title: Acellular Dermal Matrix in Rotator Cuff Surgery.
abstract: The success of rotator cuff repair (RCR) surgery can be measured clinically (validated outcome scores, range of motion) as well as structurally (re-tear rates using imaging studies). Regardless of repair type or technique, most studies have shown that patients do well clinically. However, multiple studies have also shown that structurally, the failure rate can be very high. A variety of factors, including poor tendon quality, age over 63 years, smoking, advanced fatty infiltration into the muscle, and the inability of the tendon to heal to bone, have been implicated as the cause of the high re-tear rate in RCRs. The suture-tendon interface is felt to be the weakest link in the RCR construct, and suture pullout through the tendon is believed to be the most common method of failure. This review of the published literature seeks to determine if there is support for augmentation of RCR with acellular dermal matrices to strengthen the suture-tendon interface and reduce the re-tear rate.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kaiser Permanente, Baldwin Park, CA. raffy.x.mirzayan@kp.org.
authors.forename: Raffy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mirzayan
mesh_terms: D062088:Acellular Dermis; D000367:Age Factors; D006801:Humans; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000601:surgery*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology