Posterior latissimus dorsi transfer for massive irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears: does it work in the elderly population? A comparative study between 2 age groups (≤55 vs. ≥75 years old)

Hypothesis and/or background: Management of irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears (RCTs) presents a significant challenge to shoulder surgeons. Previous studies on latissimus dorsi transfer (LDT) have demonstrated good to excellent outcomes in younger patients, but this indication is debatable in the elderly. The main objective of this study was to compare the results of LDT in a group of patients aged ≤55 years vs. one of patients aged ≥75 years. We hypothesized that LDT could give equally good results in the elderly as in the younger population.

Methods: Between 2014 and 2017, a total of 153 patients who underwent LDT either for irreparable posterosuperior RCT or for failed prior repair were enrolled. All LDTs were performed by a single surgeon, were arthroscopically assisted, and fixed onto the humeral head with 2 anchors. A retrospective comparative clinical study was conducted. Patients with a minimum of 24 months of follow-up were divided into 2 groups: group A (≤55 years old at surgery) and group B (≥75 years old at surgery). The age-adjusted Constant-Murley score (aCMS), Subjective Score Value (SSV), Simple Shoulder Test (SST), Activities of Daily Living requiring active External Rotation (ADLER) score, visual analog scale for pain (VAS), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES) score, patient's satisfaction, and rate of LD tendon rupture at last follow-up were compared.

Results: A total of 66 patients met inclusion criteria. Four in 66 patients (6%) were lost to follow-up. There were 31 patients in group A and 31 patients in group B. The mean age was 52 and 77 years for the respective groups. Preoperatively, the 2 groups were comparable with respect to other characteristics like the mean number of ruptured tendons, mean preoperative Hamada stage, mean SST, and mean aCMS. The mean follow-up was 33 and 31 months, respectively. At last follow-up, there was no significant difference in the scores evaluated between groups A and B with SSV (61 vs. 66.7 points), ADLER (23 vs. 26.4 points), VAS (2.8 vs. 2.2 points), and ASES (64.4 vs. 72.4 points), respectively, except for the aCMS (75 vs. 96.3; ±001) and the SST (6.2 vs. 8.3; P < .001). Patient's satisfaction was not significantly different in both groups (81% of either satisfied or very satisfied patients in both groups). The rate of LD tendon rupture was higher in group A: 10 (33%) vs. 8 (26%).

Conclusion: Posterior transfer of latissimus dorsi tendon could be an effective surgical option for the treatment of massive irreparable posterosuperior cuff tears in patients ≥75 years of age.