PURPOSE: Rotator cuff disease is the most common shoulder disease. Rotator cuff tear, which is related to cuff tendon degeneration, is commonly encountered in clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Knowledge about the biology of the normal rotator cuff is fundamental to understanding the pathophysiology of and degenerative processes in rotator cuff tendon tears. Furthermore, such basic knowledge provides a rationale for and facilitates the development of treatment modalities. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Therefore, we reviewed the biology of the normal rotator cuff tendon, theories to explain the pathophysiology of rotator cuff tendon tear, and current research on apoptosis of rotator cuff tenofibroblasts.
Apoptosis ; Biology ; Population Characteristics ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder ; Tendons

PURPOSE: Anatomical repair of massive rotator cuff tear has been technically challenging because of medial retraction, muscle atrophy and fatty degeneration. Among several treatment options for massive rotator cuff tear, we reviewed rotator cuff repairs and investigated modalities for improvement of clinical outcomes, decreasing the re-tear rate, and increasing healing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patient-related factors and rotator cuff-related factors were the two major groups of factors we considered when choosing a treatment plan. RESULTS: Mobilization of a massive rotator cuff tear was increased by soft tissue release and by the interval slide technique. After meticulous soft tissue release, anatomical repair could be achieved. If the injury was not amenable to anatomical repair, alternative treatment options such as partial repair, the margin convergence technique and augmentation with a tenotomized biceps tendon were considered. Many reports of massive rotator cuff repair demonstrated satisfactory clinical outcomes, decreased pain, recovery of shoulder functions, and increases in muscle strength. However, the re-tear rate had been reported to be relatively high in long-term follow-up. CONCLUSION: Despite a high re-tear rate after massive rotator cuff repair, a better understanding of the pathogenesis, progression and clinical symptoms of massive rotator cuff tear and improved surgical materials and techniques will lead to satisfactory clinical outcomes.
Follow-Up Studies ; Muscle Strength ; Muscular Atrophy ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder ; Tendons

PURPOSE: Irreparable massive rotator cuff tears pose a distinct clinical challenge for the orthopaedist and non-surgical treatment has had inconsistent results and proven unsuccessful for chronic symptoms, while surgery, including debridement and partial and complete repairs have had varying degrees of success. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For rotator cuff tears that are deemed irreparable, treatment options are limited. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The use of tendon transfers (latissimus dorsi for posterosuperior type cuff defects and pectoralis major for subscapularis defects) in younger patients to reconstruct rotator cuffs and re-establish function and restore shoulder kinematics can be useful in solving this difficult problem.
Biomechanics ; Debridement ; Humans ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder ; Tendon Transfer ; Tendons

PURPOSE: The goal of prosthetic replacement of the shoulder is the restoration of the normal anatomy of the joint. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The physician should review the variations in normal anatomy because it does vary widely and the placement of the prosthetic needs to be modified to accommodate the variations. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Several factors including anatomic, prosthetic and surgical ones can lead to the best clinical results, and these are described.
Joints ; Mechanics ; Prostheses and Implants ; Shoulder

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article was to review the effectiveness of arthroscopic debridement and tuberoplasty, and to evaluate the clinical and radiologic results of our series for irreparable massive rotator cuff tears in the elderly. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed articles that focused on the treatment options and decision making for irreparable massive rotator cuff tears. In particular, we summarized the reported results of arthroscopic debridement and tuberoplasty for irreparable massive rotator cuff tears in the elderly. Among consecutive patients who had arthroscopic tuberoplasty for irreparable massive rotator cuff tears in our series, thirty-two patients available for clinical and radiological evaluation at a mean follow-up of 29 months (range, 13-52 months) were enrolled and reviewed for the analysis. RESULTS: At the last follow-up, the range of active forward flexion increased significantly with excellent pain relief and improvement in the ability to perform the activities of daily living. However, the group with less than 2 mm in preoperative acromiohumeral distance showed inferior postoperative results. CONCLUSION: Arthroscopic tuberoplasty may be an alternative option in irreparable massive rotator cuff tears for pain relief and improvement of range of motion. However, good results can not be expected if the acromiohumeral distance is less than 2 mm preoperatively and decreases postoperatively, or when the preoperative range of motion is less than 90degrees on flexion and abduction.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged ; Debridement ; Decision Making ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder

