Tendon Transfer for Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears: Indications and Surgical Rationale

Overview

Journal Muscles Ligaments Tendons J

Date 2015 Mar 14

PMID 25767779

Citations 10

Authors

Giovanni Merolla

Claudio Chillemi

Vincenzo Franceschini

Simone Cerciello

Giorgio Ippolito

Paolo Paladini

Giuseppe Porcellini

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: treatment of symptomatic irreparable rotator cuff tears is extremely challenging because, at present, there are no ideal solutions to this problem. Many patients respond favorably to nonsurgical treatment. However, when conservative measures fail to improve the patient's pain and disability, surgery should be considered.

Methods: different surgical techniques are available and the choice of the most appropriate procedure depends on the presenting symptoms, age of the patient, functional demand, medical comorbidities, joint stability and presence of arthritic changes. The transposition of the surrounding muscles to replace the rotator cuff function represents a viable option in the treatment of younger patients without glenohumeral osteoarthritis and with severe functional limitation.

Purpose: aim of this study is to give an overview of the currently available evidence regarding tendon transfer procedures for irreparable rotator cuff tears.

Citing Articles

Advances toward transformative therapies for tendon diseases.

Freedman B, Mooney D, Weber E Sci Transl Med. 2022; 14(661):eabl8814.

PMID: 36070365 PMC: 11041812. DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abl8814.

Consider Long Head of Biceps Tendon for Reconstruction of Massive, Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tear.

Selim N, Badawy E Arthrosc Tech. 2021; 10(2):e457-e467.

PMID: 33680779 PMC: 7917143. DOI: 10.1016/j.eats.2020.10.024.

Supraspinatus repair and biceps tenodesis in competitive CrossFit athletes allow for a 100% of return to sport.

Carbone S, Castagna V, Passaretti D, Candela V, Cerciello S, Delli Sante E Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2020; 29(12):3929-3935.

PMID: 33159531 DOI: 10.1007/s00167-020-06345-2.

Arthroscopic Superior Capsule Reconstruction and Rotator Cuff Repair to Restore Static and Dynamic Stability of the Shoulder.

Alike Y, Hou J, Tang Y, Yu M, Long Y, Li F Orthop Surg. 2020; 12(5):1503-1510.

PMID: 32851772 PMC: 7670152. DOI: 10.1111/os.12768.

The use of a synthetic shoulder patch for large and massive rotator cuff tears - a feasibility study.

Cowling P, Hackney R, Dube B, Grainger A, Biglands J, Stanley M BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2020; 21(1):213.

PMID: 32264949 PMC: 7140555. DOI: 10.1186/s12891-020-03227-z.

References

Omid R, Lee B . Tendon transfers for irreparable rotator cuff tears. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2013; 21(8):492-501. DOI: 10.5435/JAAOS-21-08-492. View

Gerber C . Latissimus dorsi transfer for the treatment of irreparable tears of the rotator cuff. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1992; (275):152-60. View

Gerhardt C, Lehmann L, Lichtenberg S, Magosch P, Habermeyer P . Modified L'Episcopo tendon transfers for irreparable rotator cuff tears: 5-year follow-up. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2009; 468(6):1572-7. PMC: 2865627. DOI: 10.1007/s11999-009-1030-4. View

Patte D . Classification of rotator cuff lesions. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1990; (254):81-6. View

Merolla G, Paladini P, Saporito M, Porcellini G . Conservative management of rotator cuff tears: literature review and proposal for a prognostic. Prediction Score. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2013; 1(1):12-9. PMC: 3666466. View

Jost B, Puskas G, Lustenberger A, Gerber C . Outcome of pectoralis major transfer for the treatment of irreparable subscapularis tears. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2003; 85(10):1944-51. DOI: 10.2106/00004623-200310000-00012. View

Neer 2nd C . Anterior acromioplasty for the chronic impingement syndrome in the shoulder: a preliminary report. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1972; 54(1):41-50. View

Padulo J, Oliva F, Frizziero A, Maffulli N . Muscle, Ligaments and Tendons Journal. Basic principles and recommendations in clinical and field science research. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2014; 3(4):250-2. PMC: 3940496. View

Keener J, Wei A, Kim H, Steger-May K, Yamaguchi K . Proximal humeral migration in shoulders with symptomatic and asymptomatic rotator cuff tears. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2009; 91(6):1405-13. PMC: 2686133. DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.H.00854. View

10.

Zafra M, Carpintero P, Carrasco C . Latissimus dorsi transfer for the treatment of massive tears of the rotator cuff. Int Orthop. 2008; 33(2):457-62. PMC: 2899072. DOI: 10.1007/s00264-008-0536-9. View

11.

De Cupis V, Chillemi C, Marinelli M . Grammont inverted prosthesis for the treatment of cuff tear arthropathy: a 6-year follow-up study. Orthopedics. 2009; 31(5):447. DOI: 10.3928/01477447-20080501-06. View

12.

Dines D, Moynihan D, Dines J, McCann P . Irreparable rotator cuff tears: what to do and when to do it; the surgeon's dilemma. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006; 88(10):2294-302. DOI: 10.2106/00004623-200610000-00025. View

13.

Goutallier D, Postel J, Gleyze P, Leguilloux P, Van Driessche S . Influence of cuff muscle fatty degeneration on anatomic and functional outcomes after simple suture of full-thickness tears. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2003; 12(6):550-4. DOI: 10.1016/s1058-2746(03)00211-8. View

14.

Harvie P, Ostlere S, Teh J, McNally E, Clipsham K, Burston B . Genetic influences in the aetiology of tears of the rotator cuff. Sibling risk of a full-thickness tear. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2004; 86(5):696-700. DOI: 10.1302/0301-620x.86b5.14747. View

15.

Yamaguchi K, Tetro A, Blam O, Evanoff B, Teefey S, Middleton W . Natural history of asymptomatic rotator cuff tears: a longitudinal analysis of asymptomatic tears detected sonographically. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2001; 10(3):199-203. DOI: 10.1067/mse.2001.113086. View

16.

Wildemann B, Klatte F . Biological aspects of rotator cuff healing. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2013; 1(4):161-8. PMC: 3666482. View

17.

Elhassan B, Ozbaydar M, Massimini D, DILLER D, Higgins L, Warner J . Transfer of pectoralis major for the treatment of irreparable tears of subscapularis: does it work?. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2008; 90(8):1059-65. DOI: 10.1302/0301-620X.90B8.20659. View

18.

Kang J, Gupta R . Mechanisms of fatty degeneration in massive rotator cuff tears. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2012; 21(2):175-80. DOI: 10.1016/j.jse.2011.11.017. View

19.

Iannotti J, Hennigan S, Herzog R, Kella S, Kelley M, Leggin B . Latissimus dorsi tendon transfer for irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears. Factors affecting outcome. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006; 88(2):342-8. DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.D.02996. View

20.

Gavriilidis I, Kircher J, Magosch P, Lichtenberg S, Habermeyer P . Pectoralis major transfer for the treatment of irreparable anterosuperior rotator cuff tears. Int Orthop. 2009; 34(5):689-94. PMC: 2903163. DOI: 10.1007/s00264-009-0799-9. View