Management of Massive Rotator Cuff Tears: Prospective study in 218 patients

Comparison of Multiple Surgical Treatments for Massive Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears in Patients Younger Than 70 Years of Age: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Massive irreparable rotator cuff tears (MIRCTs) remain a challenging treatment paradigm, particularly for nonelderly patients without pseudoparalysis or arthritis.

PURPOSE

To use a network meta-analysis to analyze comparative studies of surgical treatment options for MIRCTs in patients <70 years of age for several patient-reported outcomes, range of motion (ROM), and acromiohumeral distance (AHD).

STUDY DESIGN

Network meta-analysis of comparative studies; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature, using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, of the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases was conducted from 2017 to 2022. Inclusion criteria were (1) clinical comparative studies of MIRCTs (with several study-specific criteria); (2) ≥1 outcome of interest reported on, with standard deviations; (3) minimum 1-year follow-up; and (4) mean age of <70 years for both cohorts, without arthritis or pseudoparalysis. There were 8 treatment arms compared. Outcomes of interest were the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, Constant-Murley score, visual analog scale for pain, AHD, and forward flexion and external rotation ROM. A frequentist approach to network meta-analysis with a random-effects model was performed using the netmeta package Version 0.9-6 in R.

RESULTS

A total of 23 studies met the inclusion criteria, with 1178 patients included in the network meta-analysis. There was a mean weighted age of 62.8 years, 568 (48.2%) men, with a mean follow-up of 28.9 months. There were no significant differences between groups in regard to sex (P = .732) or age (P = .469). For the ASES score, InSpace balloon arthroplasty (mean difference [MD], 12.34; 95% CI, 2.18 to 22.50; P = .017), arthroscopic bridging graft (aBG) (MD, 7.07; 95% CI, 0.28 to 13.85; P = .041), and long head of biceps augmented superior capsular reconstruction (BSCR) (MD, 5.16; 95% CI, 1.10 to 9.22; P = .013) resulted in the highest P-scores. For the Constant-Murley score, debridement (MD, 21.03; 95% CI, 8.98 to 33.08; P < .001) and aBG (MD, 6.97; 95% CI, 1.88 to 12.05; P = .007) resulted in the highest P-scores. For AHD, BSCR resulted in the highest P-score (MD, 1.46; 95% CI, 0.45 to 2.48; P = .005). For forward flexion ROM, debridement (MD, 45.77; 95% CI, 25.41 to 66.13; P < .001) resulted in the highest P-score, while RSA resulted in the lowest P-score (MD, -16.70; 95% CI, -31.20 to -2.20; P = .024).

CONCLUSION

For patients <70 years with MIRCT without significant arthritis or pseudoparalysis, it appears that graft interposition repair techniques, superior capsular reconstruction using the long head of the biceps tendon, arthroscopic debridement, and balloon arthroplasty provide superiority in various outcome domains, while RSA provides the least benefit in forward flexion.

Definition of irreparable rotator cuff tear: a scoping review of prospective surgical therapeutic trials to evaluate current practice

BACKGROUND

The definition of irreparable rotator cuff tear (IRCT) is controversial. This scoping review provides definitions used to describe IRCT in the literature. This scoping review (1) identified criteria used in the definition of IRCT and (2) investigated the current state of those criteria in prospective surgical therapeutic trials.

METHODS

This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched in March 2023. Studies were screened against predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Criteria regarding clinical symptoms, preoperative images, and intraoperative findings were captured respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 41 prospective studies were eligible for inclusion, and 35 studies (85.4%) defined IRCT. IRCT was defined on the basis of the following main criteria: preoperative image findings (28/35), intraoperative findings (24/35), and symptoms (16/35). With regard to preoperative images, IRCT was mainly defined on the basis of retraction of the tendon in the coronal plane (22/28), the severity of fatty degeneration (19/28), and ruptured tendon number or width of the defect in the sagittal plane (17/28).

CONCLUSION

This scoping review highlights the lack of a standardized definition for IRCT in clinical practice, with common predictive criteria including a duration of over 6 months, retraction beyond 5 cm, Goutallier grade 3 fatty infiltration, and the rupture of two or more tendons. However, surgeons should apply more than one criterion when examining preoperative images and confirm reparability during surgery. A more objective manner of evaluating intraoperative reparability is necessary.

History of mood and anxiety disorders does not affect the outcomes of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

BACKGROUND

A pre-existing mood and anxiety disorder (MAD) is often present in patients with rotator cuff pathology, but its presumed negative effect on the outcomes has not been demonstrated.

