Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery
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J Shoulder Elbow Surg · Oct 2019
The effect of the subacromial balloon spacer on humeral head translation in the treatment of massive, irreparable rotator cuff tears: a biomechanical assessment.
The current management of massive, irreparable rotator cuff tears is challenging, and no individual surgical technique has demonstrated clinical superiority. This study evaluated the role of a subacromial balloon spacer and its ability to depress the humeral head in the setting of a massive, irreparable rotator cuff tear. ⋯ The results of this study demonstrate that the subacromial balloon spacer is most effective in depressing the humeral head and restoring the glenohumeral joint position when inflated to 25 mL.