Lower trapezius tendon transfer for massive irreparable rotator cuff tears improves outcomes in patients with high grade fatty infiltration of teres minor

Background: This study compares postoperative outcomes of lower trapezius tendon transfers (LTTTs) in massive irreparable rotator cuff (RC) tears based on the degree of teres minor (TM) fatty infiltration. Methods: In this prospective longitudinal observational study, patients with massive RC tears...

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Main Authors: Eva Gusnowski, MD, FRCSC, Eric Wagner, MD, Sheila McRae, PhD, Hayden Cooke, MD, Anthony Karzon, MD, Michael Gottschalk, MD, Peter MacDonald, MD, FRCSC, Jarret Woodmass, MD, FRCSC
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:JSES International
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666638324004730
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author Eva Gusnowski, MD, FRCSC
Eric Wagner, MD
Sheila McRae, PhD
Hayden Cooke, MD
Anthony Karzon, MD
Michael Gottschalk, MD
Peter MacDonald, MD, FRCSC
Jarret Woodmass, MD, FRCSC
author_facet Eva Gusnowski, MD, FRCSC
Eric Wagner, MD
Sheila McRae, PhD
Hayden Cooke, MD
Anthony Karzon, MD
Michael Gottschalk, MD
Peter MacDonald, MD, FRCSC
Jarret Woodmass, MD, FRCSC
author_sort Eva Gusnowski, MD, FRCSC
collection DOAJ
description Background: This study compares postoperative outcomes of lower trapezius tendon transfers (LTTTs) in massive irreparable rotator cuff (RC) tears based on the degree of teres minor (TM) fatty infiltration. Methods: In this prospective longitudinal observational study, patients with massive RC tears undergoing arthroscopic-assisted LTTT by two surgeons were screened. TM fatty infiltration on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging was graded using the Goutallier classification. Two groups were created as follows: group A included grades 0 and 1 (no or little fatty infiltration), and group B included grades 2 to 4 (moderate-to-severe fatty infiltration). Participants completed the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) score preoperatively, and 12- and/or 24 months postoperatively along with a clinical assessment. Independent t-tests compared groups, and paired t-tests compared pre-vs. postoperative results. Significance was defined as P < .05. Results: There were 47 patients in group A and 19 in group B. No group differences were found in preoperative SANE score, forward elevation or active external rotation (ER). Both groups showed significant postoperative improvements in SANE score with no differences between the groups. An ER lag sign was observed in 18/47 patients (38.3%) in group A and 11/19 patients (57.9%) in group B (P = .177). Preoperative ER strength was significantly different in group A (2.9 kg) vs. group B (0.7 kg; P = .001), but postoperative ER strength was similar (P = .931). Conclusion: LTTT is a suitable salvage procedure regardless of the degree of TM fatty infiltration and should be considered an alterative procedure to latissimus dorsi tendon transfer in patients with high-grade TM fatty infiltration.
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spelling doaj-art-fa37df1d9e5f495589b852049c9fbe6a2025-01-12T05:26:06ZengElsevierJSES International2666-63832025-01-0191296300Lower trapezius tendon transfer for massive irreparable rotator cuff tears improves outcomes in patients with high grade fatty infiltration of teres minorEva Gusnowski, MD, FRCSC0Eric Wagner, MD1Sheila McRae, PhD2Hayden Cooke, MD3Anthony Karzon, MD4Michael Gottschalk, MD5Peter MacDonald, MD, FRCSC6Jarret Woodmass, MD, FRCSC7Orthopaedic Surgery, Pan Am Clinic, Winnipeg, MB, CanadaDivision of Orthopedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USADivision of Orthopaedics, Department of Surgery, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Pan Am Clinic Foundation, Winnipeg, MB, CanadaDivision of Orthopedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USADivision of Orthopedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USADivision of Orthopedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USAOrthopaedic Surgery, Pan Am Clinic, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Division of Orthopaedics, Department of Surgery, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, CanadaOrthopaedic Surgery, Pan Am Clinic, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Division of Orthopaedics, Department of Surgery, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Corresponding author: Jarret Woodmass, MD, FRCSC, Pan Am Clinic, 75 Poseidon Bay, Winnipeg, MB R3M 3EG, Canada.Background: This study compares postoperative outcomes of lower trapezius tendon transfers (LTTTs) in massive irreparable rotator cuff (RC) tears based on the degree of teres minor (TM) fatty infiltration. Methods: In this prospective longitudinal observational study, patients with massive RC tears undergoing arthroscopic-assisted LTTT by two surgeons were screened. TM fatty infiltration on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging was graded using the Goutallier classification. Two groups were created as follows: group A included grades 0 and 1 (no or little fatty infiltration), and group B included grades 2 to 4 (moderate-to-severe fatty infiltration). Participants completed the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) score preoperatively, and 12- and/or 24 months postoperatively along with a clinical assessment. Independent t-tests compared groups, and paired t-tests compared pre-vs. postoperative results. Significance was defined as P < .05. Results: There were 47 patients in group A and 19 in group B. No group differences were found in preoperative SANE score, forward elevation or active external rotation (ER). Both groups showed significant postoperative improvements in SANE score with no differences between the groups. An ER lag sign was observed in 18/47 patients (38.3%) in group A and 11/19 patients (57.9%) in group B (P = .177). Preoperative ER strength was significantly different in group A (2.9 kg) vs. group B (0.7 kg; P = .001), but postoperative ER strength was similar (P = .931). Conclusion: LTTT is a suitable salvage procedure regardless of the degree of TM fatty infiltration and should be considered an alterative procedure to latissimus dorsi tendon transfer in patients with high-grade TM fatty infiltration.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666638324004730Lower trapeziusTendon transferRotator cuffMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI)GoutallierFatty infiltration
spellingShingle Eva Gusnowski, MD, FRCSC
Eric Wagner, MD
Sheila McRae, PhD
Hayden Cooke, MD
Anthony Karzon, MD
Michael Gottschalk, MD
Peter MacDonald, MD, FRCSC
Jarret Woodmass, MD, FRCSC
Lower trapezius tendon transfer for massive irreparable rotator cuff tears improves outcomes in patients with high grade fatty infiltration of teres minor
JSES International
Lower trapezius
Tendon transfer
Rotator cuff
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Goutallier
Fatty infiltration
title Lower trapezius tendon transfer for massive irreparable rotator cuff tears improves outcomes in patients with high grade fatty infiltration of teres minor
title_full Lower trapezius tendon transfer for massive irreparable rotator cuff tears improves outcomes in patients with high grade fatty infiltration of teres minor
title_fullStr Lower trapezius tendon transfer for massive irreparable rotator cuff tears improves outcomes in patients with high grade fatty infiltration of teres minor
title_full_unstemmed Lower trapezius tendon transfer for massive irreparable rotator cuff tears improves outcomes in patients with high grade fatty infiltration of teres minor
title_short Lower trapezius tendon transfer for massive irreparable rotator cuff tears improves outcomes in patients with high grade fatty infiltration of teres minor
title_sort lower trapezius tendon transfer for massive irreparable rotator cuff tears improves outcomes in patients with high grade fatty infiltration of teres minor
topic Lower trapezius
Tendon transfer
Rotator cuff
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Goutallier
Fatty infiltration
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666638324004730
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