Subacromial Spacer for Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears

Irreparable rotator cuff tears are a challenging clinical entity in orthopedics without a consensus treatment option. A multitude of surgical techniques have been employed in treating this condition including subacromial decompression, partial rotator cuff repair, tendon transfers, patch augmentation, superior capsular reconstruction (SCR), and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. In use since 2008, the InSpace subacromial spacer is a novel treatment option that is implanted between the humeral head and acromion to restore normal acromiohumeral distance, permit frictionless gliding, and promote more normal shoulder mechanics. This exciting innovation is minimally invasive, easy to insert, and associated with encouraging early results. Made of a biodegradable polymer, the InSpace has been shown to be safe and to fully resorb within 1 year of implantation. The InSpace is being studied extensively in Europe and the United States; however, it is not currently FDA approved for broad use in the United States.