01/11/2025
Loving the “Cuff Augmentation” journey!
To improve outcomes after rotator cuff repair, we can now reinforce repairs with a biological ‘patch’ — designed to support healing when the tendon quality isn’t ideal.
The ongoing challenge is when to use this technique — it’s about finding the right balance between cost and benefit for each patient.
At Sports Orthopaedic Surgery Centre (SOSC), we’ve been exploring this from a functional outcome perspective. Interestingly, even patients with only partial healing often do very well if their shoulder mechanics are balanced, therefore post surgery MRI is often not useful.
Recently, my focus has shifted toward tendon retraction — especially in patients under 65 — as a key factor when considering augmentation.
It’s an exciting space to be in, and I’m grateful to work alongside colleagues who share the same curiosity and drive for better patient outcomes.
Well done, Dr Jonathan “Jono” Chan on your hard work with this project!
