Which patients are less likely to improve after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair?

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate which specific factors influence the improvement in function and to estimate the time to obtain pain relief following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.MethodsA total of 97 patients (57 men and 40 women; mean age: 55.5 ± 9.3 years) who had arthroscopic rotator cuff repair between 2013 and 2016 were included into the study. Multivariable stepwise analysis included preoperative variables (age, gender, body mass index, comorbidities, occupation and participation in sports, Oxford shoulder score at baseline, preceding injury and duration of preoperative symptoms) and arthroscopic findings (size of rotator cuff tear, pathology of the long head of the biceps and cartilage lesions). The change in the Oxford shoulder score at the last follow-up was modeled as a function of the above predictor variables. The time to regain a visual analogue scale (VAS) under two points following surgery was considered the time to regain substantial pain relief.ResultsThe mean follow-up time was 33.2 ± 14.4 months. Twenty three patients had partial thickness and seventy four had full thickness supraspinatus tears. In third of the patients the tears were defined as large full thickness. At the last follow-up the mean Oxford shoulder score improved from 13.8 ± 4.8 to 42.1 ± 7.2 points (P < 0.001). The mean VAS improved from a preoperative score of 6.7 ± 1.3 points to 1.5 ± 0.6 points postoperatively (P < 0.001) and 80 (83%) patients declared they were satisfied to have had the operation. The mean time interval for substantial pain relief was 4.9 ± 3.6 months. Patients with higher preoperative Oxford shoulder score and larger tear size were correlated with lesser improvement in Oxford shoulder score (R = 0.5, P = 0.001).ConclusionArthroscopic rotator cuff repair improved pain and function at an average follow-up of three years. A substantial pain relief was regained within five months from surgery. Larger rotator cuff tear size and more favorable preoperative function were predictors of worse postoperative function.Level of evidenceLevel IV, Therapeutic study.     

关节镜下肩袖肱骨止点内移技术与传统技术治疗巨大肩袖撕裂的疗效比较

目的 :探讨关节镜下肩袖肱骨止点内移技术的可行性,为治疗巨大肩袖撕裂提供一种方案。方法 :自2014年2月至2018年4月行手术治疗巨大肩袖撕裂患者40例,分成2组,研究组20例,男8例,女12例,年龄42～82(57.55±8.90)岁,病程1 h～2年;采用肩袖在肱骨头处止点内移,重建完整肩袖技术治疗巨大肩袖撕裂;对照组20例,男10例,女10例,年龄45～75(57.75±9.10)岁,病程1 h～5年,采用传统清理后部分缝合肩袖或原位高张力下缝合技术治疗巨大肩袖撕裂。采用VAS评分、Constant评分、UCLA评分评价两组临床疗效。结果:40例患者均获随访,时间12～14个月。两组术后VAS评分、Constant评分、UCLA评分与术前比较均明显改善(P0.05);研究组在VAS评分、Constant评分和UCLA评分及疗效明显优于对照组(P0.05)。结论:关节镜下肩袖肱骨止点内移治疗巨大肩袖撕裂在肩关节疼痛缓解,功能改善满意,治疗巨大肩袖撕裂是一种可行的方案。     

Evaluation of humeral head cartilage using magnetic resonance imaging T1 rho mapping for patients with small-to-medium rotator cuff tears: A pilot study

Background

It is unclear whether smaller rotator cuff tears cause cartilage degeneration. This study was designed to detect early humeral head cartilage degeneration in patients with small-to-medium cuff tears using magnetic-resonance-imaging T1 rho mapping.

Relationship between neuropathy proximal to the suprascapular nerve and rotator cuff tear in a rodent model

Background

Rotator cuff tears are believed to coexist with cervical spine lesions. In cases of preexisting neuropathy, such as cervical spine lesions, fatty degeneration has likely already occurred due to the neuropathy. In these cases, rotator cuff tear is thought to occur easily because of preexisting extensive fatty degeneration and degeneration of the tendons due to neuropathy. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of paralysis due to neuropathy proximal to the suprascapular nerve on the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons using a rat model of brachial plexus paralysis.

