AANA Fellowship Education - Shoulder: Massive Rotator Cuff Tear and Rotator Cuff Arthropathy-Shoulder: Massive Rotator Cuff Tear and Rotator Cuff Arthropathy

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The webinar, part of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine’s education series, focused on managing massive rotator cuff tears and rotator cuff arthropathy. Experts Dr. Brian Grogan, Dr. Loh, and Dr. Patty Kolowich discussed surgical options including arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, superior capsule reconstruction (SCR), and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. Dr. Grogan emphasized the importance of classifying tears, assessing repairability via imaging and patient factors, and tailoring arthroscopic techniques such as margin convergence and interval slides. Dr. Loh reviewed the emerging role of SCR, highlighting its concept of restoring shoulder stability by attaching grafts from glenoid to humerus, citing clinical outcomes and challenges like graft type and healing variability. Dr. Kolowich discussed reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, especially for patients with irreparable cuff tears and arthropathy, noting its reliable pain relief but relatively high complication rates, particularly in younger, active patients. Case discussions highlighted decision-making nuances, balancing repair attempts against arthroplasty based on tear size, joint degeneration, patient age, and activity level. Panelists stressed the importance of shared decision-making with patients given uncertainty in outcomes and long-term durability. Infection with Cutibacterium acnes was noted as a challenging postoperative complication requiring careful diagnosis and management. The webinar concluded with emphasis on fellowship education, upcoming courses, and free resources available to trainees. Overall, the session provided comprehensive updates on treatment algorithms, surgical techniques, and clinical considerations in complex massive rotator cuff tear management.

Asset Caption

Tamara A. Scerpella, M.D. | Patricia A. Kolowich, M.D. | Ian K. Lo, M.D. | Brian F. Grogan, M.D.

Keywords

massive rotator cuff tears

rotator cuff arthropathy

arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

superior capsule reconstruction

reverse total shoulder arthroplasty

tear classification

repairability assessment

graft healing variability

postoperative Cutibacterium acnes infection

shared decision-making

fellowship education