不可修复肩袖撕裂的临床治疗选择

肩袖撕裂是临床最常见的肌肉损伤,其中对于不可修复肩袖撕裂（IRCT）的治疗仍较为困难。目前针对IRCT的治疗方法有：非手术治疗、肩关节清理、部分及完全肩袖修补术、生物补片技术、肌腱转位、肩峰下球囊占位器、反肩关节置换术。由于各项治疗措施的适应证目前尚未达成共识,本文通过检索查阅国内外相关文献,讨论IRCT的各项治疗措施的疗效及相关适应证,为临床治疗提供理论参考。     

A rat model of massive rotator cuff tears

Rotator cuff tears (RCTs) are the most common tendon injury seen in orthopedic patients. Massive RCT does not heal spontaneously and results in poor clinical outcomes. Muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration in rotator cuff muscles are major complications of chronic massive RCT and are thought to be the key factors responsible for the failure of attempted massive RCT repair. However, the pathophysiology of rotator cuff muscle atrophy and fat infiltration remains largely unknown, and no small animal model has been shown to reproduce the histologic and molecular changes seen in massive RCT. In this article, we report a novel rat massive RCT model, in which significant and consistent muscle atrophy and fat infiltration were observed in the rotator cuff muscles after rotator cuff tendon transection and denervation. The supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscle lost 25.4% and 28.9% of their wet weight 2 weeks after complete tendon transection, respectively. Six weeks after surgery, the average wet weight of supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles decreased 13.2% and 28.3%, respectively. Significant fat infiltration was only observed in infraspinatus 6 weeks after tendon transection. © 2010 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 29:588–595, 2011     

Long-term outcome and structural integrity following open repair of massive rotator cuff tears

Background:

Surgical repair of massive rotator cuff tears is associated with less favorable clinical results and a higher retear rate than repair of smaller tears, which is attributed to irreversible degenerative changes of the musculotendinous unit.

Materials and Methods:

During the study period, 25 consecutive patients with a massive rotator cuff tear were enrolled in the study and the tears were repaired with an open suture anchor repair technique. Preoperative and postoperative clinical assessments were performed with the Constant score, the simple shoulder test (SST) and a pain visual analog scale (VAS). At the final follow-up, rotator cuff strength measurement was evaluated and assessment of tendon integrity, fatty degeneration and muscle atrophy was done using a standardized magnetic resonance imaging protocol.

Results:

The mean follow-up period was 70 months. The mean constant score improved significantly from 42.3 to 73.1 points at the final follow-up. Both the SST and the pain VAS improved significantly from 5.3 to 10.2 points and from 6.3 to 2.1, respectively. The overall retear rate was 44% after 6 years. Patients with an intact repair had better shoulder scores and rotator cuff strength than those with a failed repair, and also the retear group showed a significant clinical improvement (each P<0.05). Rotator cuff strength in all testing positions was significantly reduced for the operated compared to the contralateral shoulder. Muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration of the rotator cuff muscles did not recover in intact repairs, whereas both parameters progressed in retorn cuffs.

Conclusions:

Open repair of massive rotator tears achieved high patient satisfaction and a good clinical outcome at the long-term follow-up despite a high retear rate. Also, shoulders with retorn cuffs were significantly improved by the procedure. Muscle atrophy and fatty muscle degeneration could not be reversed after repair and rotator cuff strength still did not equal that of the contralateral shoulder after 6 years.

Level of evidence:

Level IV     

Results of the repair of acute rotator cuff tears is not influenced by tear retraction

Purpose:

This study evaluated retraction in the setting of acute rotator cuff tears and determined its effects on patient outcomes and tendon repair integrity.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 22 patients had surgery within 6 weeks or less from the time of injury. Fifteen of these patients were prospectively followed at a minimum of 2 years; average 40.5 months (range 24-69). Pre-operative objective and subjective outcomes were compared. Tendon repair integrity was assessed with ultrasound at a minimum of 1 year from surgery. The population was stratified into Group 1 (8 patients) with minimal intra-operative medial tendon retraction to the mid-line level of the humeral head and Group 2 (7 patients) with a large medial tendon retraction to the glenohumeral joint or greater.

Results:

The average time to surgery from the onset of symptoms was 27 days (range, 6-42). Post-operative motion increased significantly for external rotation and forward elevation, 77% of patients were pain free, 80% were completely satisfied, and 100% would have the surgery again. Group 1 (small retraction) versus Group 2 (large retraction) showed that post-operative pain levels, satisfaction, range of motion, strength, subjective shoulder value (95.4% vs. 92.3%), Constant Score (80.8 vs. 78.1), and American Society of Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (96.2 vs. 93.5) scores were not statistically different. Ultrasound showed a tendon repair integrity rate of 87%. 2 patients who did have a re-tear were in Group 2, yet had comparative outcomes.

Conclusion:

In acute rotator cuff tears, equal patient satisfaction, pain scores, range of motion, strength, and outcome measures should be expected with surgical repair despite the level of retraction.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic level IV     

Accuracy of ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging for detection of full thickness rotator cuff tears

Background:

Rotator cuff problems are frequently seen by orthopedic surgeons and accurate diagnosis is essential for appropriate management. Value of the clinical assessment of a shoulder is often limited, therefore, imaging studies have important implications in the management of rotator cuff pathologies.

Aim:

The purpose of this retrospective study is to compare the accuracy of ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detection of full-thickness rotator cuff tears.

Materials and Methods:

We reviewed 91 consecutive cases of shoulder arthroscopy and open rotator cuff repair, who had undergone preoperative investigation in the form of either an ultrasound or MRI. Thirty-six patients had an ultrasound and 55 had an MRI for their affected shoulders. We compared the accuracy of US and MRI for detection of full-thickness rotator cuff tears, using the operative findings as the ‘gold standard’. Data regarding a supraspinatus tear was assessed for the purpose of this study.

Results:

Ultrasonography correctly diagnosed 15 out of 17 tears (sensitivity of 0.88). There were 17 true-negative and two false-positive ultrasounds (specificity of 0.89). MRI accurately identified 33 of the 36 tears (sensitivity of 0.91). There were 16 true-negative and three false-positive tears on MRI (specificity of 0.84). The positive predictive value (PPV) was 88% for US and 92% for MRI. The negative predictive value (NPV) was 89% for US and 84% for MRI. The overall accuracy of the ultrasound was 88.89% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 74.09 to 96.18) as compared to 89.09% (95% CI = 77.82% to 95.26%) for the MRI.

Conclusion:

Full-thickness rotator cuff tears can be identified using ultrasound and MRI with comparable accuracy. US being a dynamic study and better tolerated by the patient, can therefore be used as the first-line investigation for rotator cuff tear, where appropriate skills are available to reduce the waiting time and cost of investigation.