Long-term results of shoulder resurfacing hemiarthroplasty: Poor functional outcomes in rotator cuff deficient patients

Background: Shoulder resurfacing hemiarthroplasty is a bone-conserving procedure used in the treatment of multiple painful shoulder conditions. Previous studies have reported mixed results with some indicating that rotator cuff arthropathy leads to inferior clinical outcomes when compared to other preoperative diagnoses. We compared the medium- to long-term subjective and functional outcomes of resurfacing hemiarthroplasty performed for rotator cuff arthropathy versus other indications.Methods: Patients who underwent shoulder resurfacing hemiarthroplasty, with minimum two-year follow-up, were included for review. The primary outcome measure was the final postoperative American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, while secondary measures included final postoperative active forward elevation, revision arthroplasty, as well as the change in pre- and postoperative outcome scores and forward elevation.Results: Eighty-four shoulders in 77 patients were reviewed, including 39 shoulders with preoperative rotator cuff arthropathy. Mean follow-up time was 76.82 months (range 24 to 147 months). Improvements in subjective outcome scores and visual analog pain scores were observed with all preoperative diagnoses following surgery. There was no significant difference in final postoperative subjective scores when comparing patients with rotator cuff arthropathy and those with an intact rotator cuff (66.0 ± 22.8 vs. 74.2 ± 20.3, p = 0.09). Final postoperative active forward elevation was significantly worse in the rotator cuff arthropathy group compared to other diagnoses (119.1˚± 41.8˚ vs 136.9˚ ± 34.6˚, p = 0.040). Patients with rotator cuff arthropathy lost an average of 26.9˚ of forward elevation while those with an intact rotator cuff gained an average of 8.7˚ postoperatively (p = 0.001). Six shoulders from the rotator cuff arthropathy group were revised to reverse total shoulder arthroplasty compared to two from all other groups (15.4% vs 4.4%, p = 0.183).Conclusion: Shoulder resurfacing hemiarthroplasty is effective in relieving pain and improving subjective outcome scores across all diagnoses but does not reliably restore or maintain function in rotator cuff deficient patients. In fact, patients with rotator cuff arthropathy lost a significant amount of range of motion after resurfacing hemiarthroplasty. While patients predictably improve in terms of pain scores and subjective outcome scores, caution should be exercised in performing this procedure in patients with rotator cuff arthropathy, even those with preserved preoperative overhead active range of motion, due to potential loss of active range of motion after surgery.Level of evidence: Level III; Retrospective Comparative Study     

The high frequency of superior labrum,biceps tendon,and superior rotator cuff pathologies in patients with subscapularis tears: A cohort study

Background

The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency of superior labrum anterior posterior (SLAP) lesions, long head of biceps tendon (LHBT) pathologies, and superior rotator cuff tears accompanying subscapularis tears. We hypothesised that LHBT lesions, superior rotator cuff tears, and especially SLAP lesions were very frequent with subscapularis tears.

Anatomic vs. reverse shoulder arthroplasty for glenohumeral osteoarthritis with intact rotator cuff: a retrospective comparison of patient-reported outcomes using the systems outcomes database with up to 5-year follow-up

BackgroundThe growing enthusiasm for the use of reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) in the treatment of primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis (GHOA) with an intact rotator cuff is based on data derived from single-center studies with limited generalizability and follow-up. This study compared patient-reported outcomes (PROs) between RSA and total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) for the treatment of primary GHOA with up to 5-year follow-up and examined temporal trends in the treatment of GHOA between 2012 and 2021.MethodsA retrospective review was performed on patients with primary GHOA undergoing primary arthroplasty surgery from the Surgical Outcomes System global registry between 2012 and 2021. PROs including the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) score, and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain were compared between RSA and TSA at 1, 2, and 5 years postoperatively.ResultsA total of 4451 patients were included, with 2693 (60.5%) undergoing TSA and 1758 (39.5%) undergoing RSA. Both RSA and TSA provided clinically excellent outcomes at 1 year postoperatively (ASES: 80.8 ± 17.9 vs. 85.9 ± 15.2, respectively; SANE: 74.8 ± 24.7 vs. 79.5 ± 22.9; VAS pain: 1.3 ± 2.0 vs. 1.1 ± 1.7; all P < .05) that were maintained at 2 years (ASES: 81.3 ± 19.3 vs. 87.3 ± 14.9; SANE: 74.8 ± 26.2 vs. 79.7 ± 24.7; VAS pain: 1.3 ± 2.1 vs. 1.0 ± 1.6; all P < .05) and 5 years (ASES: 81.7 ± 16.5 vs. 86.9 ± 15.3; SANE: 71.6 ± 28.5 vs. 78.2 ± 25.9; VAS pain: 1.0 ± 1.7 vs. 1.0 ± 1.7; all P < .05), with statistical significance favoring TSA. After controlling for age and sex, there was an adjusted difference of 4.5 units in the ASES score favoring TSA (P = .005) at 5 years postoperatively but no differences in adjusted SANE (P = .745) and VAS pain (P = .332) scores. The use of RSA for GHOA grew considerably over time, from representing only 17% of all replacements performed for GHOA in 2012 to nearly half (47%) in 2021 (P < .001).ConclusionRSA as a treatment for GHOA with an intact rotator cuff seems to yield PROs that are largely clinically equivalent to TSA extending to 5 years postoperatively. The observed statistical significance favoring TSA appears to be of marginal clinical benefit based on established minimal clinically important differences and may be a result of the large sample size. Further research using more granular clinical data and examining differences in range of motion and complications is warranted as it may change the value analysis.     

