Porcine Xenograft Patch for Rotator Cuff Repair

One level II study¹¹¹ and one level III¹¹² study evaluated the results of open repair of medium to massive rotator cuff tears with and without the use of a non cross linked, porcine small intestine submucosal xenograft as augmentation to the primary tendon to bone repair. In these studies, there was less favorable outcome (pain and function) with the use of this graft when compared to primary repair alone. The complication rate of hypersensitivity reaction was approximately 20-30 % of cases with the use of this graft.¹¹⁴ Based on these results, the work group suggests that non-cross linked, porcine small intestine submucosal xenograft patches not be used to treat patients with rotator cuff tears.