AIM OF STUDY AND HYPOTHESIS

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate how a history of MAD affects the clinical outcomes 1 year after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR). The secondary objectives were to evaluate how a history of MAD affects tendon healing, analgesic consumption and the occurrence of complications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study population consisted of 219 patients (mean age 54.5±6.6 years) who underwent arthroscopic repair for a distal supraspinatus tendon tear, with 17% (38/219) presenting an history of MAD (depression, unspecified mood disorder, anxiety, and bipolar disorder). Using univariate and multivariate analyses, the joint range of motion, Constant score, analgesic consumption, occurrence of complications during the first postoperative year and tendon healing at 1 year (MRI or CT arthrography) were compared between the two groups (with or without MAD).

RESULTS

The Constant score was lower preoperatively in patients with history of MAD (-4 points, p=.04) but there were no significant differences between the two groups at the various postoperative follow-up time points (p>.05). No significant difference was found between the two groups of patients in their analgesic consumption at the various postoperative time points (p>.05), tendon healing at 1 year (p=.17) or the occurrence of postoperative complications (p=.59).

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

Pre-existing MAD had no effect on the clinical outcomes after arthroscopic RCR at 1 year and no effect on tendon healing, analgesic consumption or the occurrence of complications in our study population.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III; retrospective case-control study.

Arthroscopic advancement of the supraspinatus muscle and tendon for posterosuperior massive rotator cuff tears

The tension-free repair of retracted supraspinatus tears with the open muscle and tendon advancement technique first described by Debeyre in 1965 gave satisfactory clinical results. The purpose of this anatomical study was to test the feasibility of an arthroscopic supraspinatus advancement technique. A total of 10 cadaveric shoulders were operated. We assessed the feasibility, measured the slide distance, and recorded the position of the suprascapular nerve (SSN) for each shoulder. Reattachment of the tendon to its native footprint was achieved in all cases. The mean slide distance was 38.8 mm ± 3.6 (33-44). The SSN was released and tension-free in all shoulders. Arthroscopic advancement of the supraspinatus muscle and tendon enables complete rotator cuff repair in irreparable retracted posterosuperior tears and is a noteworthy alternative to the other techniques. Level of Evidence: IV.

Content reporting and effectiveness of therapeutic exercise in the management of massive rotator cuff tears: A systematic review with 490 patients

Background

Massive rotator cuff tears (MRCT) account for a substantial fraction of tears above the age of 60 years. However, there are no clear criteria for prescription parameters within therapeutic exercise treatments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects and characteristics of therapeutic exercise treatments in patients with MRCT.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, SciELO, Scopus and EMBASE from inception to August 2022. Studies were included if they evaluated the effects of exercise on patients with MRCT. The risk of bias was evaluated and the Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template (CERT) was also used. A narrative synthesis without meta-analysis was performed.

Results

One randomized controlled trial, two non-randomized studies, six non-controlled studies, one case series and four retrospective studies were included. They ranged from serious to moderate risk of bias. The CERT reflected a poor description of the exercise programmes. Studies showed a pattern of improvements in most patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) surpassing the MCID, and active elevation range of motion.

Conclusions

There is limited evidence that exercise and co-interventions are effective in the management of some patients with MRCT, based on a systematic review without meta-analysis. Future research should improve content reporting.

Level of evidence

IV.

Increased operative time has a negative impact on clinical outcome in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

BACKGROUND

Few data are available about the impact of operative time on outcome of rotator cuff repair.

AIM

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of operative time on clinical outcome and tendon healing after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

METHODS

Patients operated on for distal supraspinatus tear in our institution between 2012 and 2018 were included retrospectively. Operative time, from skin incision until skin closure, was extracted from medical files. For statistical analysis, operative time was treated as a quantitative variable. Endpoints were clinical outcome (Constant score, range of motion), tendon healing (on CT or MRI) and complications at 1 year. The significance threshold was set at p = 0.05.

RESULTS

A total of 219 Patients, with a mean age of 54.6 years (range 40-70 years), were included. Mean operative time 44.9 min (range 14-140 min). Significant correlations (p < 0.05) were found for Constant score and external rotation at 1 year: increasing operative time by 1 min led to a decrease in Constant score of 0.115 points, or 6.9 points for a 60-min increase (p = 0.0167) and a decrease in external rotation of 0.134°, or 8.04° for a 60-min increase (p = 0.0214). No significant correlations were found for anterior elevation at 1 year (p = 0.2577), tendon healing at 1 year (p = 0.295) or onset of complications during follow-up (p = 0.193).

DISCUSSION

The minimal clinically important difference in Constant score in patients undergoing rotator cuff surgery is between 6 and 10 points. An increase of more than 60 min in operative time significantly impacted clinical outcome of arthroscopic distal supraspinatus repair, but not tendon healing.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III: Retrospective Cohort Design. Therapeutic Study.

Patient-reported outcome tools and baseline scores vary by country and region for arthroscopic repair of massive rotator cuff tears: a systematic review

Background

Different patient-reported outcome (PRO) tools are used in patients with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) which complicates outcome comparisons. The purpose of this systematic review was to compare PRO usage and baseline scores across world regions and countries in patients with ARCR of massive rotator cuff tears (MRCT).

