A study for evaluating the effect of the deltoid-flap repair in massive rotator cuff defects

The repair of massive cuff defects by direct suture often is impossible. In these cases, a repair by musculo–tendineous flaps (latissimus-dorsi, pectoralis or deltoideus) is required. It was the goal of this study to evaluate the result of delta-flap repair in case of massive cuff defects with a diameter of 5 cm or more. Between 1998 and 2000 for all patients who were suffering from a massive rotator cuff tear more than 5 cm a deltoid transfer was performed. A total of 20 patients (14 male, 6 female; age: 60.9 ± 8.7 years) were available for a follow-up after 47.2 ± 8.0 (range, 36 to 60) month. The operation included an arthroscopic evaluation, acromioplasty with resection of the lateral clavicular end, and biceps tenodesis. The cuff defect was repaired by transfer a muscular flap from the anterior part of the deltoid (about 2×6 cm) into the defect. The patients subjectively rated their result—10 excellent, 9 good, and 1 poor. Preoperatively, the Constant amounted 26.3 ± 5.1 points. At follow-up, the score significantly increased to 74.5 ± 8.5 points. The acromiohumeral distance increased from 4.9 ± 1.1 to 9.2 ± 1.7 mm. In MRI examination of 11 patients all had an intact flap. Two complications (a wound hematoma and a deep infection) did not influence the result. The repair of massive rotator cuff tears by a deltoid transfer produces acceptable clinical and radiological results.     

老年巨大肩袖损伤治疗面临的挑战

老年人肩袖组织退变显著,常伴有骨关节炎、肌力下降、肌肉萎缩等问题.肩袖损伤是肩痛最为常见的病因.老年巨大肩袖损伤发生率高,损伤的肩袖组织难以修复,修复后再撕裂率高,严重降低患者生活质量.为此,笔者着重对老年巨大肩袖损伤的特点、治疗选择及康复锻炼等问题进行概述,为老年巨大肩袖损伤的治疗提供借鉴.     

The use of split deltoid-flap in the treatment of massive rotator cuff defects: a retrospective study of 61 patients

Massive and irreparable rotator cuff tears are a challenge for the orthopaedic surgeon. The purpose of this study was to report our experience with the treatment of massive and irreparable defects of the rotator cuff with a modified deltoid split transfer. Between 1996 and 2004, for all patients suffering from full-thickness tears of the rotator cuff (>5 cm tears in diameter, involving two or more tendons) were operated with a modified deltoid split transfer. A total of 61 patients (39 females and 22 males; age 61.9: range 49-75 years) were operated. Duration of symptoms before surgery averaged 9.6 months (range 3.5-14 months). The patients were followed for an average of 46 months (range 24-64 months). The operation included an arthroscopic evaluation, acromioplasty with resection of the lateral clavicular end, resection of the acromioclavicular joint and where necessary biceps tenodesis. The cuff defect was repaired by transfer of half thickness anterior deltoid-flap (3 cm x 5 cm) into the defect. All patients were evaluated both preoperatively and postoperatively with regard to pain, ability to perform activities of daily life, range of motion, strength and satisfaction. The patients subjectively rated their results-49 (80%) excellent or good outcome, seven moderate and five poor. Preoperatively, the Constant amounted 33.5 +/- 7.74 points. At follow-up, the score significantly increased to 77.57 +/- 19.74 points. The acromiohumeral distance increased from 5.1 +/- 1.4 mm to 9.1 +/- 1.5 mm. Pain free flexion improved from an average 90 degrees to an average 165 degrees (P < 0.01), and abduction improved from an average 110 degrees to an average 160 degrees (P < 0.01). The mean external rotation increased from 40 degrees to 65 degrees (P < 0.01), and internal rotation increased from 50 degrees to 70 degrees (P = 0.06). In the MRI and ultrasound examination, all patients had intact flap, except the three patients with flap necrosis. There were eight complications-three haematomas, two superficial wound infections which did not influence the outcome, and three fibrotic transformation after an early aseptic necrosis of the deltoid flap, which were re-operated. This technique is easy to perform, and it is possible to obtain a satisfactory outcome after repair of massive tears of the rotator cuff. A substantial decrease of pain, increased stability, an increase range of motion and strength can be achieved, with proper rehabilitation.     

Radiographic diagnosis of rotator cuff tear based on the supraspinatus muscle radiodensity

Objective. To evaluate the supraspinatus muscle radiodensity on the outlet view as an indication of a tendon tear. Design and patients. Plain radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations were obtained on both shoulders of 40 subjects aged 23–70 years, including 13 asymptomatic volunteers and 27 patients. Two readers analyzed the superior contour and the heterogeneity of the supraspinatus muscle radiodensity and compared them with the MRI findings. Results and conclusion. Significant concordances (P<0.001) were found between the assessments of the superior contour and the heterogeneity of the muscle radiodensity, respectively, on plain radiographs and MR images. For the diagnosis of a full-thickness tear, the analysis of the superior contour and the heterogeneity of the muscle radiodensity reached an accuracy of 85% and 80% respectively. Stepwise discriminant analyses showed low to moderate benefit of considering the contour and the heterogeneity simultaneously. The inter- and intraobserver agreement ranged from moderate to good. We conclude that on the outlet view, modifications in the superior contour and heterogeneity of the supraspinatus muscle radiodensity suggest a full-thickness tear. Received: 6 December 1999 Revision requested: 6 March 2000 Revision received: 5 June 2000 Accepted: 4 October 2000     

Rim-rent tear of the rotator cuff: a common and easily overlooked partial tear

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of rim-rent rotator cuff tears in a population of patients referred for shoulder MRI and to determine the sensitivity of MRI for the detection of these tears. CONCLUSION: Rim-rent tears are a common type of partial-thickness rotator cuff tear, much more commonly present than has been previously reported. In particular, infraspinatus rim-rent tears are more common than previously believed. Rim-rent tears of the infraspinatus tendon and those involving the anterior-most fibers of the supraspinatus tendon are commonly overlooked on MRI, possibly because of failure to appreciate the high incidence of these types of tears and failure to inspect the anterior-most fibers of the rotator cuff.     

Arthroscopic footprint reconstruction of a bone cyst-associated rotator cuff tear

Arthroscopic treatment of a symptomatic rotator cuff tear is problematic when the tear is associated with a large bone cyst. We describe procedure of arthroscopic bone grafting in the bone cyst and footprint reconstruction of the rotator cuff tear using a suture–bridge technique.     

Imaging of the rotator cuff: an arthrographic pitfall

We present a case where MRI and arthrography of the shoulder reports provided seemingly conflicting data. The subsequent findings at arthroscopy revealed a potential pitfall in arthrographic interpretation. Received 1 July 1997; Revision received 12 September 1997; Accepted 16 September 1997     

Surgically repaired massive rotator cuff tears: MRI of tendon integrity, muscle fatty degeneration, and muscle atrophy correlated with intraoperative and clinical findings

OBJECTIVE: Our goal in this study was to evaluate by means of MRI the clinical significance of tendon integrity, muscle fatty degeneration, and muscle atrophy in surgically repaired massive rotator cuff tears and to correlate these and other prognostic factors with intraoperative and clinical findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight surgically proven massive rotator cuff tears were retrospectively included in the study. Twenty-two patients underwent complete repair, and six patients underwent partial repair. Preoperative and postoperative clinical assessment was performed by using the University of California at Los Angeles score. Preoperative and postoperative MRI studies were evaluated for the presence and extent of rotator cuff tear and for the degree of fatty degeneration and atrophy of the rotator cuff muscles. RESULTS: At a mean 44.4 months' follow-up, 20 patients (71.4%) had a favorable result. A total of 25 patients (89.2%) showed postoperative full-thickness rotator cuff tear, 19 of which were reruptures. A sagittal preoperative rotator cuff tear of less than or equal to 34 mm showed a specificity of 100% for predicting a favorable outcome. A coronal postoperative rotator cuff tear of less than or equal to 34 mm showed a specificity of 85.7% and a positive predictive value of 92.9% for predicting a favorable outcome. A postoperative fatty degeneration of infraspinatus muscle less than or equal to 2 had a specificity of 87.5% and a positive predictive value of 90.9% for predicting a favorable outcome. CONCLUSION: Open repair of massive rotator cuff tears may reach a favorable outcome in a significant proportion of patients, despite a high rate of recurrent or residual tears. Oblique coronal sizes of the recurrent or residual tear of less than or equal to 34 mm and postoperative fatty degenerations of infraspinatus muscle of less than or equal to 2 may allow a favorable outcome.     

常规MRI及MRI肩关节造影在肩袖撕裂中的应用

目的:探讨常规MRI及MRI肩关节造影在肩袖撕裂诊断中的价值。方法:226例肩关节损伤的患者,分别行常规MRI及MRI肩关节造影检查,以近期肩关节镜检查为金标准,对比2种检查方法的敏感性及特异性。结果:常规MRI对肩袖撕裂诊断的敏感性为70.8%(17/24),特异性100%(2/2),准确性65.4%(17/26);MRI肩关节造影对肩袖撕裂的敏感性为95.8%(23/24),特异性100%(2/2),准确性88.5%(23/26)。两者的诊断敏感性差异有统计学意义(P=0.016)。结论:MRI肩关节造影可以显著提高肩袖撕裂诊断的敏感性。     

超声诊断肩袖撕裂的临床指导价值研究

目的：探讨肩袖撕裂的超声特征,评价超声检查肩袖撕裂的应用价值及对临床治疗的指导意义。方法：对临床怀疑有肩袖损伤的66例患者（70个肩关节）进行超声检查,并与手术、肩关节造影或磁共振结果进行比较。结果：肩袖撕裂的主要超声表现为：肩袖内局灶性异常回声,肩袖部分缺失,肩袖不显示。超声诊断的敏感性为98%（54/55）,特异性为81%（17/21）,准确性为93%（65/70）。结论：超声诊断肩袖撕裂有很高的应用价值,对临床治疗有很好的指导意义。     

Imaging findings in phyllodes tumors of the breast

Purpose

To study the radiological appearance and pathological features of breast phyllodes tumors (PTs), and to enhance the recognition of the tumor.

Materials and methods

Clinical and imaging findings were retrospectively reviewed in 24 women with PTs confirmed by surgical pathology. All of the 24 patients had preoperative MRI and sonography, and 10 had preoperative mammography.

Results

The histologic findings were benign, borderline and malignant PTs in 16.7% (4/24), 45.8% (11/24) and 37.5% (9/24) of cases, respectively. The tumor size (p = 0.001), irregular shape on sonographic imaging (p = 0.039), internal non-enhanced septations (p = 0.009), silt-like changes in enhanced images (p = 0.006) and signal changes from T2-weighted to enhanced images on MRI (p = 0.001) correlated significantly with the histologic grade; the BI-RADS category of the MRI could reflect the PT's histologic grade with a correlation coefficient of 0.440 (p = 0.031). If the category BI-RADS ≥4a was considered to be a suspicious malignant lesion, the diagnostic accuracy of mammography, US and MRI would be 70% (7/10), 62.5% (15/24) and 95.8% (23/24), respectively.

Conclusion

The tumor size and several US and MRI findings can be used to help preoperatively determine the histologic grade of breast PTs. When a patient presents with a progressively enlarging, painless breast mass, MRI should be recommended first.     

Calcific tendinitis of the rotator cuff as a cause of drooping shoulder

We describe a case of inferior glenohumeral subluxation or drooping shoulder secondary to acute calcific tendinitis of the rotator cuff. The various etiologies of drooping shoulder and the specific causes determining glenohumeral widening in our report are discussed. The importance in recognizing this uncommon complication of a common abnormal finding and correction by aspiration is stressed.     

磁共振化学位移成像定量测量肩袖损伤后冈上肌脂肪性退变

目的：探讨MR化学位移成像技术在定量测量肩袖损伤后冈上肌脂肪性退变中的临床应用价值。方法：38例临床上疑有肩袖损伤或肩峰撞击的患者为研究对象,行MR间接关节造影后,进行常规序列和化学位移序列MRI扫描。根据MR间接关节造影检查结果,肩袖损伤后冈上肌肌腱病理改变可分为4组：正常组、肌腱炎组、部分撕裂组和完全撕裂组。通过测定冈上肌的信号强度,然后分别计算出信号强度抑制率和信号指数值作为反映脂肪变性程度的指标,对比分析正常组和肩袖损伤各组的冈上肌脂肪变性程度。统计学方法采用Wilcoxon秩和检验。结果：正常组、肌腱炎组、部分撕裂组和完全撕裂组冈上肌信号强度抑制率中位数分别是-5．51％（-7．85％～3．50％）、-14．78％（-29．31％～-5．63％）、-31．74％（-45．54％～-13．63％）和-44．50％（-57．32％～-26．27％）,信号强度指数中位数依次为3．91％（-4．37％～13．83％）、12．75％（5．73％～27．38％）、25．17％（14．32％～34．13％）和38．26％（27．66％～53．94％）。正常组与部分撕裂组、正常组与完全撕裂组、肌腱炎组与完全撕裂组间两两比较,差异有高度统计学意义（P〈0．01）;正常组与肌腱炎组、肌腱炎组与部分撕裂组、部分撕裂组与完全撕裂组间两两比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论：MR化学位移成像技术是定量测定冈上肌脂肪性退变程度的-种有I临床应用价值的手段,有助于对肌腱病变进行分级并指导临床治疗。     

