Abstract
Background: Massive irreparable rotator cuff tears in the nonarthritic patient are challenging because of the high failure rate and technical difficulty of intraoperative repair. We examined the outcomes of expedited arthroscopic tensionable knotless biologic tuberoplasty for massive irreparable rotator cuff tears. Methods: Eleven patients with an average follow-up of 8.2 months were included in the analysis. Patient-reported outcome measures were the visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES) score, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) score, and Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey (VR-12) physical component score and mental component score. Results: In comparison to the preoperative mean, mean VAS pain scores were significantly reduced at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year. The mean VAS pain scores decreased from 6.9 ± 1.3 preoperatively to 0.2 ± 0.4 at 1 year (P<0.001). Mean ASES scores and SANE scores were both significantly improved at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year. Mean ASES scores increased from 40.3 ± 17 preoperatively to 93.0 ± 5.5 at 1 year (P=0.001), and mean SANE scores increased from 40.7 ± 23.7 preoperatively to 85.6 ± 8.9 at 1 year (P=0.007). The mean VR-12 physical component score was significantly improved at 6 months and 1 year postoperatively. The mean VR-12 mental component score was clinically improved at 6 months and 1 year postoperatively. Conclusion: Arthroscopic tensionable knotless biologic tuberoplasty is an effective treatment for massive irreparable rotator cuff tears and resulted in statistically significant improvements in VAS pain, ASES, SANE, and the VR-12 physical component scores and clinically significant improvements in the VR-12 mental component score in our patient cohort.