How to Get Muscle Tears Surgically Removed

Muscle tears can range from minor strains to traumatic injuries, and the options for repairing tears also vary widely. If you have tendon or tissue sections that cannot be reattached, your surgeon may advise a debridement (or “smooth and move”) procedure to remove those sections. In other cases, your surgeon may recommend one or more procedures to remove cysts, deposits, or spurs at the injury site. In any case, it’s vital for you to have full and honest conversations with your medical team so you know what to expect before, during, and especially after your procedure.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Undergoing a “Smooth and Move” Procedure

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Consult your doctor and surgeon about undergoing “smooth and move” surgery. If you have a moderate or major muscle tear, there will likely be sections of tendon and/or tissue that cannot be reattached. In this case, your primary care doctor will likely refer you to a surgeon to discuss a debridement (or “smooth and move”) procedure to clear away these irreparable sections.^{[1]XResearch source}
- If you have a moderate tear, the surgeon may be able to reattach some of the tissues and/or tendons and “smooth out” the irreparable sections.
- If you have a major tear, the surgeon may not be able to reattach any of the torn tendons or tissues. In this case, you may undergo only debridement to “smooth out” the torn area.
- If you have a minor tear—often called a muscle strain or pulled muscle—your primary care doctor will likely prescribe rest rather than any type of surgery.
2
Go over the particular details of your “smooth and move” procedure. Your surgeon should clearly explain how they will remove damaged muscle tissue edges and tendons that cannot be reattached, as well as smooth out any rough bone surfaces in the area. The aim is to get rid of extraneous tissue that may interfere with healing or reduce your range of motion.^{[2]XResearch source}
- Your surgeon may not know how much of the tear they can reattach and how much must be cut away and smoothed out until the actual surgery begins. This is normal with a “smooth and move” procedure and should be clearly explained to you.
- If you don’t feel like the procedure has been clearly explained to you, ask as many questions as you need to. A surgeon who is not willing to give you the time you need to understand your procedure may not be the right surgeon to do your procedure.
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Talk about the recovery prognosis and process. Debridement procedures are common and can often be completed within a couple hours. And, in many cases, the muscle and joint will essentially regain full strength and range of motion. The recovery process, however, usually takes at least 3 months. Make sure to get a full explanation of your recovery prognosis and process with your surgeon.^{[3]XResearch source}
- Expect to regularly use a continuous passive motion (CPM) machine and attend regular physical therapy sessions—this is the “move” part of “smooth and move”—during your recovery. Frequent, controlled movement is key to preventing the buildup of scar tissue.
- After a “smooth and move” procedure, you should be able to begin actively moving the affected muscle and joint right away, and you won’t need protection, such as an immobilizing brace. Your doctor or physical therapist will show you exercises to help you build strength and maintain your range of motion while you heal.
4
Go over the risks of undergoing the procedure with your surgeon. Like any surgery, “smooth and move” muscle repairs come with certain risks. Because debridement is a common and fairly straightforward procedure, the risks are low, but it’s still important that you’re fully aware of them and accept them before proceeding. These risks include, but may not be limited to:^{[4]XResearch source}
- Infection at the surgical site.
- Injury to nearby nerves and blood vessels, which may be permanent.
- Muscle and/or tendon damage that is simply irreparable.
- Lasting or even permanent joint stiffness at the surgery site.
- Increased susceptibility to repeat tears at the repair site.
- Negative reactions to anesthesia, which can be serious in some cases.
- The need for additional surgeries due to one or more of the above factors.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Removing Cysts, Deposits, or Spurs Associated with Tears

