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Address correspondence to Yang-Soo Kim, M.D., Ph.D., Banpo-Daero 222, Secho-gu, Seoul, Korea, 06591, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.
A large-to-massive rotator cuff tear is a complicated disease for an orthopedic surgeon to get the best results and prevent complications like retears or progression to arthropathy. Although there are several surgical options for managing these tears, there is still no gold standard treatment. The key point in the solution would be preventing the upward migration of the humeral head to create a biomechanically stable joint to promote rotator cuff healing. In this article, we introduced a technique called an acromiograft, in which the allograft is attached to the undersurface of the acromion.
A wide variety of surgical techniques, such as partial repair, biceps augmentation, tendon transfer, and superior capsular reconstruction, have been introduced as treatment methods for large-to-massive cuff tears.
The reason why there are so many options is that it is difficult to treat it completely, and there is no gold standard treatment method for massive cuff tears yet.
Recently, the superior capsular reconstruction (SCR) technique was introduced and is gaining popularity.
As a countermeasure against these problems, the arthroscopic biceps rerouting (BR) technique was introduced as a new method for large-to-massive cuff tears without harvesting an autograft, which was originally named in situ SCR.
A cadaveric biomechanical study showed that BR restored shoulder stability in patients with large-to-massive cuff tears, in which superior humeral translation was significantly decreased by the BR method compared to the partial repair of large-to-massive cuff tears.
Effect of biceps rerouting technique to restore glenohumeral joint stability for large irreparable rotator cuff tears: A cadaveric biomechanical study.
However, if the long head of the biceps is not healthy enough for rerouting because of severe tendinopathy or partial tear, this technique cannot be used.
To address this shortcoming, this study proposed another rescue technique. On the basis of the biomechanical principle of creating a functioned shoulder with a downward humeral head,
it is a technique to pile the allograft down under the acromion rather than pile it up on the greater tuberosity of the humerus. This Technical Note describes the arthroscopic fixation of the allograft to the bottom of the acromion for large-to-massive cuff tears. We named this technique an acromiograft.
The patient was prepared in a routine manner, in the lateral decubitus position on a beanbag under general endotracheal anesthesia. The position of the arm was placed at 30° to 40° abduction and 15° to 20° forward flexion. Ten to 15 pounds of traction was applied using an arm sleeve.
Portal Placement and Examination of the Glenohumeral Joint and Subacromial Space
A standard posterior portal is used for viewing, and an anterior portal is placed between the anterolateral edge of the acromion and the tip of the coracoid after checking with the spinal needle, which is suitable for working on the glenohumeral joint. A routine examination is done for detecting subscapularis tendon tears and bicep or labral lesions. After examining the glenohumeral joint, we switched the arthroscope to the subacromial space through the Grand Canyon viewing portal. Then, we make the anterolateral portal in line with the extension of the anterolateral edge of the acromion. A bursectomy is done by an arthroscopic shaver (Advantage Turbo; ConMed, Largo, FL). We measure the anteroposterior tear size and amount of retraction of the torn supraspinatus and determine the tear pattern (Fig 1).
Fig 1Portals and incisions in the lateral decubitus position. (A) anterolateral portal. (B) Grand canyon viewing portal. (C) Posterior portal. (D) Incisions for lateral fixation of the allograft. (E) Superolateral portal for anchor fixation. (F) Anterior portal.
We repair the torn supraspinatus tendon before performing the acromiograft. Medialization is performed about 8–10 mm from the footprint of the tendon. We prepare a bone bed for the repaired tendon using an arthroscopic burr (5.5-mm spherical burr; ConMed) and are careful not to damage the area where the anchor suture would be placed. In the case of delaminated tears, a separate double-row repair or bridge repair is performed. In the case of a massive rotator cuff tear that cannot be covered by the remaining cuff tissue, a partial repair is possible.
Preparation of the Bone Bed of the Undersurface of the Acromion and Allograft and Fixation
To ensure clear visualization, complete bursectomy and soft tissue removal are performed using an electrocautery device (vapor suction electrodes; Depuy Synthes Mitek, Raynham, MA) and a shaver in the subacromial space. After that, we perform skeletalization and decortication of the bone bed of the undersurface of the acromion with an arthroscopic burr (5.5-mm spherical burr; ConMed).
We use a human acellular dermal matrix (Bellacell HD; Hanscare, Seoul) as a spacer to attach under the acromion. We fold and make it 4 cm wide and 2 cm long, and about 6 mm thick to maximize its role as a spacer under the acromion (Fig 2). It is stitched not to furl and also tagged anterolateral, posterolateral edge so that it will not turn over in the subacromial space.
Fig 2Prepared human acellular dermal matrix. We fold it 4 cm wide and 2 cm long, and about 6 mm thick using nonabsorbable sutures.
To fix the allograft of the human acellular dermal matrix under the acromion, the medial side of the human acellular dermal matrix is fixed with two medial anchors. The lateral side of the dermal matrix is fixed with two fiber wires passing through the acromion. For the fixation of the medial side of the allograft, an anteromedial anchor (IconixSpeed, Stryker, Kalamazoo, MI) is fixed to the end of the clavicle, and a posteromedial anchor (Healicoil PK Suture Anchors, Smith & Nephew Endoscopy, Andover, MA) is fixed to the base of the scapular spine. When preparing the bone bed at the base of the scapular spine, care should be taken not to damage the infraspinatus branch of the suprascapular artery and nerve. Since the bones in this area are very hard, tapping is required before fixing the anchor (Fig 3). The anteromedial anchor will be placed under the surface of the lateral end of the clavicle, so the soft tissue under the acromioclavicular joint should be removed to obtain clear visualization and firm fixation of the anchor to the distal end of the clavicle (Fig 4). One of each thread from the anteromedial and posteromedial anchors on the medial side is withdrawn into the anterolateral portal. We pass it through holes 5 mm from the inner corner of each medial side of the allograft.
Fig 3Posteromedial anchor fixation for the medial side of the allograft. We use PEEK type anchor on the scapular spine. A tapping is required as the bones in this area are very hard. And care should be taken not to damage the infraspinatus branch of the suprascapular artery and nerve.
Fig 4Anteromedial anchor fixation for the medial side of the allograft. We use all-suture type anchor on the end of the clavicle. The soft tissue under the acromioclavicular joint should be removed to obtain clear visualization and firm fixation of the anchor.
For the fixation of the lateral side of the allograft, we make a 1-cm skin incision at the front and rear of the acromion (Fig. 1). Anterolateral skin incisions are made 5 mm proximally and posteriorly to the anterolateral edge of the acromion and a posterolateral skin incision is made 5 mm proximally and anteriorly to the posterolateral edge of the acromion in the same manner, above the acromion bone. We drill a pair of holes through the skin incisions on the anterolateral and posterolateral sides of the acromion. The interval between each hole is about 5 mm. We withdraw the fiber wires passed through one hole of the anterolateral and posterolateral parts using a spinal needle to the anterolateral portal in the subacromial space. We make this fiber wire pass through 5 mm from the inner corners of the lateral side of the allograft. Each fiber wire is first passed through the allograft from top to bottom and then passed through the allograft again from bottom to top at an interval of about 5 mm. Then, we pull out the thread that passed through the allograft into the remaining drill hole at the lateral side of the acromion using a shuttle relay.
After we perform the above preparations, two-knot pushers for each thread from the anteromedial and posteromedial anchors are used to push the allograft down along the thread to its final position under the acromion. We use two-knot pushers to push the allograft inside, while simultaneously pulling the fiber wires taken from the anterolateral and posterolateral sides of the acromion and deliver it to make contact under the acromion (Fig 5). All surgical procedures are expressed in order using illustrations for easy understanding (Fig 6) (Table 1).
Fig 5Pushing the allograft into the subacromial space. (A, B) We use a two-knot pusher to push down the allograft. (C) While pressing the knot pusher and pulling the thread pulled from the acromion side together, the allograft is inserted. (D) The allograft is attached to the undersurface of the acromion in the subacromial space.
Fig 6A. Illustration of the right shoulder with lateral decubitus in the partial repair state. (B) All suture-type anchors were fixed to the distal end of the clavicle. A PEEK-type anchor is fixed to the base of the scapular spine. (C) We use an electric drill to make the lateral hole on the acromion. (D) The allograft is sutured with threads from the medial side of each anterior and posterior anchor. (E) A thread from the lateral hole passes through the allograft and returns to the lateral hole beside the starting hole. (F) All the process of allograft fixation is completed.
An immediate postoperative plain radiograph of the anteroposterior view of the shoulder reveal that the acromiohumeral distance is significantly increased to 9.4 mm from 7.1 mm (Fig 7). Two months after surgery, follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) show that the allograft is well fixed to the undersurface of the acromion (Fig 8).
Fig 7Plain X-ray of the anteroposterior view of the shoulder. (A) In the preoperative X-ray, the acromiohumeral distance was 7.1 mm. (B) In the postoperative X-ray, the acromiohumeral distance was enlarged to 9.4 mm.
Fig 8MRI findings. (A, B) The preoperative MRI (T2, oblique coronal) showed a massive cuff tear. (C, D) In the postoperative MRI (T2, oblique sagittal), the allograft was well fixed to the undersurface of the acromion 2 months after surgery.
