Principles of the Superior Capsule Reconstruction of the Shoulder

Abstract

Massive rotator cuff tears, involving the posterosuperior rotator cuff, remain difficult to treat particularly in the younger population. Fatty infiltration of the muscle, excessive chronic tendon retraction, and degeneration are the main irreversible factors predisposing to high failure rates of direct repair. There are many techniques for Superior Capsular Reconstruction (SCR) mainly using allograft. However low accessibility to the dermal grafts in many countries led the authors to use and suggest autograft of the fascia lata as other option for the reconstruction of the superior capsule of the shoulder. The SCR have presented good functional and biomechanical results. These techniques are reliable options for irreparable lesions of the rotator cuff.