title: Latissimus dorsi tendon transfer: a comparative analysis of primary and salvage reconstruction of massive, irreparable rotator cuff tears.
abstract: On the basis of a modified Constant scoring system, we compared outcomes for 16 patients who underwent latissimus dorsi transfer as a salvage reconstruction for a failed prior rotator cuff repair with outcomes for 6 patients who underwent a primary reconstruction for an irreparable cuff defect. There was a statistically significant difference in Constant score between groups, which measured 55% for the salvage group compared with 70% for the primary group (P <.05). Poor tendon quality, stage 4 muscle fatty degeneration, and detachment of the deltoid insertion each had a statistically significant effect on the Constant score (P <.05). Late rupture of the tendon transfer occurred in 44% of patients in the salvage group compared with 17% in the primary group at a mean of 19 months postoperatively. Rupture had a statistically significant effect on the Constant score, which declined by a mean of 14% (P <.05). We conclude that salvage reconstruction of failed prior rotator cuff repairs yields more limited gains in satisfaction and function than primary latissimus dorsi transfer.
authors.affiliation: Harvard Shoulder Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114, USA. jwarner@partners.org
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Parsons
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010369:Pectoralis Muscles / Q000637:transplantation; D011336:Probability; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012086:Reoperation / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000601:surgery*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D013709:Tendon Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome