Rotator Cuff Repair
Margaret Dyson, 53, from Moortown, Leeds, had a rotator cuff repair in March 2014 under the care of Mr Roger Hackney, consultant orthopaedic surgeon.
Margaret – a former teaching assistant - has suffered from rheumatoid arthritis for the past 20 years. The pain in her shoulder gradually increased over time until it became unbearable a few months ago. “I was on a cocktail of painkillers and steroid injections but nothing would break the cycle of pain. I got to the stage where I could not lift my arm and the pain kept me awake so I only slept about every four nights when I became exhausted.”
Unable to lift her arm above her head, she was unable to do even simple tasks such as wash her hair or get dressed without help from her husband, Louis. “I thought I would have to have a new shoulder,” said Margaret.
Under the care of consultant orthopaedic surgeon, Mr Roger Hackney, Margaret was one of the first patients to benefit from the ‘Leeds-Kuff Patch™’.
Developed by Mr Hackney and medical device company, Neoligaments, the woven fabric patch is transforming the way in which torn shoulder tendons are repaired. It is used to repair large and massive tears of the rotator cuff. The 40-minute operation, which has been successfully carried out on around 50 patients during clinical trials at the Leeds Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit, has been approved for use in UK and Europe.
A key design feature of the patch is that its structure encourages growth of the patient’s own tissue into the patch material. The patch is stitched in place over the rotator cuff – the muscle that enables the arm to raise. Once inserted, it holds repaired tendons in place, alleviating pain and restoring movement and also helps to prevent more tears.
Mr Hackney said, “Margaret's rheumatoid disease put her at an increased risk of failure of a normal repair, but using the patch allowed an early rehabilitation and rapid restoration of function with the expectation that she will regain full pain-free use of her shoulder."
Soon after the procedure Margaret was feeling much better. “My arm was strapped in a sling for three weeks. After two weeks the pain had virtually gone. I can now sleep on my left side for the first time in months."
Now, ten weeks after surgery, Margaret says, “The post-op physio I’m receiving at Spire is fantastic and, as advised, I’m taking things slowly as my strength builds. I’m really pleased with my range of movement and following the success of the surgery I’m looking forward to getting my other shoulder done. I would say it’s a miracle and would and advise anyone who is in a similar situation to find out more about this procedure!”
Mr Roger Hackney
Mr Roger Hackney performed Mrs Margaret Dyson's rotator cuff repair using the "Leeds-Kuff Patch™" at Spire Leeds Hospital.