Methods

A systematic review was performed on ARCR for MRCT. The search was conducted from September to November of 2022 using the MEDLINE database for articles published in the last 15 years. Thirty-seven articles were included after initial screening and full-text review. In each article, PRO usage, baseline scores, and country of origin were collected. PRO usage was reported in percentages and baseline scores were normalized for each region to facilitate comparisons. Normalization was performed using the PRO means from each article. These averages were converted to fractions using the worst and best possible scores. These were combined into a single numerical value, expressed as a decimal from 0 to 1, using the total sample size for each tool per region. Values closer to 0 represent worse functional outcomes.

Results

Thirty-two percent (n = 12) of articles were from Asia, 43.2% (n = 16) from Europe, 5.4% (n = 2) from the Middle East, and 18.9% (n = 7) from North America. The most commonly reported PRO tools were American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) in 19 papers, Constant-Murley Score (CMS) in 26 papers, Visual Analog Scale for pain (VAS) in 19 papers, and University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) in 11 papers. ASES was reported in 51% of articles with 63% being from Asia (n = 12) compared to 21% from North America (n = 4). CMS was reported in 70% of studies with 58% being from Europe. Upon normalization, the preoperative score ranged from 0.30 to 0.44. Europe (0.39), and North America (0.40) showed similar scores. The lowest and highest scores were seen in the Middle East (0.3) and Asia (0.44) respectively.

Conclusion

There is no standardized method to report outcomes in patients undergoing ARCR for MRCT. Great variation in usage exists in PROs which complicates data comparison between world regions. With normalization, baseline scores where similar among Asia, North America, and Europe, and lowest in the Middle East.

Present situation and development prospects of the diagnosis and treatment of rotator cuff tears

Rotator cuff tears are an important cause of shoulder pain and are caused by degeneration or trauma of the shoulder tendon at the anatomical neck of the humeral head. The understanding and research of rotator cuff tears have a history of hundreds of years, and their etiology, diagnosis, and treatment have a complete system, but some detailed rules of diagnosis and treatment still have room for development. This research paper briefly introduces the diagnosis and treatment of rotator cuff tears. The current situation and its valuable research direction are described.

Which preoperative factors influence the patient's short-term subjective assessment after rotator cuff repair?

INTRODUCTION

To highlight the preoperative risk factors that influence postoperative patient satisfaction following Rotator Cuff Repair (RCR) and to determine whether this satisfaction was correlated with tendon healing.

HYPOTHESIS

Preoperative factors influence patient satisfaction, assessed by SSV (Subjective Shoulder Value) postoperatively, with a correlation with tendon healing.

METHODS

With a mean age of 60.6 years (40-72), 102 patients with arthroscopic RCR were included retrospectively. The preoperative SSV score was less than or equal to 50%. There was clinical and radiological follow-up with an ultrasound evaluation of tendon healing 6 months postoperatively. We divided the patients into 2 groups using a postoperative SSV of 85% as the cut-off; 55 patients in the first group (SSV>85%); and 47 patients in the second group (SSV<85%).

RESULTS

In multivariate analysis, Preoperative risk factors for poor postoperative SSV after RCR were: tobacco use [-8.41 (-13.64; -3.17) p=0.002], fatty infiltration [-3.65 (-6.24 -1.06) p=0.006] and workers compensation [-19.15 (-24.04; -14.27) p<0.001]. When patients were not in workers compensation, the lower their SSV score before surgery, the higher their postoperative SSV score. For patients in workers compensation, the higher the SSV preoperatively, the less elevated was SSV postoperatively. The Sugaya ultrasound classification did not influence the SSV score (p=0.15) CONCLUSIONS: Smoking, fatty infiltration and patients in workers compensation are factors of poorer subjective results evaluated by the SSV score. Tendon healing did not influence the SSV score and patient satisfaction.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV, cohort study.

Infraspinatus shift for massive, posterosuperior tears yields good clinical outcome

AIM

To evaluate the functional outcome of partial reconstruction margin convergence in the treatment of massive, irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tear (RCT).

METHODS

This retrospective, single-center study included all patients that were operated by means of a partial repair and infraspinatus shift for a massive, posterosuperior cuff tear between 2009 and 2016, either in arthroscopic or mini-open technique. Outcome measures included sex- and age-adapted Constant Score (saCS), Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) Index, Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand Scores (DASH), and relative effect per patient (REPP).