Compensatory Movement Patterns Are Based on Abnormal Activity of the Biceps Brachii and Posterior Deltoid Muscles in Patients with Symptomatic Rotator Cuff Tears

BackgroundAbnormal movement patterns due to compensatory mechanisms have been reported in patients with rotator cuff tears. The long head of the biceps tendon may especially be overactive and a source of pain and could induce abnormal muscle activation in these patients. It is still unknown why some patients with a rotator cuff tear develop complaints and others do not.Questions/purposes(1) Which shoulder muscles show a different activation pattern on electromyography (EMG) while performing the Functional Impairment Test-Hand and Neck/Shoulder/Arm (FIT-HaNSA) in patients with a symptomatic rotator cuff tear compared with age-matched controls with an intact rotator cuff? (2) Which shoulder muscles are coactivated on EMG while performing the FIT-HaNSA?MethodsThis comparative study included two groups of people aged 50 years and older: a group of patients with chronic symptomatic rotator cuff tears (confirmed by MRI or ultrasound with the exclusion of Patte stage 3 and massive rotator cuff tears) and a control group of volunteers without shoulder conditions. Starting January 2019, 12 patients with a chronic rotator cuff tear were consecutively recruited at the outpatient orthopaedic clinic. Eleven age-matched controls (randomly recruited by posters in the hospital) were included after assuring the absence of shoulder complaints and an intact rotator cuff on ultrasound imaging. The upper limb was examined using the FIT-HaNSA (score: 0 [worst] to 300 seconds [best]), shoulder-specific instruments, health-related quality of life, and EMG recordings of 10 shoulder girdle muscles while performing a tailored FIT-HaNSA.ResultsEMG (normalized root mean square amplitudes) revealed hyperactivity of the posterior deltoid and biceps brachii muscles during the upward phase in patients with rotator cuff tears compared with controls (posterior deltoid: 111% ± 6% versus 102% ± 10%, mean difference -9 [95% confidence interval -17 to -1]; p = 0.03; biceps brachii: 118% ± 7% versus 111% ± 6%, mean difference -7 [95% CI -13 to 0]; p = 0.04), and there was decreased activity during the downward phase in patients with rotator cuff tears compared with controls (posterior deltoid: 89% ± 6% versus 98% ± 10%, mean difference 9 [95% CI 1 to 17]; p = 0.03; biceps brachii: 82% ± 7% versus 89% ± 6%, mean difference 7 [95% CI 0 to 14]; p = 0.03). The posterior deltoid functioned less in conjunction with the other deltoid muscles, and lower coactivation was seen in the remaining intact rotator cuff muscles in the rotator cuff tear group than in the control group.ConclusionPatients with a symptomatic rotator cuff tear show compensatory movement patterns based on abnormal activity of the biceps brachii and posterior deltoid muscles when compared with age-matched controls. The posterior deltoid functions less in conjunction with the other deltoid muscles, and lower coactivation was seen in the remaining intact rotator cuff muscles in the rotator cuff tear group than the control group.Clinical RelevanceThis study supports the potential benefit of addressing the long head biceps tendon in the treatment of patients with a symptomatic rotator cuff tear. Moreover, clinicians might use these findings for conservative treatment; the posterior deltoid can be specifically trained to help compensate for the deficient rotator cuff.     

