ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Minerva Ortopedica e Traumatologica 2020 June;71(2):39-44

DOI: 10.23736/S0394-3410.19.03962-6

Copyright © 2019 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Mini-open repair for massive and irreparable rotator cuff tears with long head of biceps including technique: results at 5 years of follow-up

Gianfranco PUDDU, Vitaliano FRAU, Stefano CONGIA ✉, Alessandro PUDDA, Giulio SORRENTINO

Unit of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Nostra Signora di Bonaria Hospital, San Gavino Monreale, Sud Sardegna, Italy

BACKGROUND: We describe the results of a novel technique based on Mini-Open repair for massive rotator cuff tear using the long head of biceps as support for suture.
METHODS: From 2008 to 2015, 43 massive and irreparable cuff tears were operated with this technique. Results were assessed trough Constant Shoulder Score, Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS), Quick-DASH and VAS at a mean follow-up of 66.7 months (range, 34-110). Ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance (MRI) were performed to estimate the healing of the repaired cuff.
RESULTS: VAS Score decreased 6.7 point from preoperative to follow-up (P<0.01). At the time of the follow-up a significant improvement of every clinical score was detected (P<0.01). Tendon healing, estimated by Sugaya’s classification, was found, at final follow-up, in 66.7% cases with US, and 59% with MRI.
CONCLUSIONS: Mini-Open repair for massive rotator cuff tear with the use of long head of biceps is an alternative technique that has proved to be easy to perform and cost effective. It has allowed us to obtain good results when, intraoperatively, we found impossible to provide an anatomic reconstruction.

KEY WORDS: Rotator cuff; Injuries; Treatment