scholarly journals Management of Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears: Superior Capsular Reconstruction vs. Marginal Convergence (236)

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10_suppl5) ◽  
pp. 2325967121S0034
Author(s):  
Neel Patel ◽  
Nyaluma Wagala ◽  
Christopher Como ◽  
Bryson Lesniak ◽  
Albert Lin
Keyword(s):  
Rotator Cuff ◽  
Range Of Motion ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Reoperation Rate ◽  
Rotator Cuff Tears ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Superior Capsular Reconstruction ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Reverse Total Shoulder

Objectives: Irreparable rotator cuff tears can be challenging to manage in younger patients who are not well indicated for reverse total shoulder replacement. Treatment options in this patient population include both marginal convergence (MC) and superior capsular reconstruction (SCR). While both treatment options have demonstrated good short term outcomes, they have vastly different associated costs and operative times. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare range of motion (ROM), patient reported outcomes, and re-operation rates following MC and SCR. We hypothesized that SCR would outperform MC regarding functional and subjective outcomes. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on 44 patients from two surgeons with irreparable rotator cuff tears that underwent either MC (28 patients, 28 shoulders) or SCR (16 patients, 16 shoulders) from 2014-2019 at a single academic center. Patient inclusion criteria were the following: failed conservative or prior surgical management, no or mild glenohumeral arthritis, Goutallier grade 3 or 4 fatty infiltration of the involved muscles, Hamada grade 1 or 2 rotator cuff arthropathy, intact or repairable subscapularis tear and minimum of 1 year follow-up. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, active forward flexion (FF) and external rotation (ER) range of motion, reoperation rate, and rate of conversion to reverse total shoulder arthroplasty were evaluated. For statistical analysis, t-tests were used to determine differences in functional outcomes and VAS, while Chi-Squared tests were used to determine differences in the rate of re-operation and conversion to arthroplasty (*p < 0.05). Results: The mean age at the time of surgery for the MC and SCR groups was 64.4 and 58.5 years, respectively, with an average follow-up of 31.5 months for the MC group and 17.8 months for the SCR group. There were no significant differences in the mean age at the time of surgery, gender, body mass index, pre-operative FF and ER, and pre-operative VAS between the groups. The MC group did not have a significant improvement FF with a mean pre-operative FF of 144.4°(range: 30-170°) and post-operative FF of 150.5°(range: 90-180). The same was true for the SCR group, with a mean pre-operative FF 127.5°(range: 40-170°) and post-operative FF of 146.3°(range: 40-170). There was also no significant improvement in ER post-operatively in either group. Both the MC and SCR group had significant improvements in VAS for pain from an average of 7.3 (range: 1-10) pre-operatively to 2.5 (range: 0-10) post-operative for the MC group (p < 0.01) and from 7.3 (range: 3-10) pre-operatively to 1 (range: 0-4) post-operative for the SCR group (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the post-operative FF or ER, change in FF or ER, post-operative VAS, or change in VAS between the two treatment groups. The rate of conversion to arthroplasty was not significantly different between the groups at 3.6% for the MC group and 12.5% for the SCR group. Additionally, the overall reoperation rate was not significantly different between the MR and SCR groups at 10.7% and 12.5%, respectively. Conclusions: There were no significant differences between the MC and SCR treatment groups. While both MC and SCR were effective in improving VAS for pain, neither treatment consistently resulted in significant improvement in ROM. Further studies with long term outcomes are needed to determine if there are certain indications for which one treatment results in better outcomes.

scholarly journals Arthroscopic Superior Capsular Reconstruction in Males Provides Superior Outcomes to Reverse Total Shoulder or Debridement for Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (7_suppl4) ◽  
pp. 2325967118S0010
Author(s):  
John M. Tokish ◽  
Michael J. Kissenberth ◽  
Ellen Shanley ◽  
Stefan John Tolan ◽  
Kyle J. Adams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rotator Cuff ◽  
Patient Reported Outcomes ◽  
Rotator Cuff Tears ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Biceps Tenotomy ◽  
Superior Capsular Reconstruction ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Male Patients ◽  
Reverse Total Shoulder

