Rotator Cuff Archives - Dr. Matthew DiPaola

When It Comes to Shoulder Pain, One Size Doesn’t Fit All [Video]

Understanding Frozen Shoulder, Rotator Cuff Tears, and Shoulder Arthritis from a Surgeon Who Treats It All Shoulder pain affects millions of people, but no two cases are exactly alike. In this video presentation, Dr. Matthew DiPaola—an orthopedic surgeon specializing in shoulder and elbow care—explains why personalized treatment matters and walks through three common shoulder conditions … Read more

Shoulder Balloon Spacer: up, up and away? Or full of hot air?

by Matthew DiPaola

Inspace Blog Post Follow up: Review of the papers This is an update to a previous blog post I wrote about the Inspace balloon. Since the original post, the full results of the FDA pivotal trial have been published in the peer reviewed literature in a prestigious orthopedic journal: The Journal of Bone and Joint … Read more

Do Rotator Cuff Tears Get Bigger Over Time?

by Matthew DiPaola

I have noted in other posts that rotator cuff tears can cause a lot of confusion. Let’s assume that your doctor has diagnosed you with a rotator cuff tear. He or she presents you with a few options: physical therapy, injections, surgery. You have a small tear. You are in a lot of pain, but … Read more

How Long Will Rehabilitation Take After Rotator Cuff Surgery? The Answer Usually Depends on One Key Factor.

by Matthew DiPaola

Being told that you need rotator cuff surgery can be an intimidating prospect. Physical Therapy after Surgery One of the main concerns is how much physical therapy you will need after surgery. How long will therapy take? And when will you finally be back doing what you want to do? The truth is, most people … Read more

Do Shoulder Surgery Anchors Come Out? What You Need to Know

by Matthew DiPaola

Why Are Suture Anchors Used in Shoulder Surgery? Suture anchors are small devices used to attach soft tissue (like tendons or ligaments) to bone. They are critical tools in modern orthopedic procedures, particularly in rotator cuff repairs, labral repairs, and instability surgeries. By providing a stable fixation point, they allow tissues to heal back to … Read more

Anchors Away: Tiny Devices That Can Help Your Shoulder in A Big Way

by Matthew DiPaola

When I am explaining rotator cuff surgery to patients, one of the most common questions I get is, “How do you repair the tear?”

My answer typically involves an explanation of some basics about rotator cuff tears:

Will Your Rotator Cuff Retear After Surgery?

by Matthew DiPaola

Rotator cuff tears can be tricky. And unfortunately not all rotator cuff repairs are fool proof. Older studies showed that rotator cuff repairs failed to heal in up to 3/4 of attempts in some patients.

Newer studies tend to show more favorable results but on average still report at least a 1/4 chance of retiring of the rotator cuff repair.

Should You Wear A Sling After Shoulder Surgery?

by Matthew DiPaola

A recent study in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery compared outcomes of patients who had rotator cuff surgery based on how faithful they were with wearing their sling.

They asked 50 patients undergoing rotator cuff repair to wear an abduction sling for the first

When Can I Drive After Shoulder Surgery?

by Matthew DiPaola

This is one of the most frequent questions that I get from patients. And it’s not an easy one to answer. Understanding the Complexity Of Shoulder Surgery Recovery New Research Provides Insight Recently a team at The Hospital for Joint Diseases led by one of my shoulder fellowship mentors Dr. Laith Jazrawi produced a study … Read more