title: DELTOID FLAP for MANAGEMENT of MASSIVE IRREPARABLE ROTATOR CUFF TEARS: Case Series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Muscle transfer has been reported as a good surgical option to reconstruct the deficient rotator cuff. The purpose of this study is to report the outcome of deltoid muscle flap transfer to restore shoulder function in patients with massive irreparable rotator cuff tear.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective descriptive case series. Included patients had a lesion of two or more tendons of the rotator cuff or lesion of one tendon of more than 5 cm in width and no lesion to the subscapularis. Evaluation was done using the Constant score, visual analog scale for satisfaction and quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty patients met the inclusion criteria. Three patients were lost to follow-up. The remaining (9 males and 8 females) had a mean follow-up period of 40.5 months. The mean age at surgery was 61.3 years. Thirty-five percent of patients were involved in heavy labor while the lesions affected the dominant side in 70% of the cases. Mean preoperative Constant score was 40.8 and increased to 78.8 (p < 0.05) with a difference of +38 points on the raw Constant score and an improvement rate of 64%. The greatest improvement involved essentially pain and quality of life (improvement rate of 82%) (p < 0.05). Eighty-nine percent of patients have good and excellent self-reported results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More than just a salvage procedure, deltoid muscle flap seems to be an adequate option in terms of appropriate pain relief, function recovery as well as patient satisfaction. Keywords: massive rotator cuff tears, deltoid muscle flap
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roukoz
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nabhane
authors.forename: Ali al-rida
authors.initials: Aa
authors.lastname: Aidibi
authors.forename: Amer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sebaaly
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D057645:Deltoid Muscle / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D051603:Recoverin; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D051603:Recoverin