Does the Use of Injectable Atelocollagen during Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Improve Clinical and Structural Outcomes?

In Bo Kim; Eun Yeol Kim; Kuk Pil Lim; Ki Seong Heo

doi:10.5397/cise.2019.22.4.183

Clin Should Elbow 2019;22:183-189

Published online December 1, 2019; https://doi.org/10.5397/cise.2019.22.4.183

In Bo Kim, Eun Yeol Kim , Kuk Pil Lim, Ki Seong Heo

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Busan Bumin Hospital, Busan, Korea

Correspondence to: Eun Yeol Kim
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Busan Bumin Hospital, 59 Mandeok-daero, Buk-gu, Busan 46555, Korea
Tel: +82-51-330-3082, Fax: +82-51-330-3075, E-mail: coolkey102@naver.com, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3693-8749
IRB approval: Busan Bumin Hospital (No. 201909-BM_008).

Received September 24, 2019; Revised October 28, 2019; Accepted October 30, 2019.

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract: Background: Since the establishment of biological augmentation to improve the treatment of rotator cuff tears, it is imperative to explore newer techniques to reduce the retear rate and improve long-term shoulder function after rotator cuff repair. This study was undertaken to determine the consequences of a gel-type atelocollagen injection during arthroscopic rotator cuff repair on clinical outcomes, and evaluate its effect on structural integrity.
Methods: Between January 2014 and June 2015, 121 patients with full thickness rotator cuff tears underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Of these, 61 patients were subjected to arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in combination with an atelocollagen injection (group I), and 60 patients underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair alone (group II). The visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain and the Korean Shoulder Society (KSS) scores were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed at 6 months postoperatively, to assess the integrity of the repair.
Results: VAS scores were significantly lower in group I than in group II at 3, 7, and 14 days after surgery. KSS scores showed no significant difference between groups in the 24 months period of follow-up. No significant difference was obtained in the healing rate of the rotator cuff tear at 6 months postoperatively (p=0.529).
Conclusions: Although a gel-type atelocollagen injection results in reduced pain in patients at 2 weeks after surgery, our study does not substantiate the administration of atelocollagen during rotator cuff repair to improve the clinical outcomes and healing of the rotator cuff.; Keywords : Atelocollagen; Rotator cuff repair; Clinical outcome; Tendon integrity