Biomechanical Comparison of a Prepared Thick Fresh Frozen Irradiated Fascia Lata Allograft to the Native Superior Capsule (212)

OBJECTIVES: Superior Capsule Reconstruction (SCR) has been described as treatment option for irreparable tears of the superior rotator cuff. Reported outcomes on the success of the surgery have been variable, with graft choice seeming to be one of the most important factors. Fascia Lata (FL) allograft has been proposed as a potential option as it provides adequate graft thickness while avoiding the morbidity of an autograft harvest. The purpose of this study was to compare the biomechanical characteristics of an SCR with FL allograft (FL-SCR) to a native superior capsule in a cadaveric specimen. METHODS: Eight cadaver shoulder specimens were used. Each specimen was tested with a custom shoulder system twice. Initial testing was performed after the specimen was dissected of all soft tissue except for the native superior capsule. Subsequent testing was performed after FL-SCR was done. All allografts were fresh frozen and irradiated. Capsule and graft dimensions were recorded before testing. Biomechanical values recorded were cyclic and load to failure for both the native capsule and FL-SCR, and fixation displacement for the SCR-FL construct. A Paired T-test was performed to compare the biomechanical values of the native superior capsule to the FL-SCR. RESULTS: The mean thickness of the NSC was 2.4 ± 0.6 mm and 7.4 ± 1.2mm for the FL graft. The native superior capsule had an average linear stiffness of 94.5 ± 20.4 N/mm, yield load of 386.9 ± 63.6 N, ultimate load of 444.9 ± 67.7 N and energy absorbed of 1418.4 ± 248.8 N-mm. The FL-SCR construct had an average linear stiffness of 28.0 ± 1.6 N/mm, yield load of 123.8 ± 54.3 N, ultimate load of 369.0 ± 43.4 N and energy absorbed of 5021.2 ± 755.1 N-mm. Comparing the two groups there was a statistically significant difference for stiffness (P = 0.013), yield load (P = 0.03) and energy absorbed (P = 0.003). There was no statistically significant difference between ultimate load. The total displacement of the FL-SCR fixation was 5.8 ± 0.6 mm after 1 cycle, 8.5 ± 0.7 mm after 30 cycles, 11.4 ± 1.8 mm at the yield load and 29.5 ± 1.8 mm at the ultimate load. For the failure mode, 8/8 NSC specimens failed at the mid-substance. The FL-SCR, 3/8 specimens failed at the suture tendon interface and 4/8 had medial anchor pull out. CONCLUSIONS: Performing SCR with FL allograft in a cadaver model creates a construct that is sufficiently strong enough to withstand normal physiologic loading of the shoulder, although it does not fully re-create the biomechanical characteristics of a native shoulder superior capsule.