老年肩袖撕裂关节镜下修复方式再探讨

目的：探讨关节镜下锚钉改良植入,单排缝合修复老年肩袖撕裂方法及疗效。方法：回顾性分析2016年3月至2020年2月96例符合纳入标准的老年肩袖撕裂患者,其中男29例,女67例,年龄65~85（68.8±3.9）岁。采用关节镜下锚钉改良植入,单排缝合修复撕裂肩袖。手术前后采用美国加州大学洛杉矾分校（University of California Los Angeles,UCLA）评分,美国肩肘外科协会（American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons,ASES）评分评估肩关节功能,采用视觉模拟评分（visual analogue scale,VAS）评估疼痛情况。其中32例术后1年患肩接受MRI检查。结果：所有病例完成关节镜下手术,随访时间11~42（21.4±7.5）个月,UCLA评分由术前的12.22±3.30提高至末次随访时的31.30±2.49（t=45.21,P<0.01）;ASES评分由术前的8.60±1.88提高至末次随访时的12.60±0.84（t=19.05,P<0.01）;VAS中位数由术前的5.00（2.00~8.00）分改善至末次随访的1.00（0.00~3.00）分（Z=-12.22,P<0.05）。术后1年32例接受MRI检查的患者中,1例显示修复肩袖再撕裂,但不影响正常生活,未再手术。未发现植入锚钉拔出病例。结论：关节镜下锚钉改良植入,单排缝合修复老年肩袖撕裂可取得较满意的疗效,能有效降低锚钉拔出并发症。     

铍针与扶他林乳胶剂治疗膝骨关节炎疼痛的病例对照研究

目的:观察铍针与扶他林治疗早中期膝骨关节炎疼痛的临床疗效。方法:将67例早中期膝骨关节炎患者分为铍针治疗组34例和外用扶他林对照组33例,治疗结束1个月后随访,共60例完成随访(共脱落7例,其中治疗组4例,对照组3例)。其中治疗组男5例,女25例;年龄40～68岁,平均(55.90±9.34)岁;病程0.25～1年,平均(0.87±0.34)年;对照组男6例,女24例;年龄40～70岁,平均(58.67±7.39)岁;病程0.25～2年,平均(0.93±0.60)年。治疗组采用铍针治疗,每周治疗1次,3周为1个疗程;对照组采用扶他林乳胶剂局部痛点涂抹,每日3次,3周为1个疗程。两组治疗前后通过软组织张力测试仪测量局部软组织位移值、香蕉面积,用压痛测量仪测量压痛值,用疼痛视觉模拟量表记录治疗前后的VAS评分,并评价治疗前后膝关节功能HSS评分及疗效,最后对上述结果进行统计分析。结果:两组软组织位移值、香蕉面积、压痛测量值、主观VAS评分及HSS评分治疗前后比较差异有统计学意义,且治疗组软组织位移值、压痛值和HSS评分高于对照组,香蕉面积和VAS评分低于对照组。根据膝关节HSS评分结果及VAS疼痛指数综合评定疗效,治疗组治愈3例,显效8例,有效18例,无效1例;对照组治愈1例,显效4例,有效20例,无效5例。两组疗效比较差异无统计学意义。结论:铍针治疗的优势在于有效降低膝骨关节炎患者局部软组织的高张力状态,进而减轻疼痛症状,改善膝关节功能。     

关节镜下改良Mason-Allen与缝线桥缝合治疗中型肩袖撕裂的疗效对比

目的:观察并比较关节镜下改良Mason-Allen与缝线桥缝合治疗中型肩袖撕裂的术后疗效。方法 :自2017年1月至2018年1月,采用关节镜下改良Mason-Allen缝合治疗中型肩袖撕裂患者22例,年龄40~81(57.14±10.26)岁;男9例,女13例。2018年2月至2019年1月,采用缝线桥缝合治疗中型肩袖撕裂患者20例,年龄42~71(57.75±7.57)岁;男6例,女14例。两组患者的术前及术后临床功能评分采用美国肘关节外科协会(American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons,ASES)评分及Constant评分系统。术后患者肩袖愈合评估采用MRI检查。结果:所有患者获得随访,时间24~33 (26.38±2.29)个月。改良Mason-Allen组患者ASES评分和Constant评分由术前的(45.22±7.58)、(58.72±9.26)分提高至术后的(96.89±3.49)、(93.18±3.20)分。缝线桥组患者ASES评分和Constant评分由术前的(47.33±7.50)、(60.05±11.76)分提高至术后的(97.58±3.43)、(93.85±3.15)分。组间术前及术后ASES评分和Constant评分差异均无统计学意义。两组患者术后肩袖愈合情况差异也无统计学意义。结论:关节镜下改良Mason-Allen与缝线桥缝合治疗中型肩袖损伤均可获得较好的临床疗效,且两组缝合技术术后疗效无显著区别。     

One-year Patient-reported Outcomes After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Do Not Correlate With Mild to Moderate Psychological Distress

Background

Patients with shoulder and rotator cuff pathology who exhibit greater levels of psychological distress report inferior preoperative self-assessments of pain and function. In several other areas of orthopaedics, higher levels of distress correlate with a higher likelihood of persistent pain and disability after recovery from surgery. To our knowledge, the relationship between psychological distress and outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair has not been similarly investigated.

Questions/purposes

(1) Are higher levels of preoperative psychological distress associated with differences in outcome scores (visual analog scale [VAS] for pain, Simple Shoulder Test, and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score) 1 year after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair? (2) Are higher levels of preoperative psychological distress associated with less improvement in outcome scores (VAS for pain, Simple Shoulder Test, and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score) 1 year after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair? (3) Does the prevalence of psychological distress in a population with full-thickness rotator cuff tears change when assessed preoperatively and 1 year after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair?

Methods

Eighty-five patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears were prospectively enrolled; 70 patients (82%) were assessed at 1-year followup. During the study period, the three participating surgeons performed 269 rotator cuff repairs; in large part, the low overall rate of enrollment was related to two surgeons enrolling only two patients total in the initial 14 months of the study. Psychological distress was quantified using the Distress Risk Assessment Method questionnaire, and patients completed self-assessments including the VAS for pain, the Simple Shoulder Test, and the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score preoperatively and 1 year after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Fifty of 85 patients (59%) had normal levels of distress, 26 of 85 (31%) had moderate levels of distress, and nine of 85 (11%) had severe levels of distress. Statistical models were used to assess the effect of psychological distress on patient self-assessment of shoulder pain and function at 1 year after surgery.

Results

With the numbers available, distressed patients were not different from nondistressed patients in terms of postoperative VAS for pain (1.9 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.0–2.8] versus 1.0 [95% CI, 0.5–1.4], p = 0.10), Simple Shoulder Test (9 [95% CI, 8.1–10.4] versus 11 [95% CI, 10.0–11.0], p = 0.06), or American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores (80 [95% CI, 72–88] versus 88 [95% CI, 84–92], p = 0.08) 1 year after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. With the numbers available, distressed patients also were not different from nondistressed patients in terms of the amount of improvement in scores between preoperative assessment and 1-year followup on the VAS for pain (3 [95% CI, 2.2–4.1] versus 2 [95% CI, 1.4–2.9], p = 0.10), Simple Shoulder Test (5.2 [95% CI, 3.7–6.6] versus 5.0 [95% CI, 4.2–5.8], p = 0.86), or American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scale (38 [95% CI, 29–47] versus 30 [95% CI, 25–36], p = 0.16). The prevalence of psychological distress in our patient population was lower at 1 year after surgery 14 of 70 (20%) versus 35 of 85 (41%) preoperatively (odds ratio, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.17–0.74; p = 0.005).

Conclusions

Mild to moderate levels of distress did not diminish patient-reported outcomes to a clinically important degree in this small series of patients with rotator cuff tears. This contrasts with reports from other areas of orthopaedic surgery and may be related to a more self-limited course of symptoms in patients with rotator cuff disease or possibly to a beneficial effect of rotator cuff repair on sleep quality or other unrecognized determinants of psychosocial status.

Level of Evidence

Level I, prognostic study.     

What Influence Does Progression of a Nonhealing Rotator Cuff Tear Have on Shoulder Pain and Function?

