Arthroscopic superior capsule reconstruction with dermal allograft and autologous long head of the biceps tendon for irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears, a two-year clinical and radiological results

BACKGROUND: A 2 mm-thick dermal allograft and autologous Long Head of the Biceps Tendon (LHBT) Superior Capsule Reconstruction (SCR) could provide improved clinical and radiographic outcomes for posterosuperior Massive Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears (MIRCTs).

METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted between April 2019 and October 2021. The LHBT was rerouted 5 mm posteriorly to the bicipital groove, and a 2 mm-thcick dermal allograft was used to cover the rerouted LHBT. Clinical assessment included Constant-Murley Shoulder score (CMS), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores, and active ROM measurements. The radiological assessment included Acromiohumeral Distance (AHD), Superior Capsular Distance (SCD), muscle Fatty Infiltration (FI), and follow-up SCR integrity using ultrasound two years after surgery.

RESULTS: 25 patients (7 male, 18 female) were included with a mean age of 64.2 ± 6.9 years. Active ROM, AHD, and SCD did not change significantly after the surgery. Patients' VAS (8.3 ± 0.7 to 1.3 ± 0.6, p < 0.001), SSV (22.4 ± 8.6 to 77.6 ± 12.7, p < 0.001), CMS (36.2 ± 6.8 to 79.9 ± 8.4, p < 0.001), and ASES (37.2 ± 10.0 to 80.5 ± 5.7, p < 0.001) improved significantly at final follow-up. The ultrasound examination of all patients demonstrated a healed dermal allograft on the supraspinatus footprint. One patient (4 %) had a postoperative trauma causing irreparable subscapularis tear, leading to reverse total shoulder arthroplasty during revision surgery.

CONCLUSIONS: The combined SCR technique using a 2 mm dermal allograft and autologous LHBT for posterosuperior MIRCTs significantly improved the patient-reported outcomes.