title: Subacromial spacer placement for protection of rotator cuff repair.
abstract: Rotator cuff repairs have a high failure rate proportional to the tear size. Various techniques have been described to improve the repair strength and failure rate. The described surgical technique uses a biodegradable subacromial balloon-shaped spacer (InSpace; OrthoSpace, Caesarea, Israel) that is implanted arthroscopically to protect our tendon repair. We describe the introduction technique and suggest some hints and tricks. The spacer is placed under direct vision in the subacromial space after the rotator cuff repair is finished. Correct placement is verified by moving the arm freely. The subacromial spacer may help to protect the rotator cuff repair by centering the humeral head and reducing friction between suture knots and the acromion. It may also help to flatten dog-ear formations.
authors.affiliation: Division of Trauma Surgery, University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland ; Orthopaedic Department, University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Szöllösy
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Department, University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rosso
authors.affiliation: Clinique Générale D'Annecy, Alps Surgery Institute, Annecy, France.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fogerty
authors.affiliation: Clinique Générale D'Annecy, Alps Surgery Institute, Annecy, France.
authors.forename: Kalojan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Petkin
authors.affiliation: Clinique Générale D'Annecy, Alps Surgery Institute, Annecy, France.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lafosse