Donor-Site Morbidity After Autologous Fascia Lata Harvest for Arthroscopic Superior Capsular Reconstruction: A Midterm Follow-up Evaluation

BACKGROUND: Autologous fascia lata (AFL) graft use in arthroscopic superior capsular reconstruction (ASCR) is effective for the treatment of irreparable rotator cuff tears (RCTs). Although donor-site morbidity (DSM) is a recurrent argument against AFL graft use, scientific evidence for this argument is lacking. PURPOSE: To report the midterm clinical follow-up evaluation of DSM in ASCR using minimally invasively harvested AFL grafts and compare thigh function and patient satisfaction with those of an unharvested control group. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: Of 66 consecutive patients who underwent ASCR using a minimally invasively harvested AFL graft, 39 patients with a minimum follow-up of 24 months were retrospectively evaluated (ASCR group) and compared with 39 randomly selected patients who underwent arthroscopic RCT repair by the same surgeons (control group). The functional outcomes of both thighs were evaluated using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Patient satisfaction was evaluated using the Patient Scar Assessment Questionnaire (PSAQ) and a subjective questionnaire. Pain was quantified using a visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS: The ASCR group had a mean age of 65 years (range, 51-77 years) and a mean follow-up of 47 months (range, 24-66 months). The WOMAC score in the harvested thigh differed by 0.8% from that in the contralateral thigh (P = .002). The mean PSAQ score differed by 6 points from the minimum PSAQ score (P < .001). Overall, 95% of the patients indicated that they would undergo the same surgery again and that the shoulder outcome compensated for the thigh symptoms. There was no significant association between the presence of residual thigh symptoms and the willingness to undergo the same surgery again (P = .354). The mean VAS score in the harvested thigh was 0.6 (range, 0-5). There was no significant difference in the average WOMAC score or VAS score between groups (P = .684 and P = .148, respectively). CONCLUSION: Despite the proportion of residual symptoms, the associated functional effects were small and not clinically significant, and the vast majority of patients were accepting of the harvest symptoms given the improvement in shoulder function.