Editorial Commentary: Causes of Failure After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair

Causes of failure after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair include patient factors, tear factors, and surgical factors. Failure may occur at the suture–tendon interface, the bone–tendon interface, or the bone–anchor interface. Low bone mineral density (BMD) in the greater tuberosity has been reported as a prognostic factor for recurrent tears following rotator cuff repair, and although most studies suggest the tendon-to-suture interface as the “weakest link,” patients with low BMD may have lower suture anchor pull-out strength. A potential alternative cause of failure is the suture cutting through the greater tuberosity bone in patients with low BMD. Knotless suture bridge constructs or single-row constructs may be more susceptible to a suture cutting through the bone. The knotted suture bridge technique, wherein the medial mattress sutures are tied, may to some extent “shield” against complete cut-through. When bone quality appears poor, a common response is to change the type of anchor, size of anchor, or the location of the anchor. Other factors, such as bone preparation, suture type, suture tensioning, and anchor type (e.g., internal vs external locking), may all potentially affect suture cutting through weak bone.     

Editorial Commentary: Cost Associated With Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Can Be Largely Controlled by the Surgeon

Surgeons must rely on cost and charge data to inform a patient outcome–optimized value-based approach to arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs. Using biologic and regenerative procedures to augment repairs only when necessary and optimizing anchor number are 2 obvious ways surgeons can help control cost of these procedures. Addition of biologics, such as patches and tissue augmentation, nearly doubled the charges for the procedure.     

Editorial Commentary: Go Ahead and Repair My Rotator Cuff. I Dare You

A national database in the United States was used to identify increasing age, male sex, smoking, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and vitamin D deficiency as significant independent patient-specific risk factors for rotator cuff repair failure requiring revision repair. Understanding risks for repair failure can help counsel patients, inform treatment strategies, and consider treatment alternatives for patients with symptomatic rotator cuff tears.     

Editorial Commentary: Postoperative Pain Management After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: The Journey to Pain Relief

Presently, interscalene block is the undisputed gold-standard procedure for postoperative pain management after arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery in patients experiencing considerable pain. However, the challenge is to make this short-term total pain relief long-term.     

Editorial Commentary: Avoid Passive Acceptance of Early Active Range of Motion After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair

Following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair there is a balance between allowing reliable tendon healing and regaining range of motion. Common rehabilitation philosophy requires time for shoulder immobilization combined with passive range of motion to avoid shoulder stiffness yet maximize tendon healing.     

肩峰撞击征合并肩袖损伤的关节镜下治疗

目的分析关节镜下肩峰减压成形术及肩袖修复的临床效果。方法自2005年初始,我院对11例肩峰撞击征并肩袖损伤行关节镜下肩峰减压成形术,部分行肩袖修复术,其中男5例,女6例,年龄21～57岁,平均40岁,8例无外伤史,3例有外伤史。患者均有肩关节疼痛、肌肉萎缩、活动受限、上举困难、疼痛反射弧阳性、撞击注射试验阳性,Neer征阳性;5例有患侧卧位痛。X线提示肱骨大结节骨赘9例和肩峰骨刺2例,A—H间隙距离变小,小于1．0cm8例、小于0．5cm3例。MRI扫描均示肩袖结构T1为强信号,如关节积液T2相强信号。关节镜检查可见肩袖大撕裂（30～50mm）4例,中撕裂（10～30mm）5例,小撕裂（小于10mm）2例。行关节镜下肩峰下减压成形术,其中8例行缝合锚钉肩袖修复术。分别在术前及最终随访时采用美国肩肘外科医师（American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons,ASES）和Constant—Murley评分进行功能评估。结果术后随访22．5个月（13～34个月）。患者手术前平均ASES评分为62．4分（47～76分）,VAS评分平均为5．8分（3～8分）,Constant—Murley评分为66．7分（42～79分）,平均外展35．5°（30°～50°）,平均外旋为28．4°（0°～45°）;终末随访时平均ASES评分为94．6分（79～100分）,其中VAS评分为0．6分（0～2分）,Constant—Murley评分为93．6分（77～100分）,肩关节外展160°（80°～180°）,平均外旋30．2°（20°～55°）。8例患者冈上、下肌萎缩恢复,ASES评分优良率为81．8％,Constant—Murley评分优良率为90．9％。术后各项评分均存在显著性差异（ASES：P〈0．001,t一12．324;VAS：P〈0．001,t=14．765;外展：P〈0．001,t=15．236;外旋：P〈0．01,t=7．967;Constant—Murley：P〈0.001,t=16．647）。结论a）肩峰撞击征、肩袖损伤是关节镜手术的适应证;b）对肩袖单纯修复是不够的,必须同时解决撞击因素;c）不宜将肩峰切除过多,以免发生骨折;d）尽管镜下手术技术难度较大,但镜下视野广、创伤小、术后及早进行功能锻炼,功能可以得到很好恢复,故镜下进行肩袖损伤、肩峰成形等手术应值得提倡。     

