Ir al menú principal Ir al contenido principal Ir al pie de página Para Medicare Para Proveedores Para Agentes Para Empleadores English Para individuos y familias: Para individuos y familias Médica Dental Otros seguros complementarios Explorar cobertura a través de tu empleador Cómo comprar seguros de salud Tipos de seguro dental Período de Inscripción Abierta vs. Período Especial de Inscripción Ver todos los temas Comprar planes de Medicare Guía para miembros Buscar un médico Ingresar a myCigna
Inicio Centro de información Biblioteca del bienestar Subacromial Smoothing and Acromioplasty for Rotator Cuff Disorders

Subacromial Smoothing and Acromioplasty for Rotator Cuff Disorders

Surgery Overview

Surgery may be used to treat a rotator cuff disorder if the injury is very bad or if nonsurgical treatment has not improved shoulder strength and movement enough.

Subacromial smoothing involves shaving bone or removing growths on the upper point of the shoulder blade (acromion ). It removes damaged tendon and bursa from the joint. The surgeon may also remove small amounts of bone from the underside of the acromion and the acromioclavicular joint. (This is called acromioplasty.) The goal is to take away roughness while keeping as much of the normal supporting structures as possible. This surgery makes more room in the subacromial space. With more space, the rotator cuff tendon is not pinched or irritated. It can glide smoothly beneath the acromion. But not all experts agree these procedures will help.

Subacromial smoothing, acromioplasty, and rotator cuff repair may be done using arthroscopic surgery or open surgery.

  • Open-shoulder surgery involves making a larger incision in the shoulder, to open it and directly view the repair.
  • Arthroscopy uses a thin viewing scope called an arthroscope. The scope is inserted into a joint through a small incision in the skin. Then the surgeon will remove loose fragments of tendon, bursa, and other debris from the shoulder. (This is called debridement.) Other tools are then inserted through the incision to shave the bone or remove growths. This type of surgery is more common than open surgery and often doesn't need a hospital stay.

You may have general anesthesia during arthroscopy, or you may have a regional nerve block.

  • If a nerve block alone is done, you may be awake. You won't feel any pain. But you may feel some pulling or tugging during the procedure.
  • At the start of the procedure, regional nerve blocks are sometimes used along with general anesthesia to help limit pain after surgery.
What To Expect

What To Expect

You will likely go home a few hours after you wake up from anesthesia. A family member or friend should drive you home. You will probably need help from friends or family for the first 2 weeks after surgery.

Discomfort after surgery may be relieved by:

  • Applying ice to the surgical site several times a day, as directed. Always keep a cloth between your skin and the ice pack.
  • Taking pain medicines as prescribed.
  • Immobilizing and protecting your shoulder by wearing a sling as directed. Your doctor will advise you whether you need a sling after surgery. Some doctors don't recommend this, because the shoulder joint may become stiff.

With a doctor's approval, you may be able to return to light work within a few days after surgery even if you are using a sling.

Physical therapy after surgery is crucial for a successful recovery. A typical rehabilitation schedule includes:

  • Range-of-motion exercises. These may start the day after subacromial smoothing surgery.
  • Strength training. It may start a few weeks after surgery.

Normal shoulder strength and range of motion often return after several weeks. Then you can gradually increase your activity level.

Learn more

Why It Is Done

Why It Is Done

Smoothing may be done for people who:

  • Have severe pain and impaired shoulder function that has not responded to a few months of conservative treatment.
  • Are older adults with severe rotator cuff tears and whose main problem is pain, not weakness.
  • Do not wish to have more extensive surgery to repair a rotator cuff tear.

Also, if you have a rotator cuff tear, smoothing may be part of rotator cuff repair surgery.

How Well It Works

How Well It Works

Surgery to smooth the bones and create more space for the rotator cuff may lead to less pain with shoulder movement. But not all experts agree that this procedure will help.

Risks

Risks

Along with the general risks of surgery, such as blood loss or problems related to anesthesia, complications of this surgery may include:

  • Lasting pain.
  • Stiffness or a frozen shoulder.
  • Infection.
  • Nerve or blood vessel injury.
  • Fractures. If too much bone gets shaved off during surgery, the upper edge of the shoulder blade may get weak. A fracture might occur.

Current as of: July 17, 2023

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Ignite Healthwise, LLC, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.

© 2024 Ignite Healthwise, LLC. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Ignite Healthwise, LLC.

<cipublic-spinner variant="large"><span>Loading…</span></cipublic-spinner>

Page Footer

Quiero...

Obtener una tarjeta ID Presentar un reclamo Ver mis reclamos y EOB Verificar la cobertura de mi plan Ver la lista de medicamentos con receta Buscar un médico, dentista o centro dentro de la red Buscar un formulario Buscar información del formulario de impuestos 1095-B Ver el Glosario de Cigna Comunicarme con Cigna

Audiencia

Individuos y familias Medicare Empleadores Agentes Proveedores

Sitios seguros para miembros

Portal myCigna para miembros Portal para proveedores de cuidado de la salud Cigna para empleadores Portal de recursos para clientes Cigna para agentes

Información sobre The Cigna Group

Acerca de Cigna Healthcare Perfil de la compañía Empleos Sala de prensa Inversionistas Distribuidores The Cigna Group Administradores externos Internacional Evernorth

 Cigna. Todos los derechos reservados.

Privacidad Asuntos legales Divulgaciones sobre productos Nombres de la compañía Cigna Derechos de los clientes Accesibilidad Aviso sobre no discriminación Asistencia idiomática [PDF] Reportar fraude Mapa del sitio Configuración de cookies

Aviso legal

Los planes individuales y familiares de seguro médico y dental están asegurados por Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (CHLIC), Cigna HealthCare of Arizona, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Illinois, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Georgia, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of North Carolina, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of South Carolina, Inc. y Cigna HealthCare of Texas, Inc. Los planes de beneficios de salud y de seguro de salud de grupo están asegurados o administrados por CHLIC, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (CGLIC) o sus afiliadas (puedes ver un listado de las entidades legales que aseguran o administran HMO para grupos, HMO dentales y otros productos o servicios en tu estado). Los planes o pólizas de seguro para lesiones accidentales, enfermedades críticas y cuidado hospitalario son distribuidos exclusivamente por o a través de subsidiarias operativas de Cigna Corporation, son administrados por Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company y están asegurados por (i) Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (Bloomfield, CT), (ii) Life Insurance Company of North America (“LINA”) (Philadelphia, PA) o (iii) New York Life Group Insurance Company of NY (“NYLGICNY”) (New York, NY), anteriormente llamada Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. El nombre Cigna, el logotipo y otras marcas de Cigna son propiedad de Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. LINA y NYLGICNY no son afiliadas de Cigna.

Todas las pólizas de seguros y los planes de beneficios de grupo contienen exclusiones y limitaciones. Para conocer la disponibilidad, los costos y detalles completos de la cobertura, comunícate con un agente autorizado o con un representante de ventas de Cigna. Este sitio web no está dirigido a los residentes de New Mexico.

Al seleccionar estos enlaces saldrás de Cigna.com hacia otro sitio web que podría no ser un sitio web de Cigna. Cigna no puede controlar el contenido ni los enlaces de sitios web que no son de Cigna. Detalles