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The Failed Rotator Cuff pp 269–274Cite as

Complications of Managing the Failed Rotator Cuff Repair

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Abstract

Despite the myriad of surgical procedures available for the treatment of a failed rotator cuff repair, significant overlap exists between complications associated with the various treatment options. Most complications can be classified into one of three categories: First, operative management of a failed rotator cuff repair can simply fail. Failure can be further characterized as mechanical, clinical, or the need for revision surgery. For instance, the retear rate after revision arthroscopic rotator cuff repair at 2 years is 40%, nearly double that of primary arthroscopic repair [ (Am J Sports Med. 2015;43(3):557–64)]. Second, complications can occur as a direct result of the surgical intervention. The major complications in this category include infection, nerve injury, and shoulder stiffness. Third, medical complications, such as venous thromboembolism, may arise as a secondary consequence of the surgical procedure. A few notable complications do not fit neatly into these categories but are worth mentioning. Allografts, xenografts, and synthetic materials used in augmentation of rotator cuff repairs, superior capsular reconstruction and subacromial balloon spacers can induce a foreign body response (J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2018;27(9):1622–8; J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006;88(6):1238–44; Int Orthop. 2015;39(12):2403–14; Subacromial “biodegradable spacer” in the management of irreparable rotator cuff tears: radiological findings, 2018, Vienna, Austria). Finally, reverse total shoulder arthroplasty for massive irreparable rotator cuff tears can lead to a number of unique complications including dislocation, intraoperative and postoperative fracture, and inferior scapular notching.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA

    William N. Levine & Matthew J. J. Anderson

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  1. William N. Levine
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  2. Matthew J. J. Anderson
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Correspondence to William N. Levine .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Felix H. Savoie III

  2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Shoulder and Elbow Reconstructive Surgery Unit, Hospital Universitario Fundacion Jimenez Diaz Universidad Autonoma, Madrid, Spain

    Emilio Calvo

  3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and UCONN Musculoskeletal Institute, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA

    Augustus D. Mazzocca

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Levine, W.N., Anderson, M.J.J. (2021). Complications of Managing the Failed Rotator Cuff Repair. In: Savoie III, F.H., Calvo, E., Mazzocca, A.D. (eds) The Failed Rotator Cuff. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79481-1_29

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79481-1_29

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-79481-1

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