The subacromial/subdeltoid burn is thickened to 3mm. The subscapularis and biceps tendon are intact.

Impression: Full thickness partial width tear involving suprapinatus. Overlying bursal thickening.


What are your impressions of these findings? I am really into going to the gym, keeping fit and lifting weights. Would you recommend surgery or can I continue lifting weights with this? I have done physio for 3 months already including icing it and doing band exercises. I feel my right side is a bit sore compared to my left side but I am able to do bicep curls and chest press without too much pain. I just didn't want to make it worse over time.

Please let me know what you think of this. How big is this tear exactly (so I can think of it besides numbers). I was thinking of shoulder surgery but it may take up to a few years to get it done free publicly in Canada. I am curious of the meaning of full thickness partial width tear. Please fill me in.

Thanks,

Raheel

Category: Orthopedic Surgeon

Ask Your Own Question

Category: Spine Surgeon
 31 Doctors Online

Hello.
Thank you for your query at DoctorSpring.com.
I have read your query with diligence.
After the injury, you had a partial width full thickness tear of your supraspinatus tendon. A tendon is similar to a rope and you can compare the suprasinatus tendon to an inch wide rope. So partial width full thickness tear means that only a portion of the wide tendon was cut and this part was cut was though and through. In case of the said rope, it would be like a quarter or half inch cut such that the rope is left weakened and gaping but still continuous. I hope you could understand this. The exact size of your tear can be determined only from the ultrasound image by the sonologist performing it unless it has been mentioned in the report
Tendon tears usually take a long time to heal. This would explain the soreness.
If you are having problem with your routine work, presence of persistence pain then you should go for surgery. Generally, surgery done within a month of injury has good results. In your case it has already been a year. In chronic cases results may not be as good as in acute cases. You can discuss the option of surgery with your surgeon who would have examined and known the details of your case.
Since you still have some soreness persisting, weight lifting may not be a good idea as of now. You should give the tendon more time to heal.
Hope this was helpful to you.
Feel free to ask queries.
Thank you.


Dr. Mukesh Tiwari
Category: Spine Surgeon
Experience: 
Fellowship - Khandaka Hospital, Jaipur
Residency - MS, Rabindranath Tagore Medical College, Udaipur, 2000
Medical School, Internship - MBBS, SMS Medical College, Jaipur, 1995
Dr. Mukesh Tiwari and 4 other Medical Specialists are ready to help you

Users who read this, also read:

Make informed and better medical decisions.

Join the 500,000 people who found a smarter, quicker way to get Answers, Recommendations & Expert Opinions.

Expert Doctors at fingertips

Recommendation on next step. Second-opinion.Multi-specialty.

Save Time

Average time for answers: 6 hours.

Save Money

$35 for typical specialist consult vs. $120 for a local appointment.

Free Follow-ups

Clarify, ask further questions for free in private conversation.

100% Satisfaction

Money back guarantee for the 1st reply. MEDNET Quality Board.

Start My Consultation

CHAT NOW

About DoctorSpring.com

Doctor Spring is a novel online Doctor consultation platform where you can get your medical questions answered by leading Doctors. Just Submit your question and rest assured that you will consult a Doctor easily. Once you submit the question, the Doctor from the concerned specialty will reply within hours. You can always ask more questions or add details with follow-up question options and make it an online doctor chat. You may use this service to consult a specialty or for getting medical second opinion. All paid services come with a MEDNET quality assurance and 100% money back guarantee.

DoctorSpring in news