The "Pull-Over" Technique for All Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair With Extracellular Matrix Augmentation.

Abstract

Despite the vast improvement in techniques for arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery, repairs of massive and large tears remain an issue as they are associated with significantly high failure rates, particularly in the elderly population. As a result, there has been a focus of attention to improve rotator cuff repair healing rates. One of the strategies is augmentation of the repair with a patch. Arthroscopic augmentation is, however, technically demanding with challenges in introduction and stabilization of the patch. The purpose of this Technical Note is to describe a technique for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with augmentation, which offers additional advantages over previous techniques because it facilitates the passage of the patch as well as providing a more robust medial stabilization of the augment and therefore possibly a stronger construct.