Rotator Cuff Repair with Knotless All-Suture Medial Row Anchors and Biceps Autograft Augmentation

ABSTRACT: Incomplete healing and/or functional failure following rotator cuff tear repair remains a challenging problem for both patients and surgeons. Augmentation strategies are growing to increase healing through biologic and mechanical mechanisms to improve functional results after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. The majority of currently described augmentation techniques use allograft tissue. An alternative, low-cost, autograft option for augmentation is the use of the long head of biceps tendon autograft as a free functional graft. Here, we describe the use of autograft biceps tendon as a viable option for augmentation of double-row rotator cuff repair with knotless all-suture suture anchors. Technique Video Video 1 Arthroscopic repair of a right shoulder rotator cuff repair, subpectoral open biceps tenodesis, and autograft biceps graft augmentation is performed in a beach-chair position. We begin with a diagnostic arthroscopy viewing the subacromial space through the posterolateral portal. The rotator cuff tear is evaluated using a grasper through the lateral portal. The rotator cuff is repaired using a knotless configuration double row transosseous-equivalent beginning with all-suture anchors being placed, creating a medial row. These sutures are then passed through the rotator cuff tear and brought to a lateral row where the final construct is visualized. Next, we perform a mini-open subpectoral biceps tenodesis using a low axillary incision. The proximal biceps tendon is harvested and placed on the back table to be measured for autograft augmentation. The biceps autograft is placed in a compression plate and loaded into the press, where it is “smashed.” Sutures are put into all 4 corners of the graft and loaded onto the delivery device. The patch is inserted into the shoulder through a cannulated lateral portal into the subacromial space and deployed over the rotator cuff repair. The patch is fixated medially using a PLGA tissue tack device and laterally with two anchors. The final repair construct is demonstrated by the autograft patch augmentation lying flush over the rotator cuff repair.

SUBMITTER: Hassebrock J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10466225 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature