Augmentation with a Gore-Tex patch for repair of large rotator cuff tears that cannot be sutured.

The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of augmentation with a Gore-Tex patch in reconstruction of rotator cuff tears that cannot be repaired by direct suture. Twenty-eight shoulders of 27 patients underwent this procedure. The average age at surgery was 62 years, the average duration of symptoms before surgery was 16 months, and the average follow-up period was 44 months.