Objectives: Early results following arthroscopic superior capsular reconstruction(SCR) in patients with massive, irreparable rotator cuff tears are promising. However, no studies have compared patient reported outcomes between SCR or reverse total shoulder(rTSA) and rotator cuff debridement for these patients. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare 1-year outcomes between patients with massive irreparable rotator cuff tears who underwent a SCR, rTSA, or rotator cuff debridement with a concurrent biceps tenotomy or tenodesis. Methods: Patients(n=63) who underwent either SCR(n=21), rTSA(21), or cuff debridement(n=21) and biceps tenotomy or tenodesis for a massive, irreparable rotator cuff tear treated with a minimum 1-year follow up were retrospectively reviewed. Age, sex, BMI, smoking status, Charlson Index, Hamada classification, and ASES scores were recorded and compared using a multivariate ANOVA were used to compare between surgical approaches. A Chi Square analyses were used to compare sex distribution and the Charlson Deyo Index between groups (α=0.05). Results: Overall, patients across the 3 groups were not statistically different in age or follow up ASES score at minimum 14 month follow up ( P> 0.05). There was a significant interaction effect between surgery group and sex (P=0.02) on ASES score but not age ( P=0.08). Univariate F tests revealed that male patients who received an SCR displayed a 10-14% better outcome at follow up compared to other groups (Table 1) which exceeds the reported ASES score MCID. Conclusion: Our results show comparable results across surgical options for massive irreparable cuff tears with good patient reported outcomes. Male patients displayed clinically important greater ASES scores at 1 year follow up. Future studies should evaluate these preliminary results to assess if these preliminary results hold up at longer follow up times.

scholarly journals Comparison of Superior Capsular Reconstruction and Partial Infraspinatus Repair: A Matched-Pair Analysis of Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 232596712098426
Author(s):  
Stefan Greiner ◽  
Max Kaeaeb ◽  
Andreas Voss ◽  
Robert Lawton ◽  
Pushkar Bhide ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rotator Cuff ◽  
Constant Score ◽  
Rotator Cuff Tears ◽  
Matched Pair ◽  
Dash Score ◽  
Western Ontario Rotator Cuff ◽  
Superior Capsular Reconstruction ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
The Mean

Background: Superior capsular reconstruction (SCR) represents a new option for the treatment of irreparable rotator cuff tears. Purpose/Hypothesis: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and radiologic outcomes of SCR and compare them with the outcomes of partial repair (PR) of the infraspinatus tendon. The hypothesis was that there would be no significant differences between the clinical and radiologic outcome parameters of SCR and PR after a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Of 21 patients who underwent SCR, 20 patients were matched in a 1:1 ratio according to sex, age, and tear configuration with 20 of 60 patients who had undergone PR; all patients were prospectively evaluated for a minimum follow-up of 2 years. The investigated outcome measures included the Constant score; Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) index; Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score; and radiologic analysis of acromiohumeral distance (AHD) and humeral head centralization (HHC). Results: There were no differences in the demographic data between the SCR and PR groups. The mean age of both groups was 62.3 years (range, 47-79 years), the mean tear configuration was Bateman 3.0 and Patte 2.8, and the mean follow-up period was 29.4 months (range, 24-53 months). At final follow-up, no significant differences were seen between the SCR and PR groups with regard to Constant score (77.1 vs 82.7), age- and sex-adapted Constant score (85.5% vs 91.4%), DASH score (15.6 vs 7.8), or WORC index (81.1 vs 90.4). No significant differences in the AHD or HHC were seen between the groups. The reoperation rate was 4.8% (1/21) in the SCR cohort and 15% (9/60) in the PR cohort. Conclusion: Both SCR and PR resulted in significant improvements in patient-reported outcomes at 2-year follow-up, with no significant differences in clinical outcomes between the 2 techniques. Further follow-up is needed to determine whether there are long-term differences in HHC and development of cuff tear arthropathy. Further investigations should also focus on the cost-effectiveness of the respective procedures.

