Rotator cuff augmentation using semitendinosus tendon autograft

The ideal surgical management of retracted rotator cuff tears has not been defined. Retraction of the tendon can make repair to the anatomic footprint on the humerus impossible. Various techniques have been described to address this problem, including medial repair, allograft and xenograft augmentation, but the results of these procedures have been mixed. The authors describe a hamstring tendon autograft reconstruction to augment the retracted rotator cuff tendons, allowing repair to the anatomic footprint of the humerus. Using this technique the length of the grafted muscle-tendon unit can be restored. The expense and potential complications associated with allograft and xenograft techniques are avoided.