Shoulder Repair Surgery

Shoulder Repair Surgery at CritiCare Asia Hospitals, Andheri East

A shoulder that catches, aches, or stops lifting at a certain point usually has a problem within the joint. Shoulder repair surgery covers the techniques used to correct it: reattaching torn tendons, clearing inflamed tissue or tightening an unstable joint. These are related procedures rather than one operation, and the choice depends on what exactly has gone wrong. CritiCare Asia Hospitals is an orthopaedic hospital in Mumbai where examination, imaging review and the surgical discussion are arranged to need as few visits as possible. That helps people manage work and travel alongside treatment. If surgery is needed, shoulder repair surgery in Andheri East is planned with the likely time away from work discussed beforehand.

Symptoms

Pain that worsens with overhead movement or activity
Catching, or difficulty raising the arm beyond a certain point
Aching that persists after rest
Episodes of the joint slipping partly or fully out of its socket
Weakness affecting everyday tasks

Conditions Addressed

Rotator cuff tears
where one or more of the four stabilising tendons pulls away from the bone through wear, repetitive strain or sudden injury
Shoulder instability
with the joint slipping from its socket after a dislocation or because of loose ligaments
Impingement
where tendons are pinched against the acromion bone during overhead movement

They can overlap, and untreated impingement tends to wear down the rotator cuff, so a thorough evaluation comes first. Our shoulder surgeons in Mumbai review the full picture before recommending a plan.

Preparation for Surgery

MRI, sometimes combined with X-rays, confirms the extent of damage and shapes the surgical plan. Blood work, a fitness assessment, and a medication review follow, and blood thinners usually need to be paused with medical guidance. Dressing, cooking and driving are difficult with one arm out of action for several weeks, so arrange help beforehand. Desk-based work may be possible earlier than manual work, though this needs to be confirmed with your surgeon.

Recovery and Physiotherapy Timeline

Recovery comes in stages and varies with the technique used. Arthroscopic repair has reduced recovery times. A sling protects the repair for the first few weeks, and passive movement guided by a physiotherapist often begins within days to prevent stiffness.

Active strengthening starts once the tendon has reattached, generally around six to eight weeks. Full recovery after rotator cuff repair usually takes four to six months, while isolated decompression can settle in two to three months. Strength work started before the tissue is ready is a common cause of setbacks.

Returning to Activities and Sport

Light tasks can usually resume within the first couple of weeks
Driving waits until the sling is off and arm control is reliable, with your surgeon's confirmation
Sport and manual work come last, since they need strength and full range of motion under load
Athletes and people in demanding jobs often need four to six months, returning in stages guided by the physiotherapist

Risks and Considerations

Infection, stiffness, incomplete tendon healing and, less commonly, nerve irritation are the main risks, including with subacromial decompression surgery in Mumbai. Frozen shoulder can follow surgery, with scar tissue restricting movement; it is manageable with physiotherapy but may lengthen recovery. Your surgeon will discuss these with you in the context of your own health history.

Treatment Options and Surgical Approach

Surgeons choose between two methods. Shoulder arthroscopy surgery in Andheri East uses small incisions, a camera, and fine instruments, causing minimal disruption to surrounding tissue, and is the usual route for most tears and impingement. Open repair, with a larger incision, is kept for more extensive damage that needs direct access. Tear size, tissue quality, and complexity of damage decide the approach.