Abstract
Massive, retracted rotator cuff tears with poor tissue quality continue to pose a problem for the shoulder surgeon. Augmentation of such repairs with grafts, patches, spacers, or biologics is being closely investigated to help improve clinical outcomes and healing rates. Specifically, superior capsule reconstruction augmentation of such rotator cuff tears may lead to good outcomes. However, we do not truly understand how much native cuff tissue or graft healing is actually taking place. Clinically, superior capsule reconstruction augmentation of rotator cuff repair may simply be serving as a spacer.
Mihata et al.
1
first described superior capsule reconstruction (SCR) with autograft to address massive irreparable rotator cuff tears (RCTs) by restoring superior shoulder stability. Since then, the technique has been adapted by using human acellular dermal allograft. Results overall having been promising.2
,3
More recently, surgeons have used SCR for augmentation of rotator cuff repairs (RCRs). Mihata et al.4
published a study on the use of autograft SCR in the setting of RCR and found that although the quality of the repaired tendon improved on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the outcomes were no different than those of patients who underwent traditional RCR. In fact, fatty infiltration worsened when SCR augmentation was used.Degan, Hartzler, Rahal, DeBerardino, and Burkhart,
5
through their study “Prospective 1-Year Outcomes Are Maintained at Short-Term Final Follow-Up After Superior Capsular Reconstruction Augmentation of Complete Rotator Cuff Repair,” teach us that SCR augmentation of massive RCTs with poor tissue quality leads to good results. They use a technique in which the dermal graft is placed underneath the rotator cuff tendon repair. Unfortunately, the study did not have a control group without SCR augmentation. Moreover, we do not really know if the graft or tendon healed well based on MRI. The inter-rater agreement in the study was poor. I cannot blame the authors, however. In my practice, when I look at MRI scans after SCR, I have difficulty interpreting how much of the graft has healed. Signal on the glenoid side is not uncommon. This begs the question, Do these grafts really need to heal or are they simply serving as a spacer? In fact, in another study, only 9 of 20 grafts showed complete healing on postoperative MRI scans.2
Many other techniques have recently been espoused either to help treat massive irreparable RCTs or to augment difficult RCRs. For example, the subacromial balloon spacer has shown some promising early results and recently gained Food and Drug Administration approval in the United States.
6
,7
Bio-inductive patches have also been promoted to help induce healing in large and massive RCTs.8
Moreover, the biceps tendon has gained traction in the augmentation of RCRs.9
,10
Is SCR grounded in solid biomechanical studies? Yes. Does SCR have a role in treating rotator cuff pathology? Sure. However, we need higher-level studies to gain an improved understanding of the clinical utility of augmenting RCRs with SCR. The American cartoonist Hank Ketcham was quoted as saying, “Flattery is like chewing gum. Enjoy it but don’t swallow it.” Let us enjoy the purported benefits of SCR augmentation, but let us also make sure it is not simply expensive chewing gum serving as a spacer.
Supplementary Data
- ICMJE author disclosure forms
References
- Superior capsule reconstruction to restore superior stability in irreparable rotator cuff tears: A biomechanical cadaveric study.Am J Sports Med. 2012; 40: 2248-2255
- Preliminary results of arthroscopic superior capsule reconstruction with dermal allograft.Arthroscopy. 2018; 34: 93-99
- Superior capsule reconstruction with a partial rotator cuff repair: A case report.JBJS Connect. 2018; 8: e1
- Superior capsule reconstruction for reinforcement of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair improves cuff integrity.Am J Sports Med. 2019; 47: 379-388
- Prospective 1-year outcomes are maintained at short-term final follow-up after superior capsular reconstruction augmentation of complete rotator cuff repair.Arthroscopy. 2022; 38: 1411-1419
- Subacromial balloon spacer for massive, irreparable rotator cuff tears is associated with improved shoulder function and high patient satisfaction.Arthroscopy. 2021; 37: 480-486
- Subacromial spacer implantation for the treatment of massive irreparable rotator cuff tears: A systematic review.Arthroscopy. 2019; 35: 607-614
- Evaluation of healing rates and safety with a bioinductive collagen patch for large and massive rotator cuff tears: 2-Year safety and clinical outcomes.Am J Sports Med. 2019; 47: 1901-1908
- Autograft long head biceps tendon can be used as a scaffold for biologically augmenting rotator cuff repairs.Arthroscopy. 2022; 38: 38-48
- Biceps autograft augmentation for rotator cuff repair: A systematic review.Arthroscopy. 2018; 34: 1297-1305
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Footnotes
The author reports 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.
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© 2021 by the Arthroscopy Association of North America
