title: Arthroscopic-Assisted Latissimus Dorsi Tendon Transfer for Massive, Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears: Technique and Short-Term Follow-Up of Patients With Pseudoparalysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe a modified technique for arthroscopic-assisted transfer of the latissimus dorsi tendon in a selected group of patients with irreparable rotator cuff tears and pseudoparalysis and to evaluate its short-term results.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients with irreparable rotator cuff tears and pseudoparalysis treated by arthroscopic-assisted latissimus dorsi tendon transfer were included. The mean patient age was 61.53 ± 6.24 years (range, 52-71 years). Patients were assessed with physical examination, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Score and Constant-Murley score, as well as visual analog scale score at a mean follow-up of 26.4 ± 2.58 months (range, 24-31 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  At final follow-up, mean UCLA score increased to 27.47 ± 6.31 compared with the preoperative UCLA score of 6.53 ± 2.1 (P < .001). Constant-Murley score was 21 ± 7.41 and 59.73 ± 13.62 (P < .001), visual analog scale pain score was 7.47 ± 1.06 and 2.47 ± 0.91 (P < .001), active forward flexion was 58° ± 21.11° and 130° ± 30.05° (P < .001), active abduction was 51° ± 21.64° and 129.67° ± 25.45° (P < .001), and active external rotation was 13.33° ± 21.68° and 32° ± 18.03° (P < .001) preoperatively and postoperatively, respectively. Mean acromiohumeral distance was 3.13 ± 1.40 mm preoperatively, whereas it was 5.67 ± 1.67 mm postoperatively (P < .001). No significant complications requiring a revision surgery was observed during the final follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The modified technique of arthroscopic-assisted transfer of the latissimus dorsi tendon is a feasible, minimally invasive option for the surgical treatment of irreparable rotator cuff tears in a subset of patients with pseudoparalysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level IV, therapeutic case series.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ulunay
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kanatlı
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Necmettin Erbakan University Meram School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey. Electronic address: mozer208@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Özer
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Muhammet Baybars
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ataoğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Burak Yağmur
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Öztürk
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Orkun
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gül
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Erzincan University Mengucek Gazi Training and Research Hospital, Erzincan, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Çetinkaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tacettin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ayanoğlu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010243:Paralysis / Q000601:surgery; D011184:Postoperative Period; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012399:Rotation; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000601:surgery*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D064171:Superficial Back Muscles / Q000601:surgery*; D013709:Tendon Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome