Clinic and electromyographic results of latissimus dorsi transfer for irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears

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Abstract

Background

This study examines the clinical and electromyographic results of latissimus dorsi transfer (LDT) using a combined open and arthroscopic technique for the treatment of symptomatic irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears.

Methods

Between 2006 and 2009, LDT was performed in 14 patients (mean age 59 years) with massive and symptomatic irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tear. The patients were examined preoperatively and postoperatively with mean follow-up of 52 months using the Constant score, and the integrity of the latissimus dorsi (LD) transfer was assessed by ultrasound in all cases and by MRI in ten cases. The functional activity of the LD transfer was compared to the non-operated side using surface electromyography.

Results

All patients demonstrated a significant improvement in the Constant score ( p = 0.001), from a preoperative score of 33 points (range 10–55 points) to a postoperative score of 59 points (range 13–80 points). The subjective assessment score was good to excellent in 12 patients (85%), and 11 patients (78%) would be willing to undergo surgery again. Integrity of the transferred tissue was confirmed in 13 of the 14 cases using ultrasound and MRI. Surface electromyographic signal showed increased activation of the transferred latissimus dorsi when performing active movements of external rotation ( p = 0.002) and abduction-elevation ( p = 0.009).

Conclusions

Our results indicate that LDT significantly improves function and diminishes pain in patients with a massive posterosuperior rotator cuff tear. The combined open and arthroscopic technique preserves the deltoid muscle and controls the LD tendon reinsertion. Surface electromyographic signal confirms the active function of the transferred muscle.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13018-014-0083-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Most cited references 26

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Surgical repair of chronic rotator cuff tears. A prospective long-term study.

R Cofield, J Parvizi, P J Hoffmeyer … (2001)

Rotator cuff disease or injury is one of the most frequently seen orthopaedic conditions, and surgical repair of rotator cuff tears is a common procedure. A prospective analysis of the operation, with consistent assessment of patient characteristics, variables associated with the rotator cuff tear and repair techniques, and outcome factors, was performed. One hundred and five shoulders with a chronic rotator cuff tear underwent open surgical repair and acromioplasty between 1975 and 1983. The patients were followed for an average of 13.4 years (range, two to twenty-two years). There were sixteen small tears, forty medium tears, thirty-eight large tears, and eleven massive tears. The tears were repaired directly (seventy-two tears), by V-Y plasty (twelve), by tendon transposition (twenty), or by reinforcement with a fascia lata graft (one). The long head of the biceps had been previously torn in eleven shoulders and was tenodesed in three other shoulders. In fifty-six shoulders, the distal part of the clavicle was excised for treatment of degenerative arthritic changes, often associated with osteophyte formation. Satisfactory pain relief was obtained in ninety-six shoulders (p < 0.0001). There was significant improvement in active abduction (p < 0.001) and external rotation (p < 0.007) as well as in strength in these directions of movement (p < 0.03 and p < 0.002, respectively). At the latest follow-up evaluation, the result was rated as excellent for sixty-eight shoulders, satisfactory for sixteen, and unsatisfactory for twenty-one. Tear size was the most important determinant of outcome with regard to active motion, strength, rating of the result, patient satisfaction, and need for a reoperation. Older age, less preoperative active motion, preoperative weakness, distal clavicular excision, and a transposition repair technique were all associated with larger tear size. There were eight reoperations; five were for rerepair of a persistent or recurrent rotator cuff tear. Standard tendon repair techniques combined with anterior acromioplasty, postoperative limb protection, and monitored physiotherapy can produce consistent and lasting pain relief and improvement in range of motion. Improving the results of this procedure will depend upon the development of new techniques to address the active motion and strength deficiencies following repair of massive rotator cuff tears.

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Latissimus dorsi transfer for the treatment of irreparable rotator cuff tears.

Norman Espinosa, Christian Gerber, Gerardo Maquieira (2005)

Treatment of irreparable rotator cuff tears remains controversial. Latissimus dorsi transfer to the greater tuberosity has been proposed for the treatment of irreparable tears associated with severe functional impairment and chronic, disabling pain. Sixty-seven patients with sixty-nine irreparable, full-thickness tears of at least two complete tendons were managed with latissimus dorsi transfer and were reviewed clinically and radiographically after an average of fifty-three months. The study group included fifty-two men and fifteen women, with an average age of sixty-one years. Thirteen patients also had deficient subscapularis function preoperatively. Outcome measures included the Constant and Murley score and the Subjective Shoulder Value. Osteoarthritis and acromiohumeral distance were measured on standardized radiographs. The mean Subjective Shoulder Value increased from 28% preoperatively to 66% at the time of follow-up (p < 0.0001). The mean age and gender-matched Constant and Murley score improved from 55% to 73% (p < 0.0001). The pain score improved from 6 to 12 points (of a possible 15 points) (p < 0.0001). Flexion increased from 104 degrees to 123 degrees , abduction increased from 101 degrees to 119 degrees , and external rotation increased from 22 degrees to 29 degrees (p < 0.05). Abduction strength increased from 0.9 to 1.8 kg (p < 0.0001). There was a slight but significant increase in osteoarthritic changes (from stage 0.8 to stage 1.3; p = 0.0002). In shoulders with a negative preoperative lift-off test, significant improvements were observed in terms of both function and pain, and strength doubled from 1.0 to 2.0 kg (p = 0.0001), but osteoarthritic changes progressed from stage 0.7 to stage 1.1 (p = 0.0006). In shoulders with poor subscapularis function, no improvement in these parameters was observed. Latissimus dorsi transfer durably and substantially improves chronically painful, dysfunctional shoulders with irreparable rotator cuff tears, especially if the subscapularis is intact. If subscapularis function is deficient, the procedure is of questionable benefit and probably should not be used.

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Latissimus dorsi transfer for the treatment of massive tears of the rotator cuff. A preliminary report.

C. E. Gerber, T S Vinh, R Hertel … (1988)

Symptomatic irrepairable rotator cuff tears usually entail complete loss of the substance of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons. Loss of external rotation control and cranial migration of the humeral head on attempted flexion or abduction of the shoulder are the functional hallmarks. Transfer of the latissimus dorsi tendon from the humeral shaft to the superolateral humeral head provides a large, vascularized tendon that can be used to close a massive cuff defect and that exerts an external rotation and head-depressing moment that allow more effective action of the deltoid muscle. This procedure was carried out in 14 patients without any significant complications. Pain relief and functional results in those four cases with a minimum follow-up period of one year (average, 14 months) compared favorably with alternative treatment methods and warrant further anatomic, electromyographic, and clinical investigation.

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Author and article information

Contributors

Ricardo De Casas: drdecasas@traumacor.es

Matías Lois: matias.lois@hotmail.com

Myriam Cidoncha: mcidoncha@traumacor.es

Miguel Valadron: mvaladron@traumacor.es

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): J Orthop Surg Res

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): J Orthop Surg Res

Title: Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research

Publisher: BioMed Central (London )

ISSN (Electronic): 1749-799X

Publication date (Electronic): 8 November 2014

Publication date PMC-release: 8 November 2014

Publication date Collection: 2014

Volume: 9

Issue: 1

Electronic Location Identifier: 83

Affiliations

[ ]Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Clinica Traumacor, Ronda de Nelle 72, 15005 A Coruna, Spain

[ ]Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Centro Gallego de Buenos Aires, Avenida Belgrano 2199, 1094 Buenos Aires, Argentina

[ ]Department of Physical Medicine, Clinica Traumacor, Ronda de Nelle 72, 15005 A Coruna, Spain

Article

Publisher ID: 83

DOI: 10.1186/s13018-014-0083-6

PMC ID: 4237752

PubMed ID: 25380558

SO-VID: 66a15072-7541-4484-93e2-a524cf1010ce

License:

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver ( http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

History

Date received : 3 June 2014

Date accepted : 9 September 2014

Custom metadata

ScienceOpen disciplines: Surgery

Keywords: rotator cuff tear,irreparable,latissimus dorsi transfer,surface electromyography

Data availability:

ScienceOpen disciplines: Surgery

Keywords: rotator cuff tear, irreparable, latissimus dorsi transfer, surface electromyography

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Clinic and electromyographic results of latissimus dorsi transfer for irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears

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Abstract

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Methods

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Electronic supplementary material

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Most cited references 26

Surgical repair of chronic rotator cuff tears. A prospective long-term study.

Latissimus dorsi transfer for the treatment of irreparable rotator cuff tears.

Latissimus dorsi transfer for the treatment of massive tears of the rotator cuff. A preliminary report.

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