Patient guide
Rotator cuff tear — impingement and surgery options
The rotator cuff is a sleeve of tendons critical for shoulder strength and smooth movement. Tears range from partial to full-thickness and may be traumatic or degenerative.
Structured English overview with internal links. A full in-depth clinical article is also available on this site in professional English (and in Hebrew).
Rotator cuff and impingement
Impingement involves repetitive mechanical irritation of cuff tendons under the acromion; chronic irritation can contribute to tendon weakening and tearing.
Rotator cuff tears cause pain (often worse at night), weakness, and difficulty lifting the arm; large chronic tears may progress over time.
Treatment pathways
Many patients start with physiotherapy and anti-inflammatory strategies (including selective injections) when symptoms and tear pattern permit.
Arthroscopic repair may be considered for symptomatic full-thickness tears in appropriate candidates without excessive surgical risk.
Massive tears with secondary arthritis may lead to discussion of reverse total shoulder replacement—an open joint replacement with a reversed ball-and-socket configuration chosen for mechanical reasons.
Full professional article
We recommend starting with the dedicated full clinical article. The shorter patient guide on this page is optional if you prefer a quick overview only.
Open the full professional articleMedically reviewed by Dr. Hagai Moskovich | Last updated: 2026-05-03