Editorial Commentary: The Evolution of Regional Anesthesia in Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: From Throbbing Shoulders to Paralyzed Diaphragms

Rotator cuff repair may result in significant postoperative pain. Although opioids were once the gold standard, addiction and other side effects are of significant concern. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduce pain, sleep disturbance, and need for opioids, but they may impair soft tissue healing. The use of gabapentinoids is equivocal. Intralesional analgesia carries a risk of glenohumeral chondrolysis. Cryotherapy is beneficial, but it is often not covered by insurance companies. Suprascapular nerve block addresses innervation of only 70% versus interscalene block, but the latter has a higher incidence of unintended, temporary motor and sensory deficits of the upper extremity and hemidiaphragmatic paresis, despite similar pain scores. Although neurodeficits and diaphragmatic hemiparesis resolve by 3 weeks, temporary complications affect length of hospital stay, initiation of physical therapy, and patient satisfaction. These variables contribute to the challenge of postoperative pain control amid a growing wave of modalities aimed at improving the extent and duration of patient-focused analgesia, especially the application of continuous block infusions.     

Editorial Commentary: Acromioplasty Does Not Improve Clinical Outcome of Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: The Game Is Over!

Acromioplasty is a well-known, simple, and reproducible surgical technique that is used in isolation or in combination with other arthroscopic procedures. The clinical value of acromioplasty combined with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair has been largely investigated. Main theoretical benefits lie in the opportunity to improve the visualization, decrease abrasive wear with prominent acromial morphology, and release natural growth factors. On the other hand, acromioplasty and release of the coracoacromial ligament may weaken the insertion of the deltoid muscle, induce scar formation in the subacromial space, theoretically limiting shoulder mobility, and increase risk of anterior-superior humeral escape, especially in patients with large to massive rotator cuff tears. Clinical studies report conflicting results. My results show no differences in clinical outcomes in rotator cuff repairs with or without subacromial decompression, regardless of the acromial morphology. At the same time, I do believe that confirmatory studies are always necessary, especially if the aim is to disprove the usefulness of a common practice.     

The Accessory Posteromedial Portal Revisited: Utility for Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is a technically challenging procedure. Accessory arthroscopic portals have been described that allow for optimal suture anchor placement, suture management, and knot tying. We describe here the usefulness of an accessory posteromedial portal that facilitates direct suture retrieval through the posterior aspect of a rotator cuff tear. This portal is created approximately 4 to 5 cm medial to the posterolateral corner of the acromion and 2 cm inferior to the scapular spine. The accessory posteromedial portal is especially useful when a retracted tear of the infraspinatus or teres minor is encountered. Because these tendons retract in a posterior and medial direction, the accessory posteromedial portal places the tendon-penetrating device in an ideal position for suture passage through the posterior portion of the rotator cuff tear. This portal also allows placement of margin convergence sutures for large U-shaped or L-shaped tears by permitting a direct “hand-off” of the suture to or from a second penetrating device that is placed through a standard anterior portal. If multiple suture anchors are required (as in the case of large or massive cuff tears, or when double-row fixation is employed), sutures can be pulled out through the accessory posteromedial portal to facilitate suture management.     

Editorial Commentary: Leukocyte-Poor Platelet-Rich Plasma Decreases Retear Rate in Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: Platelet-Rich Plasma Type Matters

Numerous studies, including several meta-analysis reviews of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the setting of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, show mixed results. Focusing on specific types of PRP configuration may elucidate which provide value and which do not. Recent meta-analysis demonstrates that leukocyte-poor PRP or “pure PRP” treatment is shown to decrease retear rate and patient-reported outcome measures after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair of the shoulder. Meta-analyses resulting in conflicting results may be attributed to different study inclusion and exclusion criteria and date of search.     

Editorial Commentary: A Model for Shoulder Rotator Cuff Repair and for Basic Science Investigations

“Breaking the fourth wall” is a theater convention where the narrator or character speaks directly to the audience. As an Assistant Editor-in-Chief, as I comment on a recent basic science study investigating rotator cuff repair, I break the fourth wall and articulate areas of basic science research excellence that align with the vision that we hold for our journal. Inclusion of a powerful video strengthens the submission. We prefer to publish clinical videos in our companion journal, Arthroscopy Techniques, and encourage basic science video submissions to Arthroscopy. Basic science research requires step-by-tedious-step analogous to climbing a mountain. Establishment of a murine rotator cuff repair model was rigorous and research intensive, biomechanically, radiographically, histologically, and genetically documented, a huge step toward the bone-to-tendon healing research summit. This research results in a model for both rotator cuff repair and the pinnacle of quality, basic science research.     