Background

There have been numerous reports of clinical outcomes associated with tendon healing after repair that suggest a nonhealed tendon has a negative effect on postoperative clinical outcomes. However, to our knowledge, there has been no report on the relationship between tear size progression of nonhealed tendons and clinical outcomes.

Questions/purposes

(1) Do patients with healed arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs have better outcomes, less pain, and more strength than patients whose repair did not heal? (2) In patients with nonhealed rotator cuff tendons, does tear size progression (increase or decrease) affect outcomes, pain, and strength? (3) Is there continued improvement beyond 6 months in outcomes, pain, and strength; and how do the improvements differ based on whether the tear size has increased or decreased?

Methods

Between May 2008 and December 2012, 647 patients underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair for full-thickness tears at our institution. Of those, 442 patients (68%) had all MRI and clinical information available to permit inclusion in this retrospective study at a minimum of 2 years followup (mean, 33 ± 4 months; range, 24–43 months). Healing of the repaired tendon and tear size progression were assessed using MRI at 6 months postoperatively. Eighty-two of 442 tears (19%) were not healed. Of the nonhealed tears, 45 (55%) had a decrease and 37 (45%) had an increase in tear size. Shoulder function outcomes using the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon (ASES) and Constant scores and pain severity using VAS scores were evaluated preoperatively, at 6 months postoperatively, and at the latest followup. Isometric muscle strength was measured at 6 months postoperatively and at the latest followup.

Results

Compared with patients with nonhealed tendons after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, patients with healed repairs had improved ASES scores (healed, 93 ± 5; nonhealed, 89 ± 8; mean difference, 4; 95% CI, 3–5; p < 0.001), better Constant scores (healed, 91 ± 5; nonhealed, 85 ± 8; mean difference, 6; 95% CI, 4–7; p < 0.001), and greater strength ([flexion: healed, 96% ± 7%; nonhealed, 85% ± 12%; mean difference, 11%; 95% CI, 9%–13%; p < 0.001]; [external rotation: healed, 92% ± 8%; nonhealed, 80% ± 12%; mean difference, 11%; 95% CI, 9%–14%; p < 0.001]; [internal rotation: healed, 97% ± 8%; nonhealed, 92% ± 8%; mean difference, 5%; 95% CI, 3%–7%; p < 0.001]); however there was no difference in pain level based on VAS scores (healed, 0.9 ± 0.8; nonhealed, 1.0 ± 0.8; mean difference, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.0–0.4; p = 0.226). Compared with patients with increased tear size, patients with decreased tear size had better ASES scores (decreased, 91 ± 6; increased, 8 6 ± 8; p = 0.001), improved Constant scores (decreased, 88 ± 6; increased, 82 ± 9; p = 0.003), greater flexion strength (decreased, 91% ± 9%; increased, 78% ± 11%; p < 0.001), and greater external rotation strength (decreased, 86% ± 10%; increased, 73% ± 11%; p < 0.001). However, the difference does not seem to meet a minimal clinically important difference. Patients with increased tear size differed from those with decreased tear size with respect to flexion and external rotation strength where the former had no improvement. There was no improvement in flexion (6 months, 78% ± 11%; latest followup, 78% ± 11%; p = 0.806) and external rotation strength (6 months, 74% ± 12%; latest followup, 73% ± 11%; p = 0.149).

Conclusions

Patients who had healed tendons after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair had better shoulder function than patients who had nonhealed tendons. Among patients with nonhealed rotator cuff tendons after surgery, those with decreased tear size, observed on their 6-month postoperative MRI, compared with their initial tear size, showed better shoulder function and muscle strength than those with increased tear size beyond 6 months. Although results are statistically different, they seem insufficient to achieve clinically important differences.

Level of Evidence

Level III, therapeutic study.

     

Arthroscopical Findings after Antegrade Nailing of a Proximal Humeral Fracture

Abstract Proximal humeral fractures represent up to five percent of all fractures in adults, commonly found in elderly patients. The final functional results after different operative procedures are among other factors dependent on whether or not a rotator cuff lesion is pre-existent, prior to the fracture, and how its surgical therapy is carried out. However, to what extent prior rotator cuff tears in this special patient group contribute to the functional outcome remains widely unclear. In our institution antegrade intramedullary nailing is the treatment of choice for proximal humeral fractures. One critical point of this technique is the unavoidable split of the rotator cuff on the approach to the proximal humerus and the insertion of the nail through the incised cuff. We report on a case of an impingement after antegrade intramedullary nailing of a proximal humeral fracture. Diagnostic glenohumeral arthroscopy revealed neither a residual lesion of the former rotator cuff incision nor a chondral lesion at the former insertion site of the nail. In the same session subacromial decompression and a nettoyage of adhesions were performed. We assume that splitting the rotator cuff for the insertion of an antegrade nail in a proximal humeral fracture is less relevant than previously assumed and described.     