scholarly journals Massive Rotator Cuff Tear Bridging Reconstruction Using Acellular Dermal Matrix: Mid-term Results (219)

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10_suppl5) ◽  
pp. 2325967121S0032
Author(s):  
Moayd Awad ◽  
Sara Sparavalo ◽  
Jie Ma ◽  
Ivan Wong
Keyword(s):  
Rotator Cuff ◽  
Total Shoulder Arthroplasty ◽  
Acellular Dermal Matrix ◽  
Rotator Cuff Tears ◽  
Dermal Matrix ◽  
Massive Rotator Cuff Tears ◽  
Superior Capsular Reconstruction ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Reverse Total Shoulder

Objectives: Management of massive rotator cuff tears remains a challenge despite development of different surgical techniques. Bridging reconstruction was developed to improve clinical outcomes and to avoid the morbidity associated with tendon transfers and arthroplasty. To date, there have been no studies assessing the mid-term clinical outcome for patients undergoing this procedure. The objective of this study was to evaluate the mid-term clinical outcomes of patients who underwent bridging reconstruction using acellular dermal matrix for large/massive rotator cuff tears (> 3 cm). Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted for patients who underwent bridging reconstruction between 2010 and 2018 by one surgeon (IW). Patients with a minimum follow-up of two years were included. All patients completed self-reported questionnaires (Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) Index and the Disabilities of the Shoulder, Arm and Hand (DASH) score) pre-operatively and post-operatively at six months, one year and annually thereafter. Results: One hundred charts were reviewed, and 20 patients were excluded due to lack of pre- or post-operative outcome scores. This cohort of patients consisted of 80 patients mean age of 58.6 ± 9.1 years and an average follow-up of 5.1 ± 1.6 years. The mean pre- and post-operative WORC scores (± SD) were 61.4 ± 20.6 and 28.1 ± 25.5 (p < 0.001), respectively. The mean pre- and post-operative DASH scores were 52.2 ± 19.7 and 23.1 ± 22.4 (p < 0.001), respectively. There was an improvement in WORC and DASH over time with the most significant improvement during the first year post-operatively (Figure 1). Seventy-eight percent of patients met the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for WORC while 77% of patients met the MCID for DASH. Our results show significant mid-term clinical improvement in WORC and DASH scores that is similar to previously published data that showed significant improvements in other patient-reported outcome scores. We believe these positive outcomes to be a result of better force coupling within the shoulder as compared to other surgical treatments such as maximal repair, superior capsular reconstruction, and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. Conclusions: Arthroscopic bridging reconstruction for the treatment of massive rotator cuff tears results in significant improvement of patient reported outcomes (as measured using the WORC and DASH scores) at a mean follow up of five years. This may suggest that bridging reconstruction is a good treatment alternative as compared to superior capsular reconstruction or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. Longer follow-up with a prospective study design is necessary to determine the longevity of these outcomes.

Arthroscopic Superior Capsular Reconstruction for Older Patients With Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears: A Comparative Study With Younger Patients

2021 ◽  
pp. 036354652110246
Author(s):  
Erica Kholinne ◽  
Jae-Man Kwak ◽  
Chang-Ho Cho ◽  
Khalid AlSomali ◽  
Thanh Van Nguyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Rotator Cuff ◽  
Surgical Outcomes ◽  
Rotator Cuff Tears ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Younger Patients ◽  
Superior Capsular Reconstruction ◽  
Mesh Augmentation ◽  
The Mean

