Pivot Superior Capsular Reconstruction of the Shoulder

Abstract

Massive rotator cuff tears involving the posterosuperior rotator cuff remain difficult to treat, particularly in the younger population. Fatty infiltration of the muscle, excessive chronic tendon retraction, and degeneration are the main irreversible factors predisposing to high failure rates of direct repair. Many techniques exist for superior capsular reconstruction (SCR), mainly using allograft. However, the higher costs of dermal grafts and morbidity of fascia lata autograft led us to find another option for SCR of the shoulder using the semitendinosus autograft as a pivot in a better biomechanical configuration. The pivot SCR technique has shown good functional and biomechanical results. We have found this technique to be a reliable and less expensive option for irreparable lesions of the rotator cuff.