Superior Capsule Reconstruction: What Do We Know?

The management of irreparable rotator cuff tears remains challenging. Since its introduction by Mihata in 2012, superiorcapsule reconstruction (SCR) has grown in popularity at an astonishingly rapid rate. The aim of this article is to providea comprehensive review of the available literature, in order to highlight what has so far been published on SCR,covering all aspects including biomechanical, clinical and radiological studies as well as descriptions of the varioustechniques for performing the procedure.The short-term clinical results of SCR are promising, but there is need for further long-term studies, as well as randomisedcontrolled trials comparing SCR to other treatment modalities for irreparable rotator cuff tears. Further imaging studieslooking at graft healing rates are also required as the healing rates published so far are variable. Additionally, themechanism of action by which SCR delivers good short-term functional outcomes needs further clarification, as doesthe importance of the choice of graft type and thickness.