Michael Fu, MD - HSS Orthopedic Surgeon and Shoulder Specialist
Rotator Cuff Tear Treatment in New Jersey
HSS shoulder specialist seeing patients in Paramus, NJ
Dr. Michael Fu is an orthopedic shoulder specialist at Hospital for Special Surgery, seeing patients with rotator cuff tears, shoulder pain, weakness, and night pain in Paramus, New Jersey and New York City.
Patients from Bergen County, Hoboken, Jersey City, Montclair, and surrounding New Jersey communities often schedule a consultation after an MRI shows a partial or full-thickness rotator cuff tear, after a traumatic shoulder injury, or when shoulder pain has not improved with physical therapy, injections, activity modification, or time.
A consultation can help determine whether continued nonsurgical treatment is appropriate or whether rotator cuff repair surgery should be considered.
Rotator cuff evaluation in Paramus, New Jersey
Rotator cuff tears are one of the most common reasons patients see a shoulder specialist. The rotator cuff is a group of tendons that helps lift, rotate, and stabilize the shoulder. When one or more of these tendons is torn, patients may experience pain on the side of the shoulder, pain at night, weakness, difficulty lifting the arm, or pain with overhead activity.
Not every rotator cuff tear requires surgery. Some tears can be treated with physical therapy, injections, medications, activity modification, or observation. Other tears may benefit from earlier surgical repair, especially when the tear is traumatic, full-thickness, associated with significant weakness, or not improving despite nonsurgical treatment.
During a consultation in Paramus, Dr. Fu can review your symptoms, examine your shoulder, evaluate your MRI or imaging studies, and help determine the most appropriate next step.
When should a rotator cuff tear be evaluated?
A shoulder consultation may be helpful if you have:
An MRI showing a rotator cuff tear
Shoulder pain that wakes you up at night
Weakness lifting the arm
Pain after a fall, injury, or sudden lifting event
Symptoms that have not improved with physical therapy
Pain that persists after an injection
Difficulty working, exercising, or playing sports because of shoulder pain
A prior recommendation for surgery and want a second opinion
The goal of evaluation is not simply to decide whether surgery is possible. The goal is to determine whether the rotator cuff tear is actually the main source of symptoms and whether surgery is likely to help.
Does every rotator cuff tear need surgery?
No. Many patients with rotator cuff tears can improve without surgery, especially when the tear is small, chronic, minimally symptomatic, or not causing significant weakness.
Treatment depends on the tear size, tendon quality, degree of weakness, pain level, patient age, activity goals, and whether the tear occurred suddenly after an injury or developed gradually over time.
For some patients, nonsurgical treatment is the best first step. For others, rotator cuff repair may be recommended to improve pain and function and to reduce the risk of tear progression.
When is rotator cuff repair considered?
Rotator cuff repair surgery may be considered for patients with full-thickness tears, traumatic tears, persistent night pain, weakness, or symptoms that have not improved with nonsurgical treatment.
Surgery may also be considered when the tear is affecting work, exercise, sports, sleep, or daily activities despite appropriate treatment.
Dr. Fu performs arthroscopic rotator cuff repair using small incisions and a camera to visualize the shoulder joint and repair the torn tendon back to bone. During surgery, associated problems such as biceps tendon inflammation, labral tearing, bursitis, or AC joint arthritis may also be addressed when appropriate.
Where are consultations and surgery performed?
Dr. Fu sees patients in Paramus, New Jersey and New York City. Many patients from northern New Jersey can be evaluated locally in Paramus for initial consultation, MRI review, treatment planning, and postoperative follow-up.
When rotator cuff repair surgery is recommended, surgery is performed in New York City at Hospital for Special Surgery or the HSS West Side Ambulatory Surgery Center.
Second opinions for rotator cuff tears in New Jersey
Patients are often told they have a rotator cuff tear but are unsure whether surgery is necessary. Others may have tried physical therapy or injections without enough improvement. Some patients seek a second opinion after receiving a recommendation for surgery.
A second opinion can help clarify whether the rotator cuff tear is the main pain generator, whether nonsurgical treatment is still reasonable, whether the tear pattern is concerning for progression, and whether surgery is likely to improve pain and function.
If you already have an MRI, X-rays, physical therapy notes, injection records, or prior operative reports, please bring them or arrange for them to be available before the visit.
Arthroscopic view of a shoulder rotator cuff tear, before and after repair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see Dr. Fu in New Jersey for a rotator cuff tear?
Yes. Dr. Fu sees patients with rotator cuff tears in Paramus, New Jersey. Patients may be evaluated locally for shoulder pain, weakness, MRI review, treatment planning, and postoperative follow-up.
Do I need an MRI before scheduling an appointment?
No. Some patients already have an MRI before their consultation, while others are evaluated first and then imaging is ordered if needed. If you already have an MRI, please bring the images and report.
Does every full-thickness rotator cuff tear need surgery?
Not always. Some full-thickness tears can be treated nonsurgically depending on the patient’s symptoms, age, activity level, strength, tear size, chronicity, and goals. Other tears may benefit from repair, especially if they are traumatic, painful, associated with weakness, or worsening over time.
Where is rotator cuff surgery performed?
Dr. Fu sees patients in New Jersey and New York City. Surgery is performed in New York City at Hospital for Special Surgery or the HSS West Side Ambulatory Surgery Center.
Can postoperative visits be done in New Jersey?
Many postoperative follow-up visits can be performed in Paramus, depending on the patient’s situation and scheduling needs.
Schedule a rotator cuff consultation in New Jersey
If you have a rotator cuff tear, shoulder pain at night, weakness, or symptoms that have not improved with nonsurgical treatment, Dr. Michael Fu can evaluate your shoulder and help determine the best next step.
About the Author
Dr. Michael Fu is an orthopedic surgeon and shoulder specialist at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City (NYC) and New Jersey (NJ), the best hospital for orthopedics as ranked by U.S. News & World Report. Dr. Fu is an expert at shoulder rotator cuff repair surgery, shoulder instability surgery, and shoulder replacement. Dr. Fu was educated at Columbia University and Yale School of Medicine, followed by orthopedic surgery residency at HSS and sports medicine & shoulder surgery fellowship at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. He has been a team physician for the Chicago Bulls, Chicago White Sox, DePaul University, and NYC’s PSAL.
Disclaimer: All materials presented on this website are the opinions of Dr. Michael Fu and any guest writers, and should not be construed as medical advice. Each patient’s specific condition is different, and a comprehensive medical assessment requires a full medical history, physical exam, and review of diagnostic imaging. If you would like to seek the opinion of Dr. Michael Fu for your specific case, we recommend contacting our office to make an appointment.