RESULTS

Fifty-six shoulders in 54 patients (mean age: 66 ± 7 years) were evaluated at a mean follow-up of 40 ± 9 months. The mean tear size was Bateman 3.1 ± 0.7 and Patte 2.3 ± 0.4. All clinical scores showed improvement. The saCS improved from 64.1 ± 13.4 to 90.4 ± 13.7 (p < 0.0001), the DASH score from 51.8 ± 9.4 to 10.2 ± 13.4 (p < 0.0001) and the WORC index from 47.1% ± 8.6 to 87.9% ± 13.7 (p < 0.0001). The abduction strength of the affected side (1.7 ± 1.6 kg) was not restored to the same level as the contralateral side (5.4 ± 2.7 kg, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Partial cuff repair for posterosuperior, massive cuff tears yields good clinical outcome with a low rate of complications and high proportion of good and excellent responders.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Superior capsule reconstruction, partial cuff repair, graft interposition, arthroscopic debridement or balloon spacers for large and massive irreparable rotator cuff tears: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Multiple non-arthroplasty surgical techniques are described for the management of large and massive irreparable rotator cuff tears. There is currently no consensus on the best management strategy. Our aim was to compare clinical outcomes following arthroscopic debridement, arthroscopic partial cuff repair, superior capsule reconstruction, balloon spacers or graft interposition for the management of large and massive irreparable rotator cuff tears.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was performed of the following databases: Medline, Embase, CINAHL and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Data were extracted from relevant studies published since January 2000 according to the pre-specified inclusion criteria. The primary outcome was the post-operative improvement in shoulder scores. Meta-analysis of the primary outcome was performed. Secondary outcomes included retear rates and complications.

RESULTS

Eighty-two studies were included reporting the outcomes of 2790 shoulders. Fifty-one studies were included in the meta-analysis of the primary outcome. The definition of an irreparable tear varied. All procedures resulted in improved shoulder scores at early follow-up. Shoulder scores declined after 2 years following balloon spacers, arthroscopic debridement and partial cuff repair. High retear rates were seen with partial cuff repairs (45%), graft interposition (21%) and superior capsule reconstruction (21%).

CONCLUSIONS

Large initial improvements in shoulder scores were demonstrated for all techniques despite high retear rates for reconstructive procedures. Shoulder scores may decline at mid- to long-term follow-up.

Can the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation be used as a stand-alone subjective outcome instrument in patients undergoing rotator cuff repair?

BACKGROUND/HYPOTHESIS

There is no consensus to which patient-determined shoulder outcome scores should be considered when analyzing patient outcomes. Use of multiple patient-determined outcomes may be redundant and cause increased responder burden. The Single Assessment Numeric (SANE) has not been widely accepted as a stand-alone shoulder-specific outcome measure. The hypothesis was that SANE will correlate with and be comparable in responsiveness to other subjective outcome measures that have been used in a stand-alone fashion in patients undergoing rotator cuff repair (American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form [ASES], Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index [WORC], and the Simple Shoulder Test [SST]). In addition, the SANE will be more relevant to each patient compared to the ASES, further supporting its use as a stand-alone shoulder-specific outcomes measure.

METHODS

A retrospective review of a database of patients undergoing rotator cuff repair was reviewed where the SANE was recorded with the ASES, WORC, and/or SST. Correlations were determined using the Pearson coefficient. Subgroup analysis was performed to determine if correlations differed in (1) preoperative and (2) postoperative outcome determinations. Responsiveness was determined by calculating the standardized response mean (SRM) and the effect size (ES) of all scores. Relevance and precision of the SANE and ASES were examined using 150 consecutive patients to determine the number of questions in each score that were not answered.

RESULTS

Correlation was excellent for the SANE and the ASES (n = 1838, r = 0.81, P < .0001), the WORC (n = 1793, r = 0.82, P < .0001), and the SST (n = 1836, r = 0.76, P < .0001). Correlation of preoperative scores was moderate and postoperative scores were excellent when comparing the SANE with all 3 scores. All scores were highly responsive, with the SRM of the SANE = 2.1, ASES = 2.2, WORC = 2.4, and the SST = 1.8. The ES of the SANE = 2.4, ASES = 2.7, WORC = 3.0, and the SST = 2.1. One hundred percent of the SANE scores were answered completely compared with 57% (P < .0001) of the ASES, with significant variability found in the answers to the "work" and "score" questions.

CONCLUSION

In patients undergoing rotator cuff repair, the SANE highly correlated and has equivalent responsiveness with the WORC, ASES, and SST, which have been used as stand-alone shoulder-specific outcomes measures. The SANE may provide the same information as the WORC, ASES, and SST regarding outcome with significant reduction in responder burden. This study supports that the SANE can be used as a subjective, stand-alone instrument for patients undergoing rotator cuff repair.

