28-Year-Old Undergoes Rare Shoulder Repair with Human Dermal Graft

07th August 2025: A 28-year-old man, Vasu Batra from Faridabad/Haryana, became the first patient in North India to undergo a shoulder revision surgery using an Acellular Human Dermal Allograft (HDA) patch, a treatment more commonly seen in the US and other Western countries. The procedure was performed at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, on 5th June 2025, marking a first in this part of the Country where the HDA patch was used to repair a torn rotator cuff arranged specifically for this patient in India.

Mr. Batra had previously undergone a Bankart repair surgery in 2021 to address recurrent shoulder dislocations. However, the earlier surgery failed to provide long-term relief, and over time, his condition deteriorated. The shoulder remained unstable, and he continued to experience dislocations and pain, prompting the need for a more precise revision procedure. Dr. Priyadarshi Amit, Senior Consultant, Orthopaedics and Upper Limb Surgery at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, managed the case.

“This was an extremely complex case involving both bone loss and soft tissue damage. Because the joint socket had worn down and the shoulder muscle was badly torn, we needed a solution that could fix both problems with accuracy and long-term strength. Hence, we decided to go ahead with a human dermal allograft patch in addition to the bone graft to reinforce the repair,” said Dr. Priyadarshi Amit, who has previously used this technique during his practice abroad. “To heal the torn rotator cuff, we placed a human dermal allograft patch. This approach gave us the best chance at a long-term repair with reduced risk of re-tear.”

In this case, doctors used a patch made from donated human skin to reinforce the torn muscle in the patient’s shoulder. This patch, known as a human dermal allograft, functions as a natural support, aiding the body’s healing process. It was placed over the damaged shoulder area to strengthen the repair and reduce the likelihood of re-injury.

Human dermal allograft patches are commonly used in North America, with about 20,000 surgeries taking place annually, but have so far remained rare in India due to regulatory and logistical hurdles. Studies in the US have shown that patients with dermal allograft reinforcement report better shoulder function and lower re-tear rates, dropping from 26% in standard repairs to 10% when reinforced with a patch.

For Mr Batra’s case, the patch was arranged from USA through Avana Medical Devices as a specific patient specific product.

We are proud to have supported this landmark case by ensuring timely and compliant access to the dermal allograft,” said Mr. P Sundararajan, Managing Director at Avana Medical Devices Pvt Ltd. “Our goal is to bridge the gap between international innovation and Indian clinical needs, so patients here can benefit from world-class solutions without delay. We are always proud to introduce new technologies in India to enable Surgeons treat their Patients Better”

Mr. Vasu Batra said, “The constant pain made everyday tasks really difficult; even lifting my arm or getting dressed was a struggle. After my last surgery failed, I started to wonder if I’d ever fully recover or get back to normal life. This procedure has given me hope again.”

Rotator cuff injuries account for nearly 20% of shoulder problems in adults over 40 in India, with thousands requiring surgery each year. However, many experience re-tears or limited recovery due to poor tissue quality or repeated surgeries.

With improved precision and planning, Mr Vasu Batra was discharged within 24 hours and is currently undergoing rehabilitation.

In addition to the allograft patch, the surgical team led by Dr Priyadarshi Amit has also brought many foreign innovations to our country such as the use of the Arthrex Virtual Implant Positioning (VIP) system to pre-plan the revision shoulder replacement surgery using CT-guided 3D models. According to the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, this procedure improves surgical accuracy by up to 30%, especially in revision cases where anatomy is distorted.