Effects of Arthroscopic Atelocollagen Insertion in High-Grade Partial Articular Supraspinatus Tendon Avulsion Lesions: A Retrospective Cohort Study With Propensity Score Matching

Jong-Hun Ji; Changrak Choi; Hwangyong You; Darshil Parikh; Seungbae Oh

doi:10.1177/23259671231212882

Effects of Arthroscopic Atelocollagen Insertion in High-Grade Partial Articular Supraspinatus Tendon Avulsion Lesions: A Retrospective Cohort Study With Propensity Score Matching

Orthop J Sports Med. 2023 Nov 27;11(11):23259671231212882. doi: 10.1177/23259671231212882. eCollection 2023 Nov.

Authors

Jong-Hun Ji¹, Changrak Choi², Hwangyong You¹, Darshil Parikh¹, Seungbae Oh²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Deajeon St Mary's Hospital, Catholic University of Korea, Deajeon, Republic of Korea.
² Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, St Vincent's Hospital, Catholic University of Korea, Suwon, Republic of Korea.

Abstract

Background: This study sought to evaluate the effect of atelocollagen insertion into the bone-tendon interface of the repaired tendon after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair for high-grade partial articular supraspinatus tendon avulsion (PASTA) lesions.

Purpose: To compare clinical and radiological outcomes of atelocollagen-inserted rotator cuff repair and atelocollagen-noninserted rotator cuff repair in the high-grade PASTA lesions.

Study design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods: The data from 301 consecutive patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair of PASTA lesions between January 2017 and June 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with minimum 2-year follow-up data were included and divided into 2 groups: those treated with transtendon suture-bridge repair without additional augmentation (group 1) and those with atelocollagen-inserted transtendon suture-bridge repair (group 2). Patients in group 2 were matched 1:1 to patients in group 1 using propensity score matching (n = 68 per group); and pain visual analog scale, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, University of California, Los Angeles, Korean Shoulder Scoring System, Simple Shoulder Test, and range of motion scores were compared between these groups. Also, repaired tendon integrity and thickness were compared immediately, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using the vertical distance from the midpoint footprint of the greater tuberosity.

Results: In most comparisons, there were no significant differences in outcome measures and range of motion between groups. However, less residual discomfort at the final follow-up was also documented in group 2 (P = .043). Also, the difference in forward flexion was 3.7° at 1 year and 5.4° at final follow-up, and the difference in abduction was 2.2° at final follow-up, which were all significantly greater in the experimental group. Group 2 showed significant greater tendon thickness of the repaired tendon immediately, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery on MRI (P≤ .001).

Conclusion: Addition of atelocollagen did not improve outcome scores. However, there was slightly greater flexion and abduction at final follow-up. Also, there was less residual discomfort at final follow-up.

Keywords: atelocollagen augmentation; tendon integrity; tendon thickness; transtendon suture bridge repair.