Background: Arthroscopic superior capsular reconstruction (ASCR) is a method for treating irreparable chronic rotator cuff tears. However, the extent to which ASCR can be performed with regard to the patient’s age has yet to be determined. Purpose: To compare the surgical outcomes of ASCR for the treatment of irreparable rotator cuff tears (IRCTs) in patients aged <65 years versus patients aged ≥65 years. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Of 105 patients with IRCTs who underwent ASCR between March 2013 and June 2020, 73 patients were enrolled in this study based on the selection criteria. Polypropylene mesh augmentation to the graft was used in 18 of 36 patients in the younger adults group (age, <65 years) and 20 of 37 patients in the older adults group (age, ≥65 years). The clinical and radiological outcomes were evaluated preoperatively and at the final clinical follow-up. The graft integrity status was evaluated using serial magnetic resonance imaging and set as the primary endpoint. Furthermore, subgroup analysis was performed based on age group and graft type. Results: The mean age of the patients was 59.2 ± 3.8 years in the younger adults group and 70.5 ± 4.1 years in the older adults group. Both groups showed improvement based on the clinical and radiological outcomes at the final follow-up. The mean American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores improved from 52.3 ± 15.4 to 77.3 ± 13.5 in the younger adults group ( P < .001) and from 45.7 ± 16.1 to 76.6 ± 11.4 in the older adults group ( P < .001). The mean visual analog scale for pain scores improved from 5.5 ± 1.2 to 2.1 ± 0.9 in the younger adults group ( P < .001) and from 5.5 ± 1.4 to 2.1 ± 1.2 in the older adults group ( P < .001). The graft healing rate was significantly higher in the younger adults group (81%) than in the older adults group (65%) ( P = .049). Subgroup analysis showed that after mesh augmentation, the healing rate in the younger adults group (84%) was similar to that in the older adults group (85%) ( P = .299). Conclusion: ASCR resulted in a favorable surgical outcome for both younger and older adult patients with IRCT. The younger patients had lower graft failure rates and superior surgical outcomes. In older patients, ASCR using polypropylene mesh augmentation may reduce graft failure and result in surgical outcomes similar to those in younger patients.

Evaluating the Outcomes of Rotator Cuff Repairs With Polytetrafluoroethylene Patches for Massive and Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears With a Minimum 2-Year Follow-up

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (13) ◽  
pp. 3155-3164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasanth Seker ◽  
Lisa Hackett ◽  
Patrick H. Lam ◽  
George A.C. Murrell
Keyword(s):  
Rotator Cuff ◽  
Range Of Motion ◽  
External Rotation ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Shoulder Function ◽  
Rotator Cuff Tears ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Irreparable Tear ◽  
Pain At Rest

Background: Massive and irreparable rotator cuff tears are difficult to manage surgically. One technique is to use a synthetic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) patch to bridge the tear. However, there is little information regarding the outcomes of this procedure. Purpose: To determine the ≥2-year outcomes of patients for whom synthetic patches were used as tendon substitutes to bridge irreparable rotator cuff defects. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: This retrospective cohort study used prospectively collected data. Patients included those with a synthetic patch inserted as an interposition graft for large and/or irreparable rotator cuff tears with a minimum 2-year follow-up. Standardized assessment of shoulder pain, function, range of motion, and strength was performed preoperatively, at 6 and 12 weeks, and at 6 months and ≥2 years. Radiograph and ultrasound were performed preoperatively, at 6 months, and ≥2 years. Results: At a mean of 36 months, 58 of 68 eligible patients were followed up, and 53 of 58 (90%) patches remained in situ. Three patches failed at the patch-tendon interface, while 1 patient (2 shoulders/patches) went on to have reverse total shoulder replacements. Patient-ranked shoulder stiffness ( P < .001), frequency of pain with activity and sleep ( P < .0001), level of pain at rest and overhead ( P < .0001), and overall shoulder function improved from bad to very good ( P < .0001) by 6 months. Supraspinatus (mean ± SEM: 29 ± 16 N to 42 ± 13 N) and external rotation (39 ± 13 N to 59 ± 15 N) strength were the most notable increases at the ≥2-year follow-up ( P < .0001). Passive range of motion also improved by 49% to 67%; forward flexion, from 131° to 171°; abduction, from 117° to 161°; external rotation, from 38° to 55°; and internal rotation, from L3 to T10 ( P < .0001) preoperatively to ≥2 years. The most improvement in passive range of motion occurred between 12 months and ≥2 years. The mean (SD) Constant-Murley score was 90 (12), while the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score was 95 (8). Conclusion: At 36 months postoperatively, patients who had synthetic patches used as tendon substitutes to bridge irreparable rotator cuff defects reported less pain and greater overall shoulder function as compared with preoperative assessments. They demonstrated improved range of passive motion and improved strength. The data support the hypothesis that the technique of using a synthetic PTFE patch to bridge a large and/or irreparable tear has good construct integrity and improves patient and clinical outcomes.

