Comparative analysis of superior capsule reconstruction between long head of biceps tendon autograft and human dermis allograft

Background: Although many superior capsule reconstruction (SCR) techniques are currently practiced in clinical settings, guidelines for choosing the appropriate graft material are lacking. Therefore, at most times, the surgeon's personal preference becomes the deciding factor. This study compared 2 fairly recent SCR techniques -SCR with biceps tendon (BT) autograft and SCR with human dermis (HD) allograft-by evaluating clinical and radiologic outcomes to aid the surgeon's decision in choosing the appropriate graft.Methods: Thirty-one patients underwent SCR using BT autograft (SCR BT), and 22 underwent SCR using HD allograft (SCR HD). SCR BT was selected for patients with a partial BT tear <20%, no severe inflammation signs, and favorable anchor conditions. SCR HD was performed in patients with a BT tear >20%, a superior labrum anterior-posterior (SLAP) lesion, severe inflammation, or subluxation. Range of motion (ROM), strength and shoulder function scoring, plain radiography, and magnetic resonance imaging were evaluated before and after surgery at regular intervals.Results: In the SCR BT group, forward flexion ROM increased from 122 degrees +/- 43 degrees to 149 degrees +/- 18 degrees at 2 years postoperatively, whereas in the SCR HD group, forward flexion ROM improved from 129 degrees +/- 28 degrees to 149 degrees +/- 18 degrees. In the SCR BT group, internal rotation (IR) ROM increased from 5 +/- 3 to 6 +/- 2 at 2 years postoperatively, whereas in the SCR HD group, IR ROM improved from 5 +/- 3 to 6 +/- 1. Although ROM, strength, visual analog scale score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, and Constant score all improved 2 years after surgery, no statistically significant differences were found. Six months after surgery, graft thickness was 3.58 +/- 0.384 mm in the SCR BT group and 2.49 +/- 0.326 mm in the SCR HD group (P < .001). At 2 years postoperatively, graft thickness was 3.54 +/- 0.399 mm in the SCR BT group and 2.49 +/- 0.306 mm in the SCR HD group (P < .001). The SCR HD group showed a negative correlation of -0.475 between graft thickness and IR ROM (P = .026). In the SCR BT group, a negative correlation of -0.466 was found between graft thickness and IR ROM (P = .008). A positive correlation of 0.363 was found between IR ROM and the acromio-humeral distance when the results were compared before and 2 years after surgery (P = .045).Conclusion: Both SCR using BT autograft and SCR using HD allograft tissue showed favorable results, and no significant difference was noted between the 2 techniques. Given that the 2 techniques show equally favorable results, the surgeon's personal preference in choosing the SCR technique appears to be acceptable. Understanding the costs and patient's characteristics may aid the surgeon in deciding on the graft material.