Supraspinatus Muscle and Tendon Stiffness Changes After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Shear Wave Elastography Assessment

Re-tearing after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) frequently occurs, and high stiffness of the rotator cuff may be one of the factors. We investigated changes in stiffness of the supraspinatus muscle and tendon after ARCR as measured by shear wave elastography (SWE) with B-mode ultrasound, and compared the supraspinatus muscle stiffness of patients with recurrent tears and patients with healed rotator cuffs. Sixty patients with supraspinatus tears requiring ARCR underwent serial SWE of their supraspinatus muscles and repaired tendons. SWE was performed before surgery (Pre-Op) and at 1 week, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, 5 months, and 6 months after surgery. Additionally, the repaired rotator cuffs were evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging at 6 months after surgery to classify patients into a healed rotator cuff group and a recurrent tear group. Differences in SWE values between the groups were assessed at each time point. The SWE value of the repaired tendon at 1 week after ARCR was significantly greater than at 3 and 6 months. The SWE value for the supraspinatus muscle at 1 month after ARCR surgery in the healed group was lower than at Pre-Op and 4, 5, and 6 months after surgery, and it was also lower than that at 1 month after surgery in the re-tear group. There were no significant differences between time points in the SWE values of the supraspinatus muscle in the re-tear group. The SWE value of the muscle in the re-tear group was greater than in the healed group at 1 month after surgery (p < 0.05). Increased SWE values at 1 month after ARCR may predict recurrent rotator cuff tears after surgery rather than evaluating the tendon. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 38:219–227, 2020     

Editorial Commentary: Shoulder Rotator Cuff Tendon Repair Using Bone Marrow Aspirate: Stem Cell Quantity Does Not Equal Quality

The use of biological agents in orthopaedic surgery is rapidly evolving. The potential to augment the healing environment at a surgical repair site is an especially exciting possibility. There are a few popular biological agents, including platelet-rich plasma, concentrated bone marrow aspirate (BMA), and adipose-derived connective tissue progenitor cells. BMA is an especially appealing biological agent because it can be harvested from a variety of sources, including the iliac crest, distal femur, and proximal humerus. As a result, BMA is readily accessible with minimal added surgical time and morbidity during surgical procedures on the hip, knee, and shoulder. In particular, the surgically repaired rotator cuff tendon is a prime candidate for biological augmentation, and the proximal humerus is an appealing source of concentrated BMA given its ease of access and low harvesting morbidity at the time of arthroscopic repair. The nucleated cell count may be considered a surrogate for the quality of BMA and can be readily calculated at the time of harvest. However, the quantity of nucleated cells does not necessarily equate to the quality of nucleated cells as colony-forming units after cell culture, nor do we know how ex vivo cell culture correlates with in vivo stem cell proliferation and healing. Most of all, future research must determine what factors (if any) do positively correlate with the number of colony-forming units.     

Editorial Commentary: Stagnant Surgeon Reimbursement Since 2005 Does Not Reflect the Current Complexity of Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair in 2020

Hospitals operate at a financial loss when performing rotator cuff repair in Medicare patients because of high direct costs, high indirect costs, and low reimbursement. Surgeon reimbursement has been stagnant since 2005 despite increased cost and complexity of our labors. Reimbursement poorly reflects the complexity of shoulder surgery. It is essential that we advocate for reimbursement that matches the high complexity of the procedures we perform and the evidence-based societal value we provide.     

Editorial Commentary: Biology and Biomechanics Must Be Carefully Balanced for a Durable Rotator Cuff Repair

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair strategies have evolved over 3 decades, but suture anchor design, anchor configuration, and stitches have been largely driven by repair biomechanics. In recent years there has been a shift toward repair strategies that enhance the biology of tendon repair. Double-row and transosseous equivalent suture anchor repair constructs demonstrate excellent time zero mechanical properties, but the resulting increased repair tension and tendon compression may compromise tendon healing. Modern single-row repairs employing medialized triple-loaded suture anchors, simple stitches, and lateral marrow venting avoid some of the problems associated with double-row repairs and demonstrate excellent short-term healing and clinical results. The most robust repair fails if the tendon does not heal. Biology and biomechanics must be carefully balanced.