Subacromial balloon spacer yielded favorable results for irreparable rotator cuff tears

Issue: November 2023

ByMax R. Wursta

Fact checked byGina Brockenbrough, MA

Key takeaways:

A subacromial balloon spacer yielded positive short- to midterm outcomes for patients with rotator cuff tears.
Outcomes improved for patients with without a previous rotator cuff repair.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Presented results showed a subacromial interpositional balloon spacer yielded positive short-term to midterm results for patients with massive irreparable rotator cuff tears with or without previous rotator cuff repair.

Joseph A. Abboud

“The subacromial balloon spacer (InSpace, Stryker) was approved approximately 2 years ago. It’s a biodegradable balloon. It’s inserted into subacromial space and inflated with saline,” Joseph A. Abboud, MD, said in his presentation at the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Annual Meeting. “No work has really evaluated the impact of previous [rotator] cuff surgery on patients who are being considered for the InSpace balloon device,” he added.

Abboud and colleagues performed a retrospective cohort study of 19 patients (mean age of 64.87 years) who underwent a subacromial balloon arthroplasty for a massive irreparable rotator cuff tear. Patients were categorized into two groups: patients who had a previous ipsilateral rotator cuff repair (RCR; n = 7) and patients who did not have a previous rotator cuff repair (no RCR; n = 12). Outcomes included VAS pain scores and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score. Mean follow-up was 24.95 months, according to the study abstract.

Researchers found both groups of patients demonstrated significant clinical and functional improvements. In the RCR group, mean postoperative forward elevation was 148.57°; mean postoperative VAS score was 1.79; and mean postoperative ASES score was 80.46. Similarly, in the no RCR group, mean postoperative forward elevation was 159.55°; mean postoperative VAS score was 1.54; and mean postoperative ASES score was 79.5.

“At short-[term] to midterm follow-up, the balloon spacer provides favorable results for both groups at this point, with significant improvements in function and pain,” Abboud concluded.

Published by:

Sources/Disclosures

Collapse

Source:

Abboud JA, et al. Paper 11. Presented at: American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Annual Meeting; Oct. 4-7, 2023; Scottsdale, Ariz.

Disclosures: Abboud reports receiving stock or stock options in Aevumed, Atreon, OBERD, Orthobullets, OTS Medical, restor3D and Shoulder JAM LLC; receiving research support from Arthrex, the U.S. Department of Defense, LimaCorporate, OREF and Zimmer Biomet; receiving IP royalties from DJ Orthopaedics, Elsevier, Enovis, Globus Medical, OsteoCentric Technologies, Smith & Nephew, Stryker and Zimmer Biomet; receiving publishing royalties, financial or material support from SLACK Incorporated and Wolters Kluwer Health- Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; being a paid consultant for DJO Orthopaedics, Globus Medical, Stryker and Zimmer Biomet; and being a board or committee member for the American Shoulder and Elbow Society Foundation, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, the Mid Atlantic Shoulder and Elbow Society, Pacira and Shoulder 360.

American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Annual Meeting

Read more

Subacromial balloon spacer yielded favorable results for irreparable rotator cuff tears

Key takeaways:

Related Content