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Rotator cuff tears commonly affect the shoulder joints. Despite developments in surgical techniques and instrumentation, the treatment of massive rotator cuff tears remains challenging. The problems associated with rotator cuff repairs, such as inferior mechanical properties and high retear rates are yet to be solved. Recently, patch augmentation has been suggested as an alternative treatment because it can reinforce mechanical properties at the initial stage of healing and reduce gap formation. The purpose of this article was to comprehensively summarize the concepts and the consensus surrounding patch augmentation and evaluate the clinical and anatomical outcomes after patch augmentation for massive rotator cuff tears.

Enchondromas generally occur in the hand and uncommonly in the long bones. Because enchondromas are usually asymptomatic, most are discovered during diagnostic radiology for another disease. Here, we describe a case of enchondroma in the right humerus in a 79-year-old female patient with concomitant rotator cuff tear arthropathy. The patient was initially hospitalized for prolonged pain and pseudoparalysis of the right shoulder. The condition, which was histologically confirmed as an enchondroma in the proximal humerus, was treated with curettage and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. In this case report, we present a rare case of an enchondroma with combined rotator cuff tear arthropathy.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical and radiological outcomes of locking plate fixation with fibular strut allograft to manage unstable osteoporotic proximal humerus fractures. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 15 patients who underwent open reduction and locking plate fixation with fibular strut allograft for osteoporotic proximal humerus fracture between July 2011 and June 2015. For functional evaluation, we evaluated visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder score, and active range of motion. For radiological evaluation, shoulder true anteroposterior (AP) and AP in 20° external rotation, as well as the axillary view were taken at two weeks, six weeks, three months, six months, and one year. And the neck-shaft angle was measured on the AP view in 20° external rotation view. RESULTS: At the one-year follow-up, mean VAS pain score and all shoulder scores, including ASES score and UCLA shoulder score, exhibited satisfactory clinical outcomes. All patients obtained bone union between three and six months post-procedure. Moreover, the mean immediate postoperative neck-shaft angle was 138°± 4°, and at one-year follow-up, the neck shaft angle was 137°± 5°. There was no significant difference between the preoperative and postoperative values (p=0.105). CONCLUSIONS: For the unstable two-part and three-part osteoporotic proximal humerus fractures with medial calcar comminution, the use of fibular strut allograft with locking plate fixation was effective in maintaining the initial status of reduction and exhibiting the satisfactory functional and radiological outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Proximal humerus fracture is considered to be the third most common fracture for patients aged 65 years or older. Conservative treatment has been known to treat most of humerus fracture. However, fractures with severe displacement or dislocation may require surgical treatment. Intramedullary fibular allograft with a locking plate is frequently used in patients accompanying medial metaphyseal disruption. In this study, author intends to evaluate clinical and imaging results based on patients who underwent surgical treatment using fibular allograft with a locking plate. METHODS: This study is conducted prospectively at Wonju Severance Christian Hospital, targeting patients who previously underwent surgical treatment using open reduction and intramedullary fibular allograft with a locking plate between 2011 and 2015. A total of 26 patients were evaluated on the following: postoperational clinical assessment measuring Constant score, American Shoulder and Elbow Society (ASES) score, and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score. Postoperational imaging assessments are evaluated via measuring the neck-shaft angle. The study subject were Neer classification type 3, 4 proximal humerus fracture cases with disrupted medial hinge and having cortical comminution in the region of the surgical neck. RESULTS: The average period of progression was 22.5 months, and the average age of patients was 72.6 years. At the final follow-up, the average Constant, average ASES, and average DASH scores were 80.1, 78.5, and 20.6 respectively. The average neck-shaft angle was 127.5°. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, fibular allograft augmentation with a locking plate showed satisfying results in both clinical and imaging studies.

BACKGROUND: Common and effective treatments for calcific tendinitis involve needling procedures. However, it has been widespread practice to refer patients with calcific tendinitis, which is a predominantly orthopedic condition, to radiology department. The purpose of this study was to compare clinical and radiological outcomes after ultrasound-guided needling for calcific tendinitis between the orthopedics and radiology department. METHODS: Seventy-seven shoulders (Group 1) and 38 shoulders (Group 2) treated in the radiology and orthopedic department, respectively. A fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon and a musculoskeletal radiologist each performed the procedure of ultrasound-guided needle decompression with subacromial steroid injection. Clinical outcomes was evaluated using the visual analogue scale for pain (pVAS) and the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) shoulder score before treatment and at each follow-up. The pre- and post-needling size and shape of the calcific deposits were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: We analyzed a total of 56 shoulders for Group 1 and 32 shoulders for Group 2. The mean age and sex ratio of the patients no significantly different. We found that the mean decrease in the diameter of calcification between pre- and post-needling was 9.0 mm for Group 1 and 13.1 mm for Group 2; the difference was significantly larger in Group 2 than in Group 1. Both groups showed improved pVAS and ASES scores after needling but the extent of these improvements did not differ with the type of operator. CONCLUSIONS: Needling decompression performed by orthopedic surgeons could a viable option for the treatment of calcific tendinitis.

