Purpose
To assess postoperative changes in the thickness of the dermal allograft of the superior
capsular reconstruction (SCR) and to evaluate the graft for the presence of intrasubstance
pulsatile vessels.
Methods
A retrospective chart review was conducted to identify SCR patients who had ultrasound
evaluations between May 2014 and February 2019. Data were collected and stratified
based on time from surgery into 2 groups: 0 to 12 months and past the 12-month follow-up.
The primary outcome measure was graft thickness at the articular margin–greater tuberosity
interface (tuberosity measurement). Secondary measures included midsubstance graft
thicknesses 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 cm medial to the tuberosity measurement; status of lateral
graft fixation; presence of pulsatile vessels; and American Shoulder and Elbow Society
and visual analog scale scores.
Results
Eighteen patients were included for analysis. The tuberosity measurement at final
follow-up (mean 25 months, range 12-40 months) was (mean ± standard error [95% confidence
interval (CI)]) 4.4 ± 0.2 mm (95% CI 4.0-4.8). This differed significantly from the
midsubstance measurements: 0.5 cm: 3.6 ± 0.2 mm (95% CI 3.3-4.0, P = .008); 1.0 cm: 3.1 ± 0.2 mm (95% CI 2.7-3.4, P < .001); and 1.5 cm: 2.9 ± 0.2 mm (95% CI 2.6-3.2, P < .001). Ten constructs (56%) showed signs of pulsatile vessels in the first 12 months
and all constructs were intact. ASES scores improved from 49.3 ± 4.0 (95% CI 41.6-57.1)
preoperatively to 85.1 ± 2.9 (95% CI 79.4-90.8) (P < .001), and VAS scores decreased from 5.3 ± 0.6 (95% CI 4.2-6.5) preoperatively
to 0.9 ± 0.3 (95% CI 0.3-1.5) at final follow-up (P < .001).
Conclusions
The SCR dermal allograft significantly thickens at its lateral aspect, presents with
evidence of vasculature in most patients in the first year of implantation, and is
not resorbed by the body.
Level of Evidence
Level IV – therapeutic case series.
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
June 22,
2019
Received:
March 26,
2019
Footnotes
See commentary on page 3203
The authors report that they have no conflicts of interest in the authorship and publication of this article. Full ICMJE author disclosure forms are available for this article online, as supplementary material.
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 by the Arthroscopy Association of North America
ScienceDirect
Access this article on ScienceDirectLinked Article
- Editorial Commentary: Dermal Allograft: A Viable Allograft for Salvage Procedures in Treating Irreparable Rotator Cuff TearsArthroscopyVol. 35Issue 12
- PreviewOur experience with superior capsule reconstruction (SCR) has been successful in patients with isolated, irreparable, supraspinatus tears; however, we have found that bridging reconstruction may have a better role in treating patients with some cuff remnant. Our results are promising, and, although there is new evidence to show that dermal allografts can heal in the setting of rotator cuff deficiency, the basic principle of restoring anatomy should not be ignored. SCR has been accepted as a salvage procedure for irreparable cuff tears, with the precise indications being elucidated.
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