The use of freeze-dried allografts in the management of global rotator cuff tears.

Massive or global tears of the rotator cuff with loss of tendon substance and retracted cuff remnants pose a challenging surgical and rehabilitation problem. In seven patients, global cuff tears were reconstructed with freeze-dried rotator cuff allografts. Five of the seven patients had other significant debilitating medical problems. Three patients had received four steroid injections, one patient had six injections, and the remaining three patients had two injections in or about the affected shoulder. Five of the seven patients had their pain relieved. Only two patients had significant improvement in shoulder function after anterior acromioplasty and allografts. Freeze-dried rotator cuff allografts do not appear to be of significant value in the surgical management of chronic massive rotator cuff tears.