Biceps tenotomy versus soft-tissue tenodesis in females aged 60 years and older with rotator cuff tears

BackgroundRecently, to treat the long head of the biceps tendon lesions in addition to rotator cuff repair has been recommended. However, the differences in clinical outcomes between biceps tenotomy and tenodesis for middle-aged and elderly females remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of biceps tenotomy and soft-tissue tenodesis that were performed concurrently with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in ≥60-year-old females.MethodsFemale shoulders that underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in our institute in 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. This study included 66 shoulders with concurrent biceps tenotomy or soft-tissue tenodesis: tenotomy group, 41 shoulders; soft-tissue tenodesis group, 25 shoulders. Clinical scores, biceps pain (visual analogue scale, VAS), Popeye deformity, and biceps strength (%contralateral side) were compared between the two groups.ResultsThe mean age was significantly higher in the tenotomy group than the soft-tissue tenodesis group (72 ± 4 and 68 ± 6 years, respectively; P = 0.002). There were no significant differences in post-operative JOA and UCLA scores between the groups. VAS for biceps pain was significantly higher at postoperative 6 months in the tenotomy group than the soft-tissue tenodesis group (2.9 ± 2.5 and 1.7 ± 1.6, respectively, P = 0.03), though there were no significant differences at postoperative 3, 12, and ≥24 months. Subjective evaluation of Popeye deformity was not significantly different between the groups. Postoperative biceps strength was significantly lower in the tenotomy group than the soft-tissue tenodesis group (89.9% and 102.8%, respectively, P = 0.02).ConclusionsBoth biceps tenotomy and soft-tissue tenodesis concurrent with rotator cuff repair in ≥60-year-old female patients resulted in good outcomes. Shoulders with soft-tissue tenodesis demonstrated earlier improvement in postoperative biceps pain and better postoperative biceps strength than those with tenotomy. There were no differences in objective and subjective Popeye deformity between tenotomy and soft-tissue tenodesis. The LHB procedures, tenotomy or tenodesis, can be selected depending on surgeons’ preference.     

高分子聚乳酸可吸收医用膜预防肩袖术后肩峰下粘连的病例对照研究

目的 :探讨高分子聚乳酸可吸收医用膜对肩袖修补术后肩关节功能的影响。方法 :选取2015年9月至2016年12月确诊肩袖破裂的患者50例:对照组25例,男12例,女13例,平均年龄(48.7±3.5)岁,单纯行关节镜下肩袖修补术;试验组25例,男11例,女14例,平均年龄(49.2±4.1)岁,行关节镜下肩袖修补术加肩峰下间隙肩袖表面植入高分子聚乳酸可吸收医用膜。记录并分析每组患者手术前后肩关节VAS、ASES、UCLA评分。结果:术后6个月随访时,对照组VAS评分从术前的5.48±1.12降低至术后的1.28±0.84,ASES评分由术前的52.24±4.64提高至术后的86.92±3.20,UCLA评分由术前的14.36±1.89提高至术后的30.72±1.28;试验组VAS评分由术前的5.36±1.32降低至术后的1.40±0.71,ASES评分由术前的51.04±4.09提高至术后的88.96±2.79,UCLA评分由术前的15.12±1.81提高至术后的32.12±1.33。两组VAS评分差异无统计学意义,ASES、UCLA评分试验组优于对照组。结论:高分子聚乳酸可吸收医用膜的应用较常规关节镜下肩袖修补术可明显提高术后肩关节功能,可有效预防关节镜下肩袖修补术后肩峰下粘连。     

