“I gained weight after my rotator cuff repair!”

A recent study published in the Journal of Shoulder & Elbow Surgery found that on average patients will add five pounds of water weight during an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair shoulder surgery. During shoulder arthroscopy, fluid is pumped into the shoulder joint. This fluid spreads into the surrounding tissues which causes the shoulder to swell. Basically, the shoulder becomes “water logged”. The good news is, your body will quickly get rid of this extra fluid within a few days of your operation.

So, if you gain a little bit of weight after your shoulder surgery……blame it on your surgeon!

Author

Brad Carofino, MD Dr. Brad Carofino is a board-certified (American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery), fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in shoulder & upper extremity surgery. Dr. Carofino is an expert in shoulder replacement surgery, minimally invasive arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, and complex reconstructive procedures of the upper extremity.