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. 2017 Oct 18;88(4S):75-80.
doi: 10.23750/abm.v88i4-S.6797.

A clinical and radiological study of biodegradable subacromial spacer in the treatment of massive irreparable rotator cuff tears

Matteo Ricci  1 , Eugenio Vecchini, Elia Bonfante #, Gian Mario Micheloni, Mattia Berti, Giacomo Schenal, Gabriele Zanetti, Elena Sambugaro, Tommaso Maluta, Bruno Magnan
Affiliations

A clinical and radiological study of biodegradable subacromial spacer in the treatment of massive irreparable rotator cuff tears

Matteo Ricci et al. Acta Biomed. .

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective study was to report the clinical and radiographic results of the biodegradable subacromial spacer (InSpace Balloon®) implantation in patients with massive irreparable rotator cuff tears.

Materials and methods: From February 2014 to October 2015, 30 patients affected by massive irreparable rotator cuff tears were treated with the implantation of InSpace Balloon®. Clinical evaluation (Constant Score and VAS), X-rays and MR imaging were performed preoperatively in all patients and 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery, dividing patients in different groups according to the time elapsed from surgery.

Results: Constant Score increased from 39.89 to 62.33 points (p 0.0002) in the 6 months group and from 41.66 to 65.38 points (p< 0.0001) in the 12 months group. ROM (Range of Movement) and ADL (Activity of Daily Living) significantly improved with the contemporary reduction of VAS and pain at 12 months and, furthermore, an increase of functional performance with reduction of pain was registered at 24 months.

Conclusions: Our results supported the surgical procedure of the arthroscopic implantation of biodegradable subacromial InSpace Balloon® for irreparable massive cuff tears in worker patients and with recreational activities' demands in order to recover the shoulder function with a reduction of the pain.

Keywords: massive irreparable cuff rotator tears, subacromial biodegradable spacer, shoulder arthroscopy, Constant Scores.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
TCS: Total Costant Score; ROM: Range of motion; SAS: Subacromial space; VAS: Visual analogue scale for pain; SIZE: balloon size measured by MRI; ADL: activity of dayly living
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
MRI at 3 months follow up
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
MRI at 24 months follow up
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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