全关节镜下肩袖修补术对老年肩袖损伤患者术后72 h内疼痛程度和并发症的影响

目的:分析全关节镜下肩袖修补术与小切口肩袖修补术对老年肩袖损伤患者的临床效果。方法:选取2017年1月至2018年11月收治的60例老年肩袖损伤患者作为研究对象,男37例,女23例;年龄61~77(63.45±12.34)岁;病程6~12(5.32±1.02)个月;左侧29例,右侧31例。其中,行全关节镜下肩袖修补术者30例,为观察组;行小切口肩袖修补术者30例,为对照组。观察并记录两组患者术前术后美国加州大学肩关节评分系统(University of California,Los Angeles,UCLA)评分,美国肩肘外科协会(American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons,ASES)评分,Constant-Murley评分,肩关节前屈活动度、外旋活动度、外展活动度,术后72 h内视觉模拟疼痛评分(visual analogue scale,VAS)及并发症发生情况,然后进行对比分析。结果:两组患者术后UCLA评分、ASES评分、Constant-Murley评分较术前均显著提高(P<0.05),两组术后UCLA、ASES、Constant-Murley评分相比差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。两组患者术后肩关节前屈活动度、外旋活动度、外展活动度较术前均显著增加(P<0.05),术后两组间比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);观察组术后24、48、72 h VAS低于对照组(P<0.05);观察组并发症总发生率13.33%(4/30)低于对照组33.33%(10/30)(P<0.05)。结论:全关节镜下肩袖修补术和小切口肩袖修补术均可以改善老年肩袖损伤后的肩部功能,但全关节镜下肩袖修补术后72 h内疼痛程度和并发症均明显优于小切口肩袖修补术,可根据患者临床实际情况与需求进行选择。     

Three-dimensional ultrasonography of shoulders with rotator cuff tears

Background  It is possible to evaluate the size of rotator cuff tears by ultrasonography (US) or magnetic resonance imaging. However, there are only a few reports on the imaging assessment of the configuration of cuff tears, which could provide important preoperative information that assists performing an optimal anatomical repair. The purpose of this study was to determine quantitatively the reproducibility of three-dimensional US in the assessment of rotator cuff tear configuration. Methods  Ten embalmed cadaveric shoulders with rotator cuff tears were examined. After resecting the proximal humerus with the rotator cuff, we put it in water and scanned it using high-resolution US with a three-dimensional linear probe. Actual tear lengths and widths were compared with sonographic measurements (Pearson correlation coefficient). By superimposing the real photographic image on the reconstructed three-dimensional image, we calculated the concordance rate (ratio of the concordance area to the tear area). Results  The actual tear length (16.6 ± 7.1 mm; mean ± SD) and width (8.4 ± 4.4 mm) were correlated with the tear length (16.4 ± 7.5 mm) and width (8.2 ± 4.4 mm) measured from reconstructed three-dimensional ultrasonograms (r = 0.998 and 0.994, respectively). The mean concordance rate was 91.4%, indicating that almost exactly the same configuration was reconstructed by US. Conclusions  Three-dimensional US is useful for evaluating the configuration of rotator cuff tears. This is the first report to quantify the similarity between the configuration evaluated by US and the actual configuration. Using this method, we can visualize the configuration of rotator cuff tears preoperatively, facilitating optimal repair design.     

铍针治疗皮神经卡压性腰臀部疼痛的病例对照研究

目的:探索治疗皮神经卡压性腰臀部疼痛的安全有效的方法 ,明确铍针治疗皮神经卡压性腰臀部疼痛的指征。方法:自2003年1月至2004年12月选取皮神经卡压性腰臀部疼痛患者278例,分为铍针组和电刺激组。铍针组138例,男68例,女70例;年龄20~60(41.92±10.88)岁;电刺激组140例,男68例,女72例;年龄18~60(41.44±10.47)岁。治疗前后测量两组患者的疼痛、压痛,以及软组织张力情况,通过对比评价两种治疗方法的临床效果。结果:两组均未出现中止、剔除、脱落病例。治疗后铍针组疼痛评分由8.78±1.52下降为1.33±1.33,电刺激组由8.59±1.76下降为5.20±2.64,且治疗后铍针组疼痛评分低于电刺激组。治疗后铍针组压痛评分由9.12±1.24下降为1.60±1.36,电刺激组由8.79±1.60下降为5.34±2.60,且治疗后铍针组压痛评分低于电刺激组。结论:皮神经卡压综合征在形成明确的痛点、条索、结节时,铍针治疗为首选。