We usually apply an interscalene block to alleviate postoperative pain. Postoperative rehabilitation starts the day after surgery with an abduction brace. Continuous passive motion (CPM) is allowed only for forward flexion in the painless range. Four weeks after surgery, the patient is allowed to begin pendulum and pulley exercises. Active range of motion starts after 8 weeks. Muscle-strengthening exercises are allowed from 12 weeks after surgery.
Discussion
The basic concept of this technique is widening the acromiohumeral interval (AHI) by pulling down the humeral head. This concept follows the concept of a balloon.
We believe the fixed allograft functions as a spacer in the subacromial space to prevent proximal migration of the humeral head and finally, attains humeral stability.
We introduced the technique of attaching a sufficiently thick allograft to the undersurface of the acromion to achieve joint stability by pressing the humeral head down. There are some advantages of using this technique over the other methods that have been introduced so far. This technique does not have harvest site morbidity, which is a common problem of SCR using an autograft. Since the allograft was attached to the undersurface of the acromion instead of over the greater tuberosity, there was the advantage of avoiding crowding of the anchors to be fixed to the greater tuberosity. As a result, it could be more easily and quickly implemented, free from the problem of twisting the thread. In addition, the size of the area underneath the acromion to which the allograft is attached is 894.77 mm2 (AP: 41.007 mm × ML: 21.82 mm)
We can expect a higher rate of allograft tendon healing on the bone underneath the acromion than on the footprint of the greater tuberosity since the bone bed area for biological healing is much broader than that of the greater tuberosity. During surgery on retear cases, it is frequently observed that the retorn tendon is attached to the undersurface of the acromion where acromioplasty was performed.
Judging from this, it is thought that for tendon-bone healing, the static undersurface of the acromion is more advantageous than the round, moving greater tuberosity (Table 3).
Three-dimensional analysis of acromial morphologic characteristics in patients with and without rotator cuff tears using a reconstructed computed tomography model.
We can avoid those worries by implementing a rescue technique, the acromiograft. Because we can repair a torn cuff tendon while performing an acromiograft, the fixed allograft can serve as a static stabilizer by placing the spacer in the subacromial space while maintaining dynamic stabilization of the rotator cuff.
There are a few points to be aware of when performing this technique. To attach the allograft to the undersurface of the acromion, we made a pair of holes on the acromion with an electric drill. It is necessary to ensure the orientation of the acromial contour by sufficient visualization. The thickness of the acromion varies from person to person, so a patient who has a thin acromion needs attention. The preoperative evaluation of the acromion should be done using a plain radiograph or computed tomography.
One report regarding subacromial allograft fixation was found in the literature.
However, our technique is entirely different from that. The previously published technique was the addition of an allograft in the subacromial space with the remaining allograft after SCR. In contrast, our rescue technique is a procedure for both repairing the rotator cuff itself and attaching an allograft with enough thickness under the acromion. The graft in our technique is thick enough to act as a spacer, whereas the graft used in the previous technique was too thin to press down the humeral head, and we do not know how it will perform in restoring humeral stability. In a cadaveric study subsequently published by these authors, their technique widened the acromiohumeral interval, but the subacromial pressure also increased.
Superior capsule reconstruction with subacromial allograft spacer: Biomechanical cadaveric study of subacromial contact pressure and superior humeral head translation.
This was probably due to low interest in the dynamic stabilizer as a technique, focusing only on static stabilizers. Unlike our approach, these techniques focused only on static stabilizers. That is, only the superior capsule was reconstructed without repairing the torn tendon. Therefore, we can easily postulate that the subacromial pressure rose because there was no dynamic stabilizer.
To summarize, our technique, the acromiograft, is considered an effective procedure for patients with irreparable large-to-massive cuff tears. It is a spacer to restore humeral stability that can replace the role of SCR and is another option for patients with massive cuff tears along with poor bicep tendons in whom BR is not indicated. Further clinical trials should be conducted to investigate the long-term benefits of this technique and identify the best indications for this technique.
The patient's position is lateral decubitus, and this image is the right shoulder. It is operated through posterolateral portal (Grand conyon viewing).
References
Elhassan B.T.
Sanchez-Sotelo J.
Wagner E.R.
Outcome of arthroscopically assisted lower trapezius transfer to reconstruct massive irreparable posterior-superior rotator cuff tears.
Effect of biceps rerouting technique to restore glenohumeral joint stability for large irreparable rotator cuff tears: A cadaveric biomechanical study.
Three-dimensional analysis of acromial morphologic characteristics in patients with and without rotator cuff tears using a reconstructed computed tomography model.
Superior capsule reconstruction with subacromial allograft spacer: Biomechanical cadaveric study of subacromial contact pressure and superior humeral head translation.
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