Massive Rotator Cuff Tears

The Voll Non-Degradable Shoulder Spacer First-in-Human study aims to evaluate the initial safety, effectiveness, and clinical outcomes of a non-degradable shoulder spacer in over 50 years old patients with symptomatic massive rotator cuff tears (MRCT).

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the results of two surgical operations for the treatment of massive rotator cuff tears: latissimus dorsi tendon transfer (LDT) and superior capsular reconstruction (SCR). The main question it wants to answer is which of the two operations provides better functional results, as measured by two patient-reported questionaires: the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score and the Constant-Murley score. The patients will be randomly assigned to one of two groups according to the surgery they will undergo (LDT or SCR). They will be examined clinically and asked to fill the questionaires before the surgery, at 6 weeks and at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery.

Massive rotator cuff tears are common in the adult population. It is estimated that about 12 % of adults 60 years of age or older suffer from a rotator cuff injury. About 40 % of these injuries are classified as massive rotator cuff tears (MRCT). MRCT propose a great challenge to the affected patient and its doctor. It is a painful condition with few treatment options. The study aims to investigate the operative treatment for MRCT with the new treatment option proposed by Senecovic. Insertion of a biodegradable balloon as a subacromial spacer has proven promising results so far. To this date there is only small and non-randomized studies on the subject. AMRIS are planning to do a randomized controlled study where group A is treated with arthroscopic debridement, biceps tenotomy and biodegradable spacer, while group B, the control group are treated with arthroscopic debridement and biceps tenotomy.