André Barros , orthopaedist of the Hospital da Luz Lisboa Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Group, presented in the major European congress of the speciality, which took place in Lisbon, between 22 and 24 June, two prospective papers on the use of the Regeneten technique in the treatment of patients with shoulder joint degeneration. This is a bioactive technology for regeneration of the rotator cuff tissues (a series of muscles and tendons surrounding the shoulder joint), solely performed in Portugal at Hospital da Luz , unit that was selected based on the experience of its specialists in the area. “The papers we presented in the EFORT congress demonstrate the clinical results of application of the Bioinductive Regeneten implant for rotator cuff repair, compared with the classical repairing technique: the use of this implant revealed better functional clinical results and a significant reduction of re-rupture rate ”, explains André Barros (in the photo above). The Hospital da Luz Lisboa Shoulder and Elbow team, coordinated by Eduardo Carpinteiro , is presently, in fact, “the most experienced one in the use of this technique, in Europe”. Regeneten: Is a relatively recent technique, being used in the United States, Australia and Canada for less than 10 years. Consists in the application of bovine-derived Achilles tendon, with a high degree of purification, largely porous and with optimal orientation of type I collagen fibres. These features stimulate the body natural response of induction of new tendon cell growth (regeneration). The implant thus inserted is gradually remodelled along the following six months, leaving a layer of new tissue similar to the healthy tendon, consequently increasing the thickness of the remaining tendon. The newly-inducted tendinous tissue shares the load with the original tendon, thus reducing the excessive tension that causes the degeneration. This was the 23 rd annual congress of EFORT (European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology), usually counting with participants from all over the world, and this year having for theme “The needs of the modern patient – Challenges and solutions in orthopaedics and traumatology” . Founded in 1991 to promote training and research in the area of orthopaedics and traumatology, EFORT gathers around 50 scientific societies from 40 countries.
