RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Partial-thickness rotator cuff tears treated with an isolated bioinductive repair (IBR) in lieu of a completion-and-repair have shown complete healing. This treatment option is afforded by the remaining tendon's structural integrity, which is similar to that present in small/medium full-thickness tears (FTTs) when the rotator cable remains intact. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigated whether an IBR for small/medium full-thickness tears resulted in superior healing and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) compared with a sutured repair. METHODS: This prospective, double blinded (patients and outcome assessors), single-center randomized controlled trial enrolled patients ≥18 years with a small/medium (≤2.5 cm) full thickness supraspinatus tear and intact rotator cable. Patients were randomized and blinded to arthroscopic transosseous-equivalent repair (control, n = 30) or IBR (n = 30). The primary outcome was tendon quality on biopsy at 6 months. Secondary outcomes were PROs (American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons [ASES], Constant-Murley Shoulder [CMS], and pain visual analogue scale scores) and tendon thickness and healing measured via MRI at 6, 12, and 24 months; satisfaction at 12 and 24 months; and time to return to work. RESULTS: Baseline demographic, tear, and surgical characteristics were comparable between the groups (IBR: mean age, 54.2 years, 14 male; control: mean age, 56.4 years, 16 male). Measured via a 6-month biopsy, highly organized, parallel bundles of collagen, without inflammation, were present in all IBR patients, whereas poorly organized, nonparallel collagen fibers were present in 24/30 (80%) of control patients (P < .0001), with 28/30 having minimal to mild inflammation. The increase in tendon thickness measured via MRI at 6 months from baseline was greater in the IBR group (2.0 mm) than in the control group (0.8 mm) (P < .0001). All IBR patients had 100% healing on MRI at 12 and 24 months. Compared with the control group, the IBR group had higher American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons and Constant-Murley Shoulder scores at each evaluation, less pain at 6 and 12 months, and greater satisfaction at 12 and 24 months (P < .0003). The IBR group returned to work significantly faster (median 90 days [IQR, 25] vs. median 163.5 days [IQR, 24]; P < .0001) than the control group. CONCLUSION: Compared with a sutured repair, the IBR treatment resulted in superior tendon quality, patient outcomes, satisfaction, and return to work. The IBR enabled a robust healing response evident through MRI and biopsy evaluation, demonstrating superior tendon quality and healing.
Asunto(s)
Artroscopía , Lesiones del Manguito de los Rotadores , Técnicas de Sutura , Humanos , Lesiones del Manguito de los Rotadores/cirugía , Método Doble Ciego , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Femenino , Artroscopía/métodos , Estudios Prospectivos , Anciano , Resultado del Tratamiento , Manguito de los Rotadores/cirugía , Medición de Resultados Informados por el Paciente , Cicatrización de Heridas , Imagen por Resonancia MagnéticaRESUMEN
PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes, MRI imaging and histological characteristics of biopsy samples of the tendon from patients in whom rotator cuff repair was previously performed with a bioinductive type I bovine collagen implants. METHODS: Prospective study of 30 patients with partial or complete rotator cuff tears who underwent arthroscopic repair and augmentation with a resorbable type I bovine collagen implant. Preoperatively and at 6 and 12 months after surgery, the VAS, ASES and Constant-Murley scores were evaluated and an MRI study was performed. At 6 months, biopsies of the resulting tissue were obtained and examined histologically. RESULTS: Patients experienced statistically significant and sustained improvement from baseline for all scores and the mean tendon thickness increased by 1.84 mm. Magnetic resonance imaging evidence of complete healing was found in 27 patients and a considerable reduction in defect size, greater than 50%, was shown in 3. In all samples obtained, the new tissue generated had the histological appearance of a tendon, and was indistinguishable from the native tendon. There was no evidence of any remaining collagen implant. CONCLUSIONS: Biopsies of tissue formed from bioinductive type I bovine collagen implants showed, six months after surgery, the generation of a neotendon indistinguishable from the native one. Histology and MRI imaging, revealed complete integration of the implant and absence of inflammatory or foreign body reactions. The clinical parameters, thickness and MRI signal of the tendon improved significantly at 6 months, regardless of the type and size of the tear, and remained unchanged until 12 months. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, case series.