BACKGROUND: Although there have been multiple reports on surgical outcomes of superior labral anterior to posterior (SLAP) lesions in overhead athletes, only a few reports exist in the literature about the results of nonoperative treatment in elite (collegiate or professional) overhead athletes. To determine the clinical outcomes of nonoperative treatment of SLAP lesions in elite overhead athletes. METHODS: Between January 2006 and December 2011, 69 patients were selected. Initial arthroscopic SLAP repair was performed in 19 patients and of the 50 patients who underwent nonsurgical treatment, such as range of motion gain and periscapular muscle strengthening, 14 patients were converted to surgical treatment; 5 patients were lost to follow-up. Medical records of 31 elite overhead athletes who underwent nonsurgical treatment were retrospectively reviewed. Four clinical outcome measures were used: visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, VAS for satisfaction, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and subjective feeling of recovery. RESULTS: The average follow-up period was 35.9 months (range, 24–62 months). The VAS for pain decreased from 6.5 to 2.2 (p<0.01) and VAS for satisfaction was 7.6. The ASES score increased from 54.1 to 85.9 (p<0.01). The overall average value of subjective feeling of recovery was 72%. Twenty-three out of 31 elite athletes (74.2%) returned to play after rehabilitation; these 23 athletes performed at the same or higher levels after rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: Nonsurgical treatment in elite overhead athletes with SLAP lesion should be considered as a treatment option.

BACKGROUND: In general, the outcomes of arthroscopic repair for superior labrum anterior to posterior lesions (SLAP) are favorable, however, persistent pain and limitation of motion are not rare complications. One of the possible cause is a “knot-ache”. This study evaluated the results of reoperation of symptomatic recurrent SLAP lesions and asked whether the knot is associated with postoperative complications. METHODS: Between 2005 and 2015, a total of 11 patients who had undergone arthroscopic SLAP repair were reoperated for recurrent symptomatic SLAP lesion. By retrospective chart review, operative findings, the visual analogue scale for pain (pVAS), the range of motion (ROM), and functional scores were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of the study participants was 38.3 years, and the mean follow-up period was 42.5 months. In the primary operation, there were nine cases of repairs with conventional knot-tying anchors and three cases with knotless anchors. Impingement of the knots during abduction and external rotation of the shoulder was observed in the all cases with knot-tying anchors. The mean pVAS, ROM, and functional scores significantly improved with reoperation. At the final follow-up, the mean satisfaction VAS was 8.3. CONCLUSIONS: The knots of suture anchor maybe a possible etiology of the pain, which we termed a “knot-ache”. Considering that reoperation is performed due to pain after primary repair, the use of knotless suture anchor may have benefits of eliminating one of possible cause, “knot-ache”. Therefore, authors suggest the use of knotless anchors during reoperation for recurrent or recalcitrant pain after primary SLAP repair.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical and radiological results of the all-arthroscopic, suture-button fixation technique to treat acute acromioclavicular (AC) joint separations. METHODS: All patients with acute AC joint separations received all-arthroscopic, single suture-button (TightRope) procedure without a special guide. Postoperative Constant score (CS), pain level according to visual analogue scale, and range of motion (ROM) were evaluated. For radiological evaluation, coracoclavicular distances were measured bilaterally. RESULTS: Between December 2010 and June 2012, 18 consecutive patients (4 women and 14 men; mean age, 29.3 years) with acute AC joint separations underwent surgical treatment after 6.4 days (range, 2–20 days) following the initial trauma. The average postoperative follow-up was 16.9 months. The mean CS was 92.4 (range, 84–96). The mean external rotation, forward flexion, and abduction were 75.8° (range, 50°–90°), 170° (range, 150°–180°), and 163.8° (range, 140°–180°), respectively. Five patients exhibited coracoclavicular ossifications. In two patients, superficial wound infections were successfully treated with antibiotic therapy. In one patient, a coracoid fracture was observed. No significant differences were found regarding pain, ROM, or strength parameters between both sides. The coracoclavicular distance was discovered to be approximately 2.8 mm greater on the affected side; however, this minimal reduction loss did not affect the functional results. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggests that all-arthroscopic treatment of AC joint separations using the single suture-button technique without a drill guide is safe, yielding good to excellent clinical results.

No abstract available.