scholarly journals Superior Capsular Reconstruction Patients Have High Rates of Return to Sports and Similar Functional Outcomes Compared to a Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty Matched Cohort

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (7_suppl5) ◽  
pp. 2325967119S0027
Author(s):  
Brandon C. Cabarcas ◽  
Grant Hoerig Garcia ◽  
Joseph Liu ◽  
Gregory Louis Cvetanovich ◽  
Anirudh K. Gowd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rotator Cuff ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Functional Outcomes ◽  
Return To Sport ◽  
Postoperative Outcome ◽  
Rotator Cuff Tears ◽  
Return To Sports ◽  
Superior Capsular Reconstruction ◽  
One Year

Objectives: Superior capsular reconstruction (SCR) is a relatively new procedure to address irreparable rotator cuff tears and rotator cuff arthropathy. Biomechanical studies have produced favorable results on cadaveric models, but few studies have evaluated clinical outcomes, and none have addressed return to sport (RTS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate rates of RTS and functional outcomes after SCR compared to a reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) matched cohort. Methods: A prospectively collected registry was queried retrospectively for consecutive patients who underwent SCR from 2015 to 2016. Inclusion criteria were ≥2 tendon irreparable rotator cuff tear by arthroscopic evaluation and minimum one-year follow up. All eligible SCR patients were matched by gender, age, handedness, and follow up time to patients that underwent rTSA with a similar preoperative diagnosis. All surgeries were performed by a single surgeon at one institution with consistent operative techniques. Patients were evaluated with the ASES questionnaire, VAS Pain Scale, as well as VR/SF-12 and VR6D. Patients were also administered a detailed outcomes survey regarding surgical history and return to sport and work activities. Results: Overall 75.0% of 32 eligible patients were available at follow up. Average age at surgery and follow up did not significantly differ between cohorts (p>0.500 both). Postoperative outcome scores for ASES, VAS, VR/SF-12, and VR6D did not differ (p>0.310 for all) between cohorts. Overall RTS rate was 77.8% for SCR and 87.5% for rTSA (p > 0.610). Average months to return to sports was significantly greater after SCR (7.3 ± 3.0) compared to rTSA (3.5 ± 2.2; p = 0.032). Patients in both cohorts participated in golf, weight-lifting, gym activity, basketball and cycling postoperatively. Direct RTS for these sports are displayed in Fig. 1. Return to work rate was 71.4% (10/14) SCR and 50.0% (4/8) rTSA (p = 0.326) at average 2.7 ± 2.8 and 1.9 ± 1.9 months, respectively (p = 0.591). Stratified by duty status, rates of return to work were sedentary (100% both SCR and rTSA), light (100% both SCR and rTSA), moderate (0% SCR and 66.67% rTSA), and heavy (0% both SCR and rTSA). Overall, 85.71% SCR patients and 90.0% rTSA patients were satisfied or very satisfied with their general postoperative outcome. Conclusion: At short-term follow-up, SCR patients had RTS rates comparable to rTSA patients with irreparable rotator cuff tears. However, time to RTS was more prolonged after SCR. Outcome scores did not significantly differ between the two cohorts, suggesting that SCR may achieve postoperative function and pain reduction similar to rTSA at one year. Return to work was also similar, although rates were not as high as return to sport. When stratified by duty status, return to more intense physical work demands was not consistent in either cohort. Despite this, over 85% of SCR and rTSA patients were satisfied postoperatively. The findings of this study demonstrate that SCR patients have high RTS levels, as well as similar functional outcomes and satisfaction compared to rTSA for irreparable rotator cuff tears. Clinicians can utilize this information for preoperative counseling, particularly with younger more athletic patients, considering SCR or rTSA for an irreparable rotator cuff tear.