Humeral head coverage in arthroscopic partial repair of massive rotator cuff tears improves functional outcomes: an analysis of influential factors

BACKGROUND

Although partial rotator cuff repair has shown good outcomes, differences in clinical outcomes remain concerns. This study was performed to determine whether patients with humeral head coverage would show better functional outcomes than patients without humeral head coverage and to identify the factors for humeral head coverage after arthroscopic partial repair of massive tears.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study of 63 patients with massive rotator cuff tears who underwent arthroscopic partial repair between 2012 and 2018. Two to four margin convergences were first performed; then, the Mason-Allen technique was performed. The patients were divided into 2 groups: those with humeral head coverage (38 cases) and those without humeral head coverage (25 cases). The following factors were evaluated: age; sex; hypertension; diabetes; osteoporosis; preoperative and postoperative pseudoparalysis, visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, Constant score, acromiohumeral distance, and subacromial bony spur; and subscapularis tear and repair. Muscle atrophy and fatty degeneration were evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging preoperatively, and the integrity of the repaired cuff was evaluated by ultrasonography at a minimum of 2 years after surgery.

RESULTS

Compared with preoperative values, significant improvements in VAS pain scores (from 6.27 to 2.32 in patients with humeral head coverage and from 7.00 to 2.81 in those without humeral head coverage) and Constant scores (from 51.35 to 75.95 and from 44.62 to 69.81, respectively) were observed in both groups (P < .001). Statistical analysis revealed that postoperative VAS pain scores (2.32 vs. 2.81) and Constant scores (75.95 vs. 69.81) in patients with humeral head coverage were superior to those in patients without humeral head coverage (P = .044 and P = .003, respectively). The integrity of the repaired cuff was evaluated by ultrasonography, and partial tears were found in 4 of 37 patients with humeral head coverage and 2 of 26 patients without humeral head coverage (P = .816). Univariable logistic regression analysis revealed that age (P < .001), comorbidity (P = .005), symptom duration (P = .023), preoperative shoulder mobility (P < .001), maintained acromiohumeral distance (P = .006), subscapularis tear (P = .026), and less preoperative supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscle atrophy (P = .001 and P = .010, respectively) had significant correlations with humeral head coverage.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall satisfactory results were achieved in most patients regardless of high retear rates, but patients with partial repair covering the humeral head were associated with better outcomes than patients without humeral head coverage. Multivariable regression analysis revealed that age (<70 years, P = .003), capability of shoulder mobility (P = .005), maintenance of the acromiohumeral space (>7 mm, P = .016), and less atrophy of the rotator cuff muscles (P = .021) were favorable factors to achieve humeral head coverage during surgical partial repair of massive rotator cuff tears.

Nonarthroplasty options for massive, irreparable rotator cuff tears have improvement in range of motion and patient-reported outcomes at short-term follow-up: a systematic review

PURPOSE

To compare various nonarthroplasty treatment options for massive, irreparable rotator cuff tears, including allograft bridging/augmentation, debridement, partial repair, superior capsule reconstruction (SCR), subacromial balloon spacer, and tendon transfer.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted through the PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE databases for all articles pertaining to nonarthroplasty treatment options for irreparable rotator cuff tears. Inclusion criteria included manuscripts published between 2009 and 2020 with at least 1 year follow-up and Level I-IV evidence. Articles were separated into six groups: debridement, arthroscopic and open repair, allograft bridging/augmentation, SCR, subacromial balloon spacer, and tendon transfer. Data points included range of motion (external rotation, abduction, forward flexion, and internal rotation), visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, Constant score, rate of revision surgery, and rate of conversion to arthroplasty.

RESULTS

A total of 83 studies and 3363 patients were included. All treatment options had statistically significant improvements in postoperative range of motion and patient-reported outcomes. Debridement had statistically significantly greater postoperative abduction and forward flexion range of motion, as well as better VAS pain scores, compared to the other treatment options. The SCR subgroup had the greatest improvement in ASES scores postoperatively. The overall revision rate was 7.2% among all surgical options, with the allograft bridging/augmentation group having the lowest rate of revision at 0-8.3%. The overall rate of conversion to arthroplasty was 7.2%, with debridement having the greatest rate of conversion at 15.4%.

CONCLUSION

All six nonarthroplasty treatment options for irreparable rotator cuff tears resulted in statistically significant improvements in range of motion and patient-reported outcomes at 1 year follow-up or more, with low rates of revision and conversion to arthroplasty. Debridement had statistically significantly greater postoperative abduction and forward flexion range of motion, as well as better VAS pain scores, compared to the other treatment options. However, these conclusions should be interpreted with caution due to the heterogeneous nature of the data, lack of prospective randomized control trials, and short-term follow-up. The findings of this study highlight the complexity of irreparable, massive rotator cuff tears, and the need for an individualized approach when treating these patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV.

Clinical outcomes of latissimus dorsi tendon transfer and superior capsular reconstruction for irreparable rotator cuff tears: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Functionally irreparable rotator cuff tears (FIRCTs) present an ongoing challenge to the orthopedic surgeon. The aim of this systematic review was to critically compare the outcomes of three latissimus dorsi tendon transfer (LDT) techniques and two superior capsular reconstruction (SCR) techniques in treatment of FIRCTs.

