Anterior Capsular Reconstruction for Irreparable Subscapularis Tears

Chronic anterior shoulder instability due to structural failure of the subscapularis muscle and the anterior capsule is a rare and challenging diagnosis for surgeons to manage because poor-quality capsular, labral, and rotator cuff tissue often limits effective treatment options. If primary repair is not possible because of retraction and poor tissue quality, reconstruction with an allograft or autograft may be the only joint-preserving option. The purpose of this article is to describe a surgical technique for anterior capsular reconstruction using a human acellular dermal allograft for the treatment of irreparable subscapularis tears.