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Remove or drain problematic ganglion cysts that form near slight tears. Ganglion cysts are soft, immovable lumps formed by fluids leaking from one or more slight muscle tendon tears. While they often go away on their own, painful or bothersome cysts can be medically removed. Your doctor will either drain the cyst with a needle or, less commonly, remove it during a minor surgical procedure.^{[5]XResearch source}
- Ganglion cysts can vary widely in size and may appear and disappear repeatedly. They most commonly form on the back of the hand or the wrist, but can occur near any slight muscle tendon tear.
- Unfortunately, there’s always a chance that a ganglion cyst can return. However, removing or draining them can provide at least temporary relief from pain or discomfort.
2
Treat myositis ossificans after a muscle injury with medication or surgery. Myositis ossificans (MO) refers to hard calcium deposits that form at the site of a traumatic muscle injury. You may experience pain, notice range-of-motion limitations, or feel hard nodules in the muscle roughly 3-6 weeks after your injury. Problematic MO deposits can be dissolved by taking oral medication (biphosphonate) or, in rare cases, by undergoing surgery.^{[6]XTrustworthy SourcePubMed CentralJournal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of HealthGo to source}
- MO most commonly occurs in the major muscles of the upper arms and legs.
- If surgery is required, you’ll usually have to wait at least 4-6 months after your original injury. This gives the MO nodules time to fully form and reduces the chance of recurrence.
3
Have bone spurs removed while undergoing surgery for a muscle tear. If you’re undergoing surgery to repair a muscle tear, your surgeon should also look for and remove any bone spurs in the area. Bone spurs are protrusions that usually occur in your joints due to osteoarthritis. In most cases your surgeon will essentially shave off and smooth out any spurs they locate.^{[7]XResearch source}
- You may not even know you have bone spurs, and in some cases your surgeon may decide to leave non-problematic spurs alone. However, if any of the spurs may hamper your recovery process or potentially cause additional muscle or tendon injury, they will be removed.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Following Pre- and Post-Surgical Instructions

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Take steps to improve your overall health before your surgery. If your muscle tear surgery is scheduled for a few days, weeks, or even months in the future, take the opportunity to make healthy lifestyle choices. Doing so will increase your odds of having a successful surgery and a faster and more complete recovery. Consult your medical team for specific advice in your case, which may involve steps like the following:^{[8]XResearch source}
- Exercising regularly.
- Eating a healthy diet.
- Drinking enough water.
- Getting adequate sleep.
- Using stress reduction techniques.
- Managing any underlying health conditions, such as diabetes. Talk to your doctor about the best way to monitor and control your blood sugar, since high blood sugar can interfere with your healing.
2
Don’t smoke for 1 month before and 3 months after surgery, if possible. If you’re a smoker, quitting is always a healthy choice. Quitting can be particularly beneficial before and after muscle tear surgery because smoking slows the healing process. Talk to your doctor about the range of quitting strategies out there and decide which combination is best for you.^{[9]XResearch source}
- If quitting permanently is a daunting prospect, see if you can commit to quitting for the recommended period before and after your surgery. Once you reach 3 months post-surgery, challenge yourself to keep going!
3
Use a CPM machine if and as directed right after your surgery. A continuous passive motion (CPM) machine repeatedly moves the joints in the area of your muscle tear surgery through their range of motion. Continuous motion helps to prevent or reduce the formation of scar tissue during your recovery.^{[10]XResearch source}
- A CPM machine requires no effort on your part—it does all the work!
- You may be connected to a CPM machine within a few hours of the completion of your surgery. You might also be prescribed an at-home CPM machine to use daily for several weeks. If so, follow your instructions carefully and don’t use the machine for longer daily sessions than directed.
4
Attend physical therapy to restore range of motion, strength, and flexibility. Depending on the nature of your muscle tear surgery, you may be instructed to attend physical therapy (PT) within a few days of your procedure. For the best results, you’ll likely need to attend PT multiple times per week for several months. Take PT seriously if you want the best chance of a full recovery.^{[11]XResearch source}
- For the first 3 months, your PT sessions will likely focus exclusively on improving range of motion in the area of the surgery. After that, you can begin to work on rebuilding strength and flexibility.
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