磁共振肩关节造影在肩袖完全撕裂诊断的临床应用

目的:探讨磁共振肩关节造影检查对肩袖完全撕裂的诊断价值.方法:回顾性分析54例肩袖完全撕裂MR关节造影及MRI表现,与肩关节镜手术结果对照.结果:54例肩袖完全撕裂病例,MRI诊断的敏感度、特异度及准确度分别是87.03％、50.00％和79.41％;MR关节造影诊断Ⅰ型9例、Ⅱ型21例,其敏感度分别为88.89％、95.24％;特异度分别为97.87％、97.14％;准确度分别为96.43％、96.43％;明显高于常规MRI诊断,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05);与关节镜结果对比,其一致性极佳(Kappa=0.841);而对于Ⅲ型肩袖完全撕裂,MR关节造影均不能显示.结论:MR关节造影能较准确判断Ⅰ型、Ⅱ型肩袖完全撕裂范围及程度,是MRI诊断肩袖损伤的有效补充,为临床诊断和治疗能提供更准确的依据,而对于Ⅲ型肩袖完全撕裂,MR关节造影不能显示其损伤部位及程度,无法对其进行诊断.     

Negative muscle pennation angle as a sign of massive musculotendinous retraction after tendon tear: paradoxical function of the vastus lateralis muscle

Case report In the presented case, an isolated vastus lateralis tendon tear resulted in a negative pennation angle of the distal muscle fibers acting paradoxical to the physiological direction of the proximal muscle fibers. This observation makes the value of an in situ repair of a far retracted tendon tear with interposition of a graft questionable and emphasizes early over late anatomic surgical restoration of the muscle architecture after tendon tears.     

Reconstruction of massive rotator cuff lesions with a synthetic interposition graft: a prospective study of 41 patients

In the present prospective study, we report about our experience with massive rotator cuff tears treated by means of a nonresorbable transosseously fixated patch combined with subacromial decompression. Forty-one patients were followed clinically and radiographically for a mean duration of 43 months. Their mean preoperative Constant and Murley score improved (P<0.001) from 25.7 preoperatively to 72.1 postoperatively. Substantial pain relief and improvement in the performance of activities of daily living were obtained. Anatomically, the repair resulted in a mean acromiohumeral interval of 8.6 mm. At the latest follow-up, three patients presented with a new tear between the inserted mesh and the supraspinatus musculotendinous unit. Reoperations were not performed. For short-term periods, restoring a massive rotator cuff tendon defect with synthetic grafts combined with subacromial decompression can give significant pain relief and improvement of range of motion and strength with few complications.Each author certifies that he has no commercial associations (e.g., consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.Each author certifies that his institution has approved the human protocol for this investigation and that all investigations were conducted in conformity with the ethical principles of research.     

Diabetic muscle infarction: a rare complication of advanced diabetes mellitus

Diabetic muscle infarction is a rare complication of diabetes mellitus first described in 1965. It typically arises in patients with long-standing diabetes mellitus who have complications of the disease, including nephropathy, retinopathy, and neuropathy. It typically presents with acute onset of thigh pain with an associated palpable tender mass. Recurrent episodes in the same or opposite limb are common. Laboratory evaluation does not generally show any consistent abnormality except for poor glucose control. Histologic features of diabetic muscle infarction consist of large areas of muscle necrosis and edema. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in patients without clinical evidence of infection may be typical enough to make tissue biopsy unnecessary. In the appropriate clinical setting, MRI may obviate invasive testing and is the preferred imaging modality. Treatment is supportive with analgesics, rest, and immobilization.