The Factors Affecting Pain Pattern after Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair

Background

We evaluated the factors that affect pain pattern after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Methods

From June 2009 to October 2010, 210 patients underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair operations. Of them, 84 patients were enrolled as subjects of the present study. The evaluation of postoperative pain was conducted by visual analog scale (VAS) scores during postoperative outpatient interviews at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. The factors that were thought to affect postoperative pain were evaluated by dividing into three categories: preoperative, operative, and postoperative.

Results

Pain after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair surgery showed a strictly decreasing pain pattern. In single analysis and multiple regression tests for factors influencing the strictly decreasing pain pattern, initial VAS and pain onset were shown to be statistically significant factors (p = 0.012, 0.012, 0.044 and 0.028, respectively). With regard to the factors influencing lower than average intensity pain pattern for each period, the stiffness of internal rotation at 3 months postoperatively was shown to be a statistically significant factor in single and multiple regression tests (p = 0.017 and p = 0.004, respectively).

Conclusions

High initial VAS scores and the acute onset of pain affected the strictly decreasing postoperative pain pattern. Additionally, stiffness of internal rotation at postoperative 3 months affected the higher than average intensity pain pattern for each period after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.     

Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Using the Suture Loop Shuttle Technique

With the arthroscope in the posterior portal, several suture loops are passed through the rotator cuff via the superior lateral portal before the first anchor is inserted. The suture loop is created by passing both free ends of a No. 2 monofilament (48-inch Prolene, Ethilon, or PDS; Ethicon, Somerville, NJ) suture into an arthroscopic suture passing device. The free ends and the loop of each suture loop are temporarily transferred into the anterior cannula. Anchor insertion and passage of the anchored sutures are performed from posterior to anterior. With standard suture anchors, the loop end of the suture loop must be located on the undersurface of the cuff. The suture anchors are inserted one at a time through the superior lateral portal and are placed into the prepared holes. Anchored sutures are temporarily pulled out through the inferior lateral portal. Next, the free ends of the most posterior suture loop are retrieved through the superior lateral portal. The looped end of this suture loop is retrieved through the inferior lateral portal. The suture loop is used to shuttle a single anchored suture through the rotator cuff and out through the superior lateral portal. Then, the other anchored suture is retrieved through the superior lateral portal with a suture grasper and tied.     

A Comparison of Conventional Ultrasonography and Arthrosonography in the Assessment of Cuff Integrity after Rotator Cuff Repair

Background

This study was designed to perform conventional ultrasonography, magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) and arthrosonography exams after rotator cuff repair to compare the results of conventional ultrasonography and arthrosonography with those of MRA as the gold standard.

Methods

We prospectively studied 42 consecutive patients (14 males, 28 females; average age, 59.4 years) who received arthroscopic rotator cuff repair due to full-thickness tears of the supraspinatus tendon from 2008 to 2010. The integrity assessment of the repaired rotator cuff was performed 6 months postoperatively using conventional ultrasonography, MRA, and arthrosonography.

Results

The diagnostic accuracy of the conventional ultrasonography compared to MRA was 78.6% and the McNemar test results were 0.016 in full-thickness tear and 0.077 in partial-thickness tear. The diagnostic accuracy of arthrosonography compared to MRA was 92.9% and the McNemar test results were 0.998 in full-thickness tear and 0.875 in partial-thickness tear.

Conclusions

It was found that the integrity assessment of the repaired rotator cuff by ultrasonography must be guarded against and that arthrosonography is an effective alternative method in the postoperative integrity assessment. Also, an arthrosonography seems to be a suitable modality to replace the conventional ultrasonography.     

Subacromial Internal Spacer for Rotator Cuff Tendon Repair: “The Balloon Technique”

Lateral reattachment of the rotator cuff and the more recent introduction of the double-row rotator cuff repair technique require adequate visualization to define the rotator cuff footprint and the greater tuberosity. In many cases extensive debridement in this area is required to remove the overlying subdeltoid bursa, which can impair visualization laterally on the proximal humerus. Inadequate visualization laterally may lead to improper placement of the lateral row of fixation, compromising the reduction and fixation of the repaired rotator cuff tendon. We describe a surgical technique used to improve lateral visualization of the proximal humerus for placement of lateral anchors during arthroscopic rotator cuff repair using a Foley catheter. The end of a 14F-diameter Foley catheter is cut just proximal to the balloon end. One to three catheters are introduced in the subacromial space through small anterolateral or posterolateral portals and inflated with 15 mL of air. Adequate distension of the subacromial space allows better visualization, triangulation of the arthroscopic instruments, and anatomic repair of the rotator cuff tendon.     

