Editorial Commentary: Long Head Biceps Tendon Can Be Used Like a Split Skin Graft: Mesh It and Augment Rotator Cuff...

Full-thickness tears of the rotator cuff are common, and surgical treatment is indicated in most cases. Arthroscopic repair has become the standard technique, but despite improved surgical techniques, instrumentations, and implants, failure rates continue to be high and can reach 40% and more. Augmented repairs with allograft patches or autograft tissue, such as long head biceps tendon or fascia lata, have been used with mixed results. However, autograft augmentation seems to be resulting in superior outcomes and higher healing rates. Treating skin defects with split-skin grafts is the gold standard in burns and soft-tissue surgery. Given the limited supply of autograft, meshing autograft tendon and using it similar to a split-skin graft is a novel idea. When using a 2:1 expansion ratio, the long head biceps tendon can be formed into a porous scaffold with the in situ tenocytes, producing cytokines and promoting tenogenic differentiation. However, the scaffolds exhibited reduced tensile properties. The results are encouraging, and it will be interesting whether the clinical trials will demonstrate higher healing rates and better functional outcomes when compared to primary repair and allograft patch augmentation.