Polyester Patch in Massive Rotator Cuff Repair Improves Healing

Patients were operated under general anesthesia and a supraclavicular nerve block, in a beach-chair position with 80° forward shoulder flexion and traction between 3-5 kg. After washing and draping a standard viewing portal was placed at the dorsal softspot. Further portals included, a lateral, a dorso-lateral, an antero-lateral and an anterior portal. If additional pathologies were present, they were treated simultaneously and mostly involved the long head of the biceps tendon, treated with tenodesis or tenotomy respectively. After a thorough bursectomy, the rupture was fully visualized and thereafter its size was estimated. Following debridement of the footprint, we used a triple row repair and implanted the patch.