scholarly journals Long-term evolution of calcific tendinitis of the rotator cuff: clinical and radiological evaluation 10 years after diagnosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Riccardo Compagnoni ◽  
Alessandra Menon ◽  
Simone Radaelli ◽  
Francesco Lanzani ◽  
Mauro B. Gallazzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rotator Cuff ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Numerical Rating Scale ◽  
Calcific Tendinitis ◽  
Rotator Cuff Tears ◽  
Radiological Evaluation ◽  
Glenohumeral Osteoarthritis ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Background Calcific tendinitis of the shoulder has a tendon involvement that could evolve to rotator cuff tear and shoulder osteoarthritis. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of glenohumeral osteoarthritis and rotator cuff tears in patients affected by calcific tendinitis at a minimum follow-up of 10 years after diagnosis. Methods Patients diagnosed with calcific tendinitis of the shoulder with a minimum follow-up of 10 years were contacted and invited for a clinical and radiological evaluation. Information on the demographics, affected and dominant side, bilateral shoulder pain, type of treatment, habits, systemic or musculoskeletal diseases, reoperation of the index shoulder, and subjective satisfaction was collected. The clinical evaluation was performed using Constant–Murley score (CMS), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Score (ASES), and numerical rating scale (NRS); isometric strength in forwarding flexion and abduction was also measured. Each patient also underwent an ultrasound examination to evaluate rotator cuff tendon integrity and a shoulder radiograph to evaluate osteoarthritis. Results Seventy-nine patients were available for a phone interview, and 35 agreed to be examined. The mean age was 58.89 (± 7.9) years at follow-up. The prevalence of glenohumeral osteoarthritis was 17.14% in the study population, with significant progression in 14.29% of the cases, without rotator cuff full-thickness tears. x-Ray examination showed residual calcifications in 31 patients, with a mean diameter of 5.54 mm. In 30 cases, there was a reduction of the diameter; in 4 cases, the calcification increased in size; and in 1 case, the size did not change. The mean ASES score was 74.1 (± 22.7) in the group with calcifications larger than 2 mm and 89.4 (± 8.2) in patients with smaller calcifications (p = 0.08) without correlation with the type of treatment performed. Conclusions Calcific tendinitis is a self-resolving disease without rotator cuff tears at long-term follow-up or degenerative glenohumeral progression. Level of Evidence: 3, cohort study.

scholarly journals Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears Without Arthritis Treated With Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 296-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mandeep S. Virk ◽  
Gregory P. Nicholson ◽  
Anthony A. Romeo
Keyword(s):  
Rotator Cuff ◽  
Shoulder Arthroplasty ◽  
Total Shoulder Arthroplasty ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Young Patients ◽  
Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty ◽  
Rotator Cuff Tears ◽  
Patient Comfort ◽  
Dramatic Improvement ◽  
Reverse Total Shoulder

Background: Irreparable rotator cuff (RC) tears without arthritis is a challenging clinical problem in young adults. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) has been proposed as one of the surgical treatment options for this condition. Methods: In this review, we discuss the current understanding of the role of RTSA for the management of irreparable RC tears without arthritis based on authors personal experience and available scientific literature. Results: Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) is a constrained arthroplasty system that can allow the deltoid and remaining rotator cuff to substitute for the lost function of irreparable RC. Furthermore, the pain relief is consistent with often a dramatic improvement in patient comfort, shoulder function and stability. In patients with pseudoparalysis of the shoulder without advanced arthritis, RTSA effectively restores forward elevation above the shoulder but may not dramatically improve external (ER) or internal rotation (IR). However, due to concerns over implant longevity, caution has to be exercised when using RTSA for symptomatic irreparable RC tears with preserved active forward elevation (AFE) and in patients less than 65 years of age. Conclusion: RTSA is a reasonable surgical option for irreparable rotator cuff repair without arthritis. However, caution should be exercised when offering RTSA to young patients and patient without pseudoparalysis because they can have a higher complication and dissatisfaction rate. In addition, longevity of RTSA and subsequent need for revision surgery remains a significant concern in this population.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document