PURPOSE: Understanding elbow biomechanics is necessary to understand the pathophysiologic mechanism of elbow injury and to provide a scientific basis for clinical practice. This article provides a summary of key concepts that are relevant to understanding common elbow injuries and their management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The biomechanics of the elbow joint can be divided into kinematics, stability and force transmission through the elbow joint. Active and passive stabilizers include bony articular geometry; soft tissues provide joint stability, compression force and motion. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Knowledge of elbow biomechanics will help (i) advance surgical procedures and trauma management, (ii) develop new elbow prostheses and (iii) stimulate future research.
Biomechanics ; Elbow ; Elbow Joint ; Elbow Prosthesis ; Joints

Traumatic forequarter amputation is an extremely rare and life-threatening injury. It is caused by blunt trauma or tremendous traction force, and the prognosis is very poor because of the involvement of massive associated injury. Traumatic forequarter amputation has been rarely reported in the English language clinical literature, but has never been reported in Korea. We report a case of traumatic forequarter amputation caused by a conveyor belt that was treated with emergency resuscitation and surgery, with an accompanying review of the literature.
Amputation ; Emergencies ; Korea ; Prognosis ; Resuscitation ; Traction

Isolated acromial fracture is not common and it frequently accompanies fractures to the coracoid process and glenoid bone and also injuries to the acromioclavicular joint. Furthermore, most of these combined acromial fractures have minimal displacement, which needs no additional treatment other than protection for a certain period of time. We have experienced a case of isolated fracture of the posterolateral angle of the acromion, which we reduced and fixated using K-wire and cannulated screws. We report on the technical aspects and clinical results of this reduction and fixation, along with a review of the literature.
Acromioclavicular Joint ; Acromion ; Displacement (Psychology)

Tuberculous arthritis on the sternoclavicular joint is an uncommon disease and a delayed diagnosis can be due to the obscure clinical symptoms. We should suspect tuberculous arthritis in patients with slowly progressive pain, swelling, mild fever and a previous history of tuberculosis. Early diagnosis is important through conducting a thorough physical examination and performing laboratory tests and radiologic study. Tuberculous arthritis on the sternoclavicular joint should be treated with a combination of systemic antituberculous agents and thorough surgical debridement in marked damaged joints. When performing this operation, it is important not only to minimized the injury of the costoclavicular ligament, but also to avoid injury to the surrounding the vital structures such as the mediastinum and pleura after aggressive resection or radical debridement. We describe here 2 cases of the tuberculous arthritis on the sternoclavicular joint: one case had a good result after surgical debridement with using an anti-tuberculous agent, and the other had fatal complications such as mediastinal abscess and pleural effusion after the operation.
Abscess ; Arthritis ; Debridement ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Fever ; Humans ; Joints ; Ligaments ; Mediastinum ; Physical Examination ; Pleura ; Pleural Effusion ; Sternoclavicular Joint ; Tuberculosis

Periarticular cysts in the shoulder joint are relatively rare. The most common are paralabral cysts, which can cause suprascapular nerve entrapment syndrome. Acromioclavicular juxtaarticular cysts have been described in association with full-thickness rotator cuff tears and a degenerated acromioclavicular joint. Intramuscular cysts of the rotator cuff are a relatively rare and unknown type of periarticular cyst. We report a case of an intramuscular cyst of the rotator cuff that was associated with a tear of the rotator cuff.
Acromioclavicular Joint ; Nerve Compression Syndromes ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder Joint