METHODS

A systematic review of studies evaluating the outcome of FIRCT treatment was performed via a search of four databases in April 2020. Each included study was reviewed in duplicate by two reviewers for evaluation of methodological quality. The treatments analyzed were arthroscopic LDT (aLDT), open LDT Gerber technique (oLDTG), open LDT L'Episcopo technique (oLDTL), SCR with allograft (SCR-Allo), and SCR with autograft (SCR-TFL). Demographics, range of motion, patient-reported outcome measures, radiographic acromiohumeral distance (AHD), treatment failures, and revisions were recorded.

RESULTS

Forty-six studies (1287 shoulders) met criteria for inclusion. Twenty-three studies involved open latissimus transfer, with 445 shoulders undergoing oLDTG with mean follow-up of 63.2 months and 60 patients undergoing oLDTL with mean follow-up of 51.8 months. Ten studies (n = 369, F/U 29.2mo) reported on aLDT. Seven studies (n = 253, F/U 16.9mo) concerned SCR-Allo, and six studies (n = 160, F/U 32.mo) reported on SCR-TFL. Range of motion and subjective outcome scores improved in all techniques with no differences across treatments. Both SCR methods provided greater improvement in AHD than open LDT methods (p < 0.01). The re-tear rates were lower in both oLDT groups compared to the SCR groups (p = 0.03). Clinical failure rates were higher in the SCR-Allo and oLDTG groups, while overall treatment failures were lowest in oLDTL compared to all four other groups.

CONCLUSION

SCR techniques were associated with improved short-term radiographic acromiohumeral distance, while the open LDT techniques had lower tendon re-tear and treatment failure rates. All techniques resulted in improved clinical outcomes and pain relief compared to preoperative levels with no differences across techniques.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV

Systematic review of case series and cohort studies.

Primary arthroscopic repair of massive rotator cuff tears results in significant improvements with low rate of re-tear

PURPOSE

To conduct a systematic review of outcomes following primary arthroscopic repair of chronic massive rotator cuff tears (RCTs) and to assess clinical outcomes and rates of repair failure. The authors' preferred treatment algorithm is also provided.

METHODS

Medline, Embase and PubMed were searched identifying articles pertaining to primary arthroscopic repair of chronic massive RCTs without the use of augmentation. Primary outcomes were patient-reported outcomes and the secondary outcome was the rate of repair failure. Outcome data were pooled and presented as well as assessment of study methodological quality. Data from studies reporting similar outcome measures were pooled when possible, and mean differences alongside confidence intervals and p values were reported, where appropriate.

RESULTS

Twenty-six studies (1405 participants) were included, with mean age of 62 years (range 52-69). The mean duration of symptoms pre-operatively was 31 months (range 6-40), and the mean follow-up time was 39 months (range 12-111). Complete repair was performed in 78% of patients and partial repair was performed in 22%. Both complete and partial repairs resulted in significant improvements with respect to pain, range of motion and functional outcome scores. The rate of repair failure for the total cohort was 36% at a mean follow-up of 31 months, and for the complete and partial repair subgroups the failure rate was 35% and 40%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Arthroscopic repairs of chronic, massive RCTs, whether complete or partial, are associated with significant improvements in pain, function and objective outcome scores. The rate of repair failure is lower than previously reported, however, still high at 36%. The present paper finds that arthroscopic repair is still a viable treatment option for massive RCTs.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

[Irreparable rotator cuff tear-reverse shoulder arthroplasty and alternative procedures]

Irreparable rotator cuff tears represent a significant everyday clinical challenge. A high degree of tendon retraction and muscle degeneration means that a direct reconstruction is impossible. Patients often suffer from pain and pseudoparalysis. In older patients this can reliably be resolved by the implantation of a semiconstrained inverse shoulder prosthesis; however, for younger patients joint-preserving techniques should be employed. Furthermore, for frail older patients who may not be suitable for a joint replacement operation, alternative treatment strategies are required. Management options include physiotherapy and pain relieving or reconstructive operations. Minimally invasive arthroscopic treatment approaches can lead to pain relief and slight functional improvements in selected patients; however, to restore the active movement of the joint a partial cuff repair, augmentation with a graft or replacement with muscle transfer is necessary. This article presents the various treatment options and the results reported in the literature. Through this a treatment algorithm is suggested in order to facilitate management decisions.

Arthroscopic Side-to-Side Repair of Massive Rotator Cuff Tears Maintains Adequate Functional Improvement at 12 to 14 Years' Follow-up

BACKGROUND

Rotator cuff tears are common shoulder injuries that often cause pain and loss of function. Nonanatomic side-to-side techniques facilitate repair by minimizing tensions within tendons to improve healing and optimize the thickness of sutured tissues.

PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS

The purpose was to evaluate long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of arthroscopic side-to-side repair of massive rotator cuff tears (mRCTs). The hypothesis was that, at a minimum follow-up of 12 years, arthroscopic side-to-side repair maintains clinically important improvements.

STUDY DESIGN

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS

The authors reviewed records of all patients who underwent arthroscopic repair of mRCTs over 2 consecutive years. A total of 30 adult patients met the eligibility criteria and underwent side-to-side repair. Patients were evaluated clinically using the Constant score (CS) and ultrasound to assess retears at 3 timepoints after surgery: 2 to 4 years, 5 to 7 years, and 12 to 14 years.

RESULTS

At first follow-up (3.2 ± 0.5 years), all 30 patients had clinical and ultrasound assessment, which revealed 13 retears (43%). At second follow-up (6.2 ± 0.5 years), all 30 patients had clinical and ultrasound assessment, which revealed 2 new retears (total 50%). At final follow-up (13.0 ± 0.7 years), only 21 patients had clinical assessment (1 died and 8 could not be reached), and only 19 patients had ultrasound assessment, which revealed 6 new retears (total 79%). Both absolute CS and age-/sex-adjusted CS improved significantly from baseline values at first follow-up (73.5 and 96.6, respectively), and remained stable at second follow-up (69.0 and 91.9, respectively), and final follow-up (64.4 and 87.0, respectively). Compared to shoulders with intact repairs, those with retears tended to have lower absolute CS at all follow-up visits, although differences were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Patients with mRCTs maintain satisfactory clinical scores at 12 to 14 years after arthroscopic side-to-side repair despite a high incidence of retears. Repair is a safe and effective treatment for mRCTs, providing a less invasive and less complex alternative to reverse shoulder arthroplasty and tendon transfer procedures.

Partial and complete repairs of massive rotator cuff tears maintain similar long-term improvements in clinical scores

PURPOSE

The authors have previously published early outcomes of arthroscopic repairs of 86 massive rotator cuff tears (mRCTs) and aimed to determine whether their clinical scores are maintained or deteriorate after 5 more years.

METHODS

Of the initial series of 86 shoulders, 2 had deceased, 16 lost to follow-up and 4 reoperated, leaving 64 for assessment. The repairs were complete in 44 and partial in 20, and 17 shoulders had pseudoparalysis. Preoperative assessment included absolute Constant score, shoulder strength, tear pattern, tendon retraction, and fatty infiltration. Patients were evaluated at 8.1 ± 0.6 years (range 7.1-9.3) using absolute and age-/sex-adjusted Constant score, subjective shoulder value (SSV), and simple shoulder test (SST).

RESULTS

Absolute Constant score was 80.0 ± 11.7 at first follow-up (at 2-5 years) but diminished to 76.7 ± 10.2 at second follow-up (at 7-10 years) (p < 0.001). Adjusted Constant score was 99.7 ± 15.9 at first follow-up and remained 98.8 ± 15.9 at second follow-up (ns). Comparing other outcomes revealed a decrease in strength over time (p < 0.001) but no change in pain, SSV or SST. Partially-repaired shoulders had lower strength at both follow-ups (p < 0.05). Pseudoparalytic shoulders had lower absolute and adjusted Constant score at second follow-up (p < 0.05), but their net improvements in absolute Constant score were higher (p = 0.014).

CONCLUSIONS

Both partial and complete arthroscopic repairs grant satisfactory long-term outcomes for patients with mRCTs, regardless of their tear pattern, fatty infiltration and presence of pseudoparalysis. Absolute Constant score decreased over time for both repair types, but adjusted Constant score remained stable, suggesting that decline is due to aging rather than tissue degeneration. The clinical relevance of this study is that arthroscopic repair should be considered for mRCTs, even if not completely repairable, rather than more invasive and/or risky treatments, such as reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

The Role of Partial Rotator Cuff Repairs in Patients With Massive Irreparable Tears Without Arthritis

In patients with chronic massive rotator cuff tears, complete repair is often not achievable or the repair is performed under significant tension with risk of early failure. The goal of a partial rotator cuff repair is to decrease pain, restore force couples, and improve range of motion of the shoulder. A systematic review was performed to assess active range of motion (ie, forward elevation, external rotation), pain, and patient-reported outcome scores after partial repair of massive rotator cuff tears. Significant improvements in forward elevation, visual analog scale pain scores, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores, and Constant scores were observed, and perioperative complication rates were minimal. Partial rotator cuff repairs remain a viable treatment option in this patient population. [Orthopedics. 2020; 43(1):e1-e7.].

