Superior Capsular Reconstruction

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles that run from the scapula (shoulder blade) and attach to the humeral head (top of upper arm bone) by their tendons. The rotator cuff is necessary to stabilize the shoulder in the socket during movement. When the rotator cuff is torn and left untreated for an extended period of time, the tendon retracts away from its attachment point and the muscle atrophies and degenerates (shrinks, weakens, and irreversibly turns to useless fat and scar tissue). In some cases, the chronic tear becomes irreparable and treatment options include living with the deficit, muscle transfers, reverse shoulder replacement or reconstructing the torn rotator cuff. In specific cases, the superior capsule of the glenohumeral (shoulder) joint can be reconstructed (re-made) with an iliotibial band tendon (patient’s own tendon along the lateral thigh) autograft or a dermal allograft (thick cadaver skin).