Description
In this presentation, George Athwal expresses gratitude towards the COA and the Canadian Shoulder and Elbow Society for the opportunity to discuss lower trapezius tendon transfer. Athwal highlights the rising prevalence of massive rotator cuff tears, emphasizing the significance of proper management strategies. He outlines the rationale for the operation, which he believes provides better outcomes compared to traditional methods such as latissimus dorsi tendon transfers.
He notes that ideal candidates for the lower trapezius tendon transfer include patients with symptomatic, irreparable, or failed posterosuperior rotator cuff tears, while contraindications include anteriosuperior escape and pseudoparalysis. Athwal walks through a video of the surgical procedure, detailing the various technical aspects and showcasing a patient example that demonstrates the operation's effectiveness. He emphasizes the procedure's outcomes, which, while positive, are mainly short-term results, with significant improvements noted in active external rotation. Athwal stresses the importance of considering multiple confounding factors that can influence outcomes, as well as highlighting the necessity of performing concurrent procedures, such as partial rotator cuff repairs, to enhance patient recovery.