An international panel in San Diego
Dr Cutbush took part in an international panel on superior capsular reconstruction (SCR) in San Diego, moderated by Matt Provencher and Chris Adams. The meeting was attended by over 600 orthopaedic surgeons.
What superior capsular reconstruction is for
SCR is a surgical procedure for patients with irreparable rotator cuff tears. Where the tendon has retracted and degenerated to the point that it can no longer be brought back and attached to bone, a graft is used to reconstruct the superior capsule, restoring a restraint across the top of the joint so that the head of the humerus is held down rather than riding upwards.
The technique was first described by Teru Mihata, who published the technique and his early results in 2013. It has since become widely discussed in shoulder surgery.
Where it sits among the options
An irreparable cuff tear does not have a single answer. Depending on the patient's age, the state of the joint surfaces and what the shoulder is needed for, the options include non-surgical management and rehabilitation, partial repair, tendon transfer, superior capsular reconstruction, and reverse total shoulder replacement. Which is appropriate is an individual decision.
With thanks
With thanks to Arthrex for their medical education efforts and for the invitation to join the faculty of the Orthopaedic Technology & Innovation Forum.
Related information
See our posts on the SCR interest group and superior capsular reconstruction and rotator cuff repair, and our rotator cuff tear page.