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ArticleInternational orthopaedics2025

Human dermal allograft augmentation in primary and revision arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: a retrospective controlled study including patient outcomes and ultrasound evaluation of tendon healing.

Giovanni Merolla, Rocco Bonfatti, Francesco Marra, Andrea Pellegrini, Giacomo Cataldo, Marco Saporito, Paolo Paladini, Giuseppe Porcellini

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Article in International orthopaedics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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1 citing paper in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Giovanni MerollaShoulder and Elbow Unit, Cattolica, Italy. giovannimerolla2010@gmail.com.
Rocco BonfattiOrthopaedic and Trauma Unit, Sassuolo Hospital, Sassuolo, MO, Italy.
Francesco MarraOrthopaedic and Trauma Unit, Santa Croce e Carle Hospital, Cuneo, Italy.
Andrea PellegriniOrthopaedic and Trauma Unit, Santa Maria Nuova Hospital, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Giacomo CataldoOrthopaedic and Trauma Unit, Sassuolo Hospital, Sassuolo, MO, Italy.
Marco SaporitoShoulder and Elbow Unit, Cattolica, Italy.
Paolo PaladiniShoulder and Elbow Unit, Cattolica, Italy.
Giuseppe PorcelliniOrthopaedic and Trauma Unit, Sassuolo Hospital, Sassuolo, MO, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeRotator cuff (RC) tears are common in older adults, often leading to muscle atrophy. Standard arthroscopic repair has high re-tear rates, prompting the use of biological patches for augmentation. This study assessed differences in range of motion, strength, and tendon healing using ultrasound in primary and revision RC repairs using acellular dermal allograft augmentation.

methodsForty-eight patients undergoing arthroscopic RC repair with dermal allograft augmentation were assessed, with 42 completing a median follow-up of 32.4 months. Twenty patients had primary repairs and 22 had revision procedures. A control group of 26 patients, matched for age, sex, BMI, and RC injury type, underwent RC repair without patch augmentation. Active range of motion, Constant-Murley socre (CS), Simple Shoulder Test (SST), Subjective Shoulder value (SSV) and isometric strength were measured. Tendon healing was assessed via dynamic US.

resultsBoth primary and revision groups showed significant improvements in clinical scores and shoulder mobility. However, the primary group had significantly higher postoperative CS, SST and SSV scores. Strength tests indicated lower values in the revision group compared to primary and control groups. Ultrasound outcomes showed reduced tendon thickness in 23 patients, with similar repair integrity across groups. Five cases of RC re-tears were noted, with higher but not significantly different re-tear rates in the revision group.

conclusionDermal allograft augmentation in RC repair leads to significant clinical improvement in both primary and revision cases, but strength recovery is less pronounced in revision repairs. Long-term follow-up is necessary to validate these findings and assess the durability of tendon healing. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, Retrospective cohort design, Treatment study.

Indexed as

ArthroscopyRotator CuffRotator Cuff InjuriesSkin TransplantationAcellular DermisAdultAgedAllograftsFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRange of Motion, ArticularReoperationRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeArthroscopic repairDermal allograftRotator cuff tearTendon healingUltrasound evaluation

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.