Mid-term outcomes of subacromial balloon spacer for the treatment of irreparable rotator cuff tears

ePoster - epESA-13

Topic: Other Surgical Options

Brilakis E., Avramidis G., Kokkineli S., Antonogiannakis E.
Hygeia Hospital, 3rd Department of Orthopaedics, Athens, Greece

Aim: The presentation of mid-term outcomes of arthroscopic rotator cuff tear repair combined with the insertion of subacromial balloon spacer for the management of irreparable rotator cuff tears.
Materials and methods: During a period of 3.2 years, 49 patients (25 females and 24 males) with average age of 68 years were operated in our Department for massive rotator cuff tears. Eleven patients had acute tears, nineteen patients had chronic tears and other nineteen patients had acute on chronic tears. They all satisfied the inclusion criteria of this study. All patients were followed-up for their shoulder range of motion and the level of their daily activities as well as their satisfaction concerning the result. All of the patients are available for follow-up except from one who was lost. The mean time of follow-up is 38.7 months.
Results: Most of the patients were satisfied with the surgical result and returned to their previous daily activities. Their range of motion as well as their strength and VAS score was evaluated according to physical examination and the Constant, Oxford and ASES Scores. In 3 cases the balloon implantation failed and the implantation of another subacromial balloon spacer was required but there were not any post- operative complications.
Conclusions: The conclusion reported that the arthroscopic rotator cuff tear repair combined with the subacromial balloon leads to significantly improved mid-term outcomes and high satisfaction in patients suffering from massive rotator cuff tears. These mid- term outcomes are impressive but a longer follow up is required.