Paper 49: Bridging Reconstruction for Large-to-Massive Rotator Cuff Tears Has a Low Rate of Cuff Arthropathy Progression at A Minimum Five-Year Follow-Up

Objectives: Rotator cuff tears cause pain, muscle weakness, and difficulty with overhead activity. While smaller are easier to repair, large-to-massive (>3 cm in size) considered irreparable. For patients tears, surgical options include maximal superior capsular reconstruction, bridging tendon transfers reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA). Bridging reconstruction was developed improve outcomes avoid the morbidity associated other technique. also known as graft interposition, has been shown have compared repair better patient-reported at two-years post-operatively recently demonstrated a randomized controlled trial. These positive results maintained five years, however midterm changes progression of rotator arthropathy conversion rTSA not assessed. The purpose is assess five-year follow-up. Methods: Forty-four who underwent between 2012 2017 for were included. All had minimum Data collected included demographics, pre- post-operative Western Ontario Cuff (WORC) Index, rTSA, X-ray readings (including acromiohumeral distance (as measured on anterior-posterior pre/post-operative radiographs) Hamada grades arthropathy). Furthermore, sub-group analysis performed MRIs status. Results: mean age surgery 59.9± 10.8 years follow-up 7.3±1.4 years. population mostly male (70.5%). Pre-operatively, seven mild grade 2-3, one patient 4B. rest preoperatively. At postoperative follow-up, only resulting survivorship rate 98%. Two (4.6%) 4. One from pre-operative 3 4A. 4B post-operative. Patients (i.e. higher grade) appear possibility complete tears. [SS1] [JM2] There no correlations WORC score Conclusions: 5-year 7.3 showed 98% low 4.6% having advanced RCA