Combined Fully Arthroscopic Transfer of Latissimus Dorsi and Teres Major for Treatment of Irreparable Posterosuperior Rotator Cuff Tears

Many treatment options have been proposed for treatment of irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears. Among these options, latissimus dorsi tendon transfer can be considered a good alternative, especially in young patients before development of glenohumeral arthritic changes, aiming at rebalancing the shoulder with a functioning subscapularis muscle and restoring both active external rotation and elevation with the aid of a properly functioning deltoid muscle. The technique was recently adapted from open to arthroscopically assisted with numerous advantages. We propose a combined fully arthroscopic technique for transfer of latissimus dorsi and teres major in which the tendons are fixed in a flat manner at the junction of supraspinatus and infraspinatus to decrease failure rate.

Low level of evidence for all treatment modalities for irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears

PURPOSE

This systematic review assesses evidence for improvements in outcome for all reported types of treatment modalities [physical therapy, tenotomy or tenodesis of the long head of the biceps, debridement, partial repair, subacromial spacer, deltoid flap, muscle transfer, rotator cuff advancement, graft interposition, superior capsular reconstruction (SCR), and reversed shoulder arthroplasty (RSA)] used for irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears without glenohumeral osteoarthritis. The primary aim was to be able to inform patients about expectations of the amount of clinical improvement after these treatments.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases for studies on irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff lesions without glenohumeral osteoarthritis, published from January 2007 until January 2019, with minimum 2-year follow-up. Studies with pre-operative and/or intra-operative determination of cuff tear irreparability were included. We defined the non-adjusted Constant Score as the primary outcome.

RESULTS

Sixty studies (2000 patients) were included with a fair mean quality score, according to the Modified Coleman Methodology Score. The employed definitions of 'irreparable' were mainly based on MRI criteria and were highly variable among studies. The smallest weighted mean preoperative to post-operative improvements in Constant Score were reported for biceps tenotomy/tenodesis (10.7 points) and physical therapy (13.0). These were followed by debridement (21.8) and muscle transfer (27.8), whereas the largest increases were reported for partial repair (32.0), subacromial spacer (32.5), rotator cuff advancement (33.2), RSA (34.4), graft reconstruction (35.0), deltoid flap (39.8), and SCR (47.4). Treatment using deltoid flap showed highest mean weighted improvement in Constant Score among studies with available medium-term (4-5-year) follow-up. Treatments deltoid flap, muscle transfer, and debridement were the only treatments with available long-term (8-10-year) follow-up and showed similar improvements in Constant Score at this time point.

CONCLUSION

The variability in patient characteristics, co-interventions, outcome reporting, and length of follow-up in studies on irreparable rotator cuff tears without osteoarthritis complicates sound comparison of treatments. Clinically important treatment effects were seen for all 11 different treatment modalities.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Outcomes of Subacromial Balloon Spacer Implantation for Massive and Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears: A Systematic Review

Background

Selection of optimal treatment for massive to irreparable rotator cuff tears (RCTs) entails a challenging decision-making process in which surgeons must consider several factors, including duration of symptoms, tear pattern, tear size, and muscle quality, as well as patient characteristics such as age, comorbidities, shoulder dominance, and activity level. Unfortunately, no clear consensus has been reached regarding optimal management.

Purpose

To systematically review the published literature assessing outcomes after subacromial balloon spacer implantation for treatment of massive and irreparable RCTs.

Study Design

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was performed in September 2018 through use of MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library electronic databases. Studies were assessed for multiple outcomes of interest including Constant score, Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS), University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Shoulder Score, complications, and patient satisfaction.

Results

After applying the selection criteria, 12 clinical studies were included for data extraction and analysis. In total, 291 shoulders (in 284 patients) treated with subacromial balloon spacer implantation were pooled for evaluation, with a mean follow-up of 22.9 ± 14.9 months (range, 6-60 months). Constant scores were used as an outcome metric for 267 shoulders (91.7%; 11 studies), with improvements in mean Constant score ranging from 18.5 to 49.6 points. Patient satisfaction was assessed in 105 patients (37.0%; 5 studies), with rates of patients indicating they were satisfied or very satisfied with their treatment outcome ranging from 45.8% to 100%. A total of 6 patients (2.1%) experienced complications related to balloon spacer implantation, including transient neurapraxia of the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve, superficial wound infection, deep wound infection, and balloon migration. Of these, 3 patients (2 balloon migration, 1 deep wound infection) required subsequent surgeries for balloon removal.

Conclusion

Placement of the subacromial balloon spacer is a minimally invasive, technically simple procedure with favorable patient-reported outcomes at limited short-term follow-up. However, inherent methodological limitations and patient heterogeneity between studies may impair our ability to fully characterize the longer term efficacy, particularly relative to other potential surgical options. Further prospective randomized or comparative studies are warranted to ascertain clinical outcomes of subacromial balloon spacer in the management of massive and irreparable RCTs.