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New Procedure Gives More Options to Those With Torn Rotator Cuffs

A landmark study recently published by the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery highlights the work of surgeons at Southern California Orthopedic Institute (SCOI). Dr. Stephen J. Snyder, an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in arthroscopic shoulder reconstruction at SCOI, has released the results of a 5-year study on Arthroscopic GraftJacket™ Reconstruction of Rotator Cuff Tears.

The procedure studied gives new hope to patients with a torn rotator cuff who have no other viable options. If direct repair of a patient’s tendon has failed or repair is not an option due to the amount of damage, the GraftJacket™ procedure can often restore function to the patient’s shoulder. “This is a completely new procedure developed at SCOI and the results of the study confirm that the GraftJacket™ procedure works,” stated Snyder. “We are now able to replace tendons that can’t otherwise be repaired.”

The new procedure uses specially processed human cadaver skin (an allograft), supplied by Wright Medical Technology, Inc., to patch and augment the patient’s defective or missing rotator cuff tendon. After the graft has been put into place, tiny holes are made in the patient's bone close to where the graft was attached. This allows blood marrow to seep out and cover the graft (a process referred to as the “Crimson Duvet”). This bone marrow is rich in stem cells, blood supply, and growth factors; which are all important in the healing process.

Recovery for the patient can be a lengthy process. Physical therapy typically starts 6 weeks after surgery and consists of gradual, gentle, and progressive exercises. Recovery might take up to a year, but the results are definitely worth it, according to Tim McDermott, one of Snyder’s patients. “I would consider myself 97 percent recovered,” says McDermott, “The physical therapists that I saw at SCOI were really well trained, especially in the area of GraftJacket™ repair.” McDermott had the surgery in 2004 and went on to say that he is back to his normal activities and couldn’t be happier with his results.

Snyder, along with the shoulder team at SCOI, has been able to practice and perfect this procedure at SCOI’s Center for Learning Arthroscopic Skills (CLASroom). The CLASroom is a training lab devoted solely to educating physicians about shoulder arthroscopy. Between Snyder and other members of SCOI’s shoulder team (Dr. Joseph P. Burns, Dr. Ronald P. Karzel, Dr. Mark H. Getelman, and Dr. Mark L. Schamblin), 84 of these procedures have been performed during the length of the study. Of these procedures, the success rate has been approximately 70 percent.

If you would like to learn more about this procedure, or to find out if you are a candidate, contact the specialists at SCOI at (877) 952-8484.

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