©The Author(s) 2015. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Orthop. Nov 18, 2015; 6(10): 770-775
Published online Nov 18, 2015. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v6.i10.770
Published online Nov 18, 2015. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v6.i10.770
Treatment options for irreparable postero-superior cuff tears in young patients
Olimpio Galasso, Filippo Familiari, Giorgio Gasparini, Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, “Magna Græcia” University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Author contributions: Galasso O, Familiari F and Gasparini G contributed evenly to this paper.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors did not receive any funding or grants in support of their research for or preparation of this work. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Correspondence to: Filippo Familiari, MD, Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, “Magna Græcia” University of Catanzaro, Campus “S.Venuta”, V.le Europa (Loc. Germaneto), 88100 Catanzaro, Italy. filippofamiliari@gmail.com
Telephone: +39-0961-3647001 Fax: +39-0961-3647104
Received: February 21, 2015
Peer-review started: February 22, 2015
First decision: July 10, 2015
Revised: September 7, 2015
Accepted: September 25, 2015
Article in press: September 28, 2015
Published online: November 18, 2015
Processing time: 264 Days and 7.6 Hours
Peer-review started: February 22, 2015
First decision: July 10, 2015
Revised: September 7, 2015
Accepted: September 25, 2015
Article in press: September 28, 2015
Published online: November 18, 2015
Processing time: 264 Days and 7.6 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Irreparable postero-superior cuff tears have been reported as frequent as 7% to 10% in the general population, and they are challenging, especially in young and active patients. In this patient population, the number of therapeutic options dramatically decreases. Several surgical procedures have been proposed for young patients with irreparable postero-superior rotator cuff tears, such as rotator cuff debridement, partial rotator cuff repair, biceps tenotomy/tenodesis, rotator cuff grafting, latissimus dorsi tendon transfer, and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. Latissimus dorsi tendon transfer seems to be a viable option to restore function and decrease pain in young and active patients.