Achilles tendon allograft for an irreparable massive rotator cuff tear with bony deficiency of the greater tuberosity

Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2017 Jul;25(7):2147-2150. doi: 10.1007/s00167-016-3989-1. Epub 2016 Jan 25.

Abstract

Management of combined bony and tendinous deficiency of the posterosuperior rotator cuff represents a challenge in young patients. In this case report, a 44-year-old woman that presented an osteonecrosis of the greater tuberosity had a pseudoparalytic shoulder. She beneficiated from a fresh-frozen Achilles tendon allograft with calcaneal bone, which was used to reconstruct the rotator cuff and the concomitant bony defect. At 12-month follow-up, the patient was pain free and had complete range of motion, normal strength, a SANE score of 95 and radiographically the allograft was healed. An Achilles tendon allograft may therefore be a viable surgical option to reconstruct a combine posterosuperior rotator cuff tear and greater tuberosity bone defect. Level of evidence IV.

Keywords: Achilles allograft; Bone and tendon insufficiency; Function; Massive rotator cuff; Outcome; Treatment.

MeSH terms

  • Achilles Tendon
  • Allografts
  • Humans
  • Range of Motion, Articular
  • Rotator Cuff / surgery*
  • Rotator Cuff Injuries / surgery*
  • Transplantation, Homologous