Arthroscopic Transosseous Reinsertion of the Rotator Cuff

Abstract Objective: Arthroscopic reinsertion of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons by means of imitation of an open trans osseous reinsertion technique. Indications: Tears in the tendon cuffs of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles. Patients < 75 years of age. Contraindications: Retracted tendons that cannot be sufficiently mobilized to provide a tension-free reinsertion. Tears of the tendon cuff of the subscapsularis muscle. Surgical Technique: The free edges of the tendons are sparingly resected. The tendon attachment site on the greater tuberosity is freed of soft tissue and decorticated using an arthroscopic bone burr. A full-radius burr is used to drill insertion sites for the sutures in the tuberosity. A hollow needle is inserted percutaneously to puncture the free edges of the tendon for a single reinsertion suture. The hollow needle is then fed through the greater tuberosity to the lateral portal. The suture is guided through the needle and advanced via a working cannula. If the tear is > 2 cm in width, a mattress suture should be placed via another channel in the bone. This is to provide plane contact of the tendon to the reinsertion site. Postoperative Management: Restriction of movement using a shoulder bandage for 6 weeks after the operation. Results: In the 75 patients treated using a single suture, there was an improvement compared to the related Constant Score from 55.8% before the operation to 80.4% at the follow-up examination, after an average of 26.8 months. The average age in this group was 58.2 years (range 35–75 years). In the 21 patients treated with a mattress suture, there was an improvement compared to the related Constant score from 59% before the operation to 83% at 14.3 months after the operation. The average age in this group was 58 years (range 35–75 years). The following is a reprint from Operat Orthop Traumatol 2006;18:1–18 and continues the new series of articles at providing continuing education on operative techniques to the European trauma community. Reprint from: Oper Orthop Traumatol 2006;18:1–18 DOI 10.1007/s00064-006-1159-1     

关节镜辅助小切口肩袖修复术治疗肩袖撕裂

目的 探讨关节镜辅助小切口修复术治疗肩袖撕裂的临床效果. 方法 1999年3月～2004年3月应用关节镜辅助小切口修复术治疗肩袖撕裂22例.13例行关节镜检查,小切口肩峰下间隙减压及肩袖修复术;9例行关节镜下肩峰下间隙减压及小切口肩袖修复术.采用UCLA肩评分标准进行评价. 结果 22例随访12～72个月,平均47个月,UCLA评分由术前（14.8±3.8）分升至术后（32.0±4.7）分（t=15.086,P=0.000）.优7例,良13例,可1例,差1例;20例满意. 结论 关节镜辅助小切口修复术是治疗肩袖撕裂的有效方法,操作简单,创伤小.     

Arthroscopic Grafting of Greater Tuberosity Cyst and Rotator Cuff Repair

Cysts of the greater tuberosity can be a normal finding independent of age and concurrent rotator cuff tear. The presence of a large greater tuberosity cyst can present a challenge at the time of rotator cuff repair. We present a 1-step arthroscopic technique to address these defects at the time of rotator cuff repair using a synthetic graft (OsteoBiologics, San Antonio, TX) originally designed to address osteoarticular defects. With the viewing portal established laterally, a portal allowing perpendicular access to the cyst is established. The cyst is thoroughly debrided, and a drill sleeve is then introduced perpendicular to the surrounding bone, serving as a guide for the matching drill to create a circular socket. A correspondingly sized TruFit BGS cylindrical implant (OsteoBiologics) is then implanted by use of the included instrumentation. The scaffold is placed flush with the surrounding bone. Because our arthroscopic rotator cuff protocol uses a tension-band technique with placement of suture anchors distal and lateral to the rotator cuff footprint, we are subsequently able to proceed with routine rotator cuff repair.     

The Safety and Efficacy of Using Drainage in Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair

PurposeThis study aimed to evaluate the effects of not using a drain or placing a drain in the glenohumeral (GH) or subacromial (SA) joint spaces on fluid retention and pain in the early postoperative period and late clinical outcomes.MethodsPatients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair between 2018 and 2020 were included in the study. Before the operation, demographic data, range of motion (ROM), visual analog scale (VAS) scores, Constant–Murley scores has documented. Deltoid muscle diameter (DMD) were measured. The total amount of irrigation used during the surgery and the operation duration were recorded, and the active amount of fluid coming from the drain in patients with a drain was recorded. The first postoperative DMD measure was made in the operating room and accepted as day 0. DMD measurements repeated postoperative first and second day. VAS assessments were performed on the postoperative first and second days. At the outpatient clinic, these measurements were repeated on the first and second weeks after discharge. Functional evaluations were made with ROM and Constant–Murley scores at the final follow-up examination.ResultsThere was no difference in the amount of drainage between the two groups in which a drain was used. When the three groups were compared among themselves regarding preoperative and postoperative VAS scores, Constant–Murley scores, and DMD, no significant difference was found.ConclusionsWe do not recommend the routine use of drains after arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery in terms of cost-effectiveness.Level of evidenceLevel II: Prospective Cohort Study.     

Medial Rotator Cuff Failure After Arthroscopic Double-Row Rotator Cuff Repair

Persistent tendon defects after rotator cuff repair are not uncommon. Recently, the senior author has identified a subset of 5 patients (mean age, 52 years; range, 42 to 59 years) after arthroscopic double-row rotator cuff repair who showed an unusual mechanism of tendon failure. In these patients the tendon footprint appears well fixed to the greater tuberosity with normal thickness. However, medial to the intact footprint, the tendon is torn with full-thickness defects through the rotator cuff. All patients were involved in Workers' Compensation claims. Magnetic resonance arthrography showed an intact cuff footprint but dye leakage in all patients. Revision surgery was performed at a mean of 8.6 months after the index procedure and showed an intact rotator cuff footprint but cuff failure medial to the footprint. Four patients had repair of the defects by tendon-to-tendon side-to-side sutures, whereas one did not undergo repair. Medial-row failure of the rotator cuff is a previously unreported mechanism of failure after double-row rotator cuff repair. Given the small number of patients in this study, it is unclear whether these defects are symptomatic. However, repair of these defects resulted in improvement in pain in 4 of 5 patients.