In a surgical milestone being hailed across India's orthopaedic community, Dr Chirag Thonse of Manipal Hospital, Miller's Road, Bengaluru, has successfully performed shoulder-preservation surgery using a human dermal allograft. The procedure restored mobility and preserved the shoulder joint of a young patient.
Innovative Procedure Avoids Total Shoulder Replacement
The surgery utilized the biologic implant ArthroFlex combined with the FiberStitch 1.5 all-suture anchor system. This approach spared the patient from a total shoulder replacement, which is the conventional recommendation for massive rotator cuff tears.
The patient, rendered virtually immobile by a massive rotator cuff tear, was initially advised to undergo total shoulder arthroplasty—a prosthetic replacement of the joint. Instead, Dr Thonse opted for a biologically driven reconstruction using human dermal allograft, preserving the patient's native anatomy and providing a clear path to restored function and independence.
Expert Commentary
Dr Chirag Thonse, Senior Arthroscopy Consultant at Manipal Hospital, Millers Road, stated: "Our goal was never simply to fix the tear — it was to give this patient back his own shoulder. ArthroFlex allowed us to do exactly that. This is the future of shoulder surgery in India."
He further explained: "Rotator cuff tears occur when the muscles that stabilize the shoulder joint become damaged. In irreparable cases, when tendons cannot be reattached, the joint slips out of alignment, causing chronic pain and weakness. Arthroscopic augmentation with human dermal allograft recreates a stabilizing layer, restores shoulder biomechanics, and provides patients the chance to regain function without the need for replacement surgery."
About ArthroFlex and the Procedure
ArthroFlex is a processed acellular dermal allograft derived from human donors, engineered specifically for rotator cuff augmentation. It is biocompatible and integrates naturally with the patient's own tissue. The graft acts as a living scaffold, enabling the body's own healing cells to invade and ultimately replace the graft with regenerated tissue.
Dr Chirag Thonse is known for his surgical advancements and procedures that help patients recover faster and stronger from ligament and shoulder injuries. This latest achievement underscores the potential of biologic approaches in orthopaedic surgery.
Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.
