Superior capsular reconstruction may be an option for irreparable supraspinatus tears
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Arthroscopic superior capsular reconstruction may offer a short-term bridging option for young, active patients with irreparable supraspinatus tears, according to published results.
From April 2015 to April 2017, researchers performed a retrospective consecutive case series on 25 patients who underwent arthroscopic superior capsular reconstruction (SCR) with dermal allograft. The researchers analyzed patients for 2-year clinical outcomes. All procedures were done by a single surgeon at a single center, according to the study. Outcome measures included Oxford Shoulder Score, range of motion, patient satisfaction and MRI data.
At 1-year follow-up, researchers found successful outcomes in 20 patients (80%) and 18 patients (72%) at 2-year follow-up.
“The mean Oxford Shoulder Score improved by a minimum of 10 points at all time points compared with preoperatively. The mean forward flexion and abduction improved by 20° and external rotation by 7°,” the researchers wrote in the study. “Revision to reverse shoulder arthroplasty was seen in three patients (12%). Graft failure was seen in four patients (16%),” they added.
The researchers concluded that SCR offers a safe and effective option for the short-term treatment of irreparable supraspinatus tears in the absence of glenohumeral joint arthritis. Yet, the cost-effectiveness and long-term outcomes of the procedure remain unknown, they wrote.
“Several concerns are consistently raised, including optimal graft thickness, graft type, graft healing and longer-term clinical outcomes,” they wrote. “Randomized controlled trials comparing SCR with other treatment options (eg, debridement alone, margin convergence, or placebo) are required to justify the cost-effectiveness,” they added.
Collapse
Read more about
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts