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A 49-year-old man delayed seeking medical treatment because of prolonged shoulder pain after a fall. It was discovered that the rotator tendon was completely ruptured. He regained his mobility after minimally invasive repair and regenerative patches by Dr. Rong in Taichung.
A 49-year-old man surnamed Zhang fell while riding a motorcycle in July last year and broke his right shoulder. During the recovery period, he suffered pain in his left shoulder due to prolonged compensatory stress. Originally it was thought to be a strain, but there was no relief after massage and medication. In March, I went to the hospital in Taichung, Taiwan for medical treatment. It was found that two rotator tendons in the shoulder were completely ruptured. After undergoing minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery to repair it and using regenerative patches, I was released from the hospital the next day. After six months, I can easily reach objects at height and ride a bicycle. Now there is no impact on my life.
Li Kunchan, director of the department of sports medicine in the department of orthopedics at Taichung Wing General Hospital, explained that the rotator tendons are composed of four tendons, including the supraspinalis and infraspinatus, and are responsible for lifting and rotating the shoulder joint. One of the main causes of shoulder pain in middle-aged and elderly people is tendon rupture. In recent years, due to the increase in car accident injuries, the popularity of sports, and the advancement of imaging examinations, tendon ruptures have increased significantly in middle-aged and middle-aged people.
Li Kunkan explained that minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery can repair the tendon back to the bone through a small wound of 1 cm. Due to the tendon’s small blood supply, difficulty in delivering nutrients after injury, and high stress to the tendon during day and night activities, the literature suggests that the rate of full thickness rupture of the tendon that re-ruptures after surgical treatment is more than 30%; Of these, rates are higher in people with advanced age, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, smoking, osteoporosis, or muscular obesity.
In order to reduce the re-rupture rate of high-risk patients, the president of Taichung Wing took the lead in introducing collagen regeneration patches in the country at the beginning of this year. It has clinical experience of about 40 cases, the highest in the country.
Li Kunkan explained that the patch is a collagen sheet the size of a stamp and less than 1 mm thick, and is a medical device that can be absorbed by the human body. When applied to the repaired area during arthroscopic surgery, it can establish a “scaffold” for cells, guide the growth of tendon tissue, and thicken and strengthen the rotator tendon in the repaired area. The patch is absorbed by the body in about 6 months, and has been used in more than 250,000 cases worldwide.
A multi-center randomized group study in the international journal “Arthroscopy” reported that the postoperative re-tear rate of those who did not use the patch dropped to 35.1%, while the rate of those who used the patch dropped to 12.3%, and they recovered faster. However, suitability should still be carefully evaluated by the physician based on the type of tear, size, muscle quality, and patient needs.
Li Kunkan reminds people that if their shoulder pain does not improve for more than 2 to 4 weeks, they should seek medical evaluation from an orthopedic surgeon as soon as possible. You should avoid repeatedly lifting weight on the shoulder for a long time, and strengthen the stability of the scapula and strength training of the rotatory muscles.
Summary FAQ
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He originally thought it was just a strain, but after medical examination, they found that two rotator tendons in the left shoulder, which compensated for the injury to the right shoulder, were completely ruptured, which was a serious injury that required surgery.
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Doctors use minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery to repair the tendon back to the bone, and cover the repaired area with a collagen regeneration patch, which uses a scaffold to promote tissue growth and reduce the risk of re-rupture.
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If shoulder pain persists for more than 2 to 4 weeks without improvement, or affects dressing, carrying the baby, and daily activities, you should get an orthopedic evaluation as soon as possible to avoid tendon rupture, which becomes more difficult to heal after delay.
