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.

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.
Acromioclavicular Joint ; Dislocations ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Male ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Wound Infection

Background: Septic arthritis of the shoulder is a rare but devastating condition that may lead to joint destruction. There are few studies and limited outcome data on shoulder arthroplasty for infected native shoulders with end-stage glenohumeral arthritis (GHA).Hence, this study aimed to demonstrate the clinical outcomes of two-stage implantation in reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) using an antibiotic spacer in the first stage for this challenging condition. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on two-stage implantation in RSA in infected shoulders. Patients were diagnosed with end-stage GHA due to primary shoulder sepsis or infection following non-arthroplasty shoulder surgery. Laboratory data, range of motion (ROM), and functional scores including American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, Constant score, and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score were assessed prior to spacer placement and at the latest follow-up. Furthermore, intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded. Results: In this study, 10 patients with a mean age of 54.8 ± 15.8 years (range, 30–77 years) were included. The mean follow-up period was 37.3 ± 9.1 months (range, 25–56 months). All postoperative ROM measurements and functional scores were improved significantly. Although no reinfection was observed, a total of 5 complications including 2 hematomas, 1 intraoperative humeral fracture, 1 humeral stem loosening, and 1 anterior deltoid dysfunction were observed in 4 patients after a follow-up period of at least 2 years after RSA. Conclusions Two-stage implantation in RSA is an effective method for improving the function and controlling the infection in postinfectious end-stage GHA in native shoulders.

INTRODUCTIONThe risk of surgery-related infection is a persistent problem in orthopaedics and infections involving implants are particularly difficult to treat. This study explored the responses of bone and soft tissue to antimicrobial-coated screws. We investigated whether such screws, which have never been used to fix bony tissues, would result in a cytotoxic effect. We hypothesised that the coated screws would not be toxic to the bone and that the likelihood of infection would be reduced since bacteria are not able to grow on these screws.

METHODSTitanium screws were inserted into the left supracondylar femoral regions of 16 rabbits. The screws were either uncoated (control group, n = 8) or coated with a polyvinylpyrrolidone-polyurethane interpolymer with tertiary amine functional groups (experimental group, n = 8). At Week 6, histological samples were obtained and examined. The presence of necrosis, fibrosis and inflammation in the bony tissue and the tissue surrounding the screws was recorded.

RESULTSLive, cellular bone marrow was present in all the rabbits from the experimental group, but was replaced with connective tissue in four rabbits from the control group. Eight rabbits from the control group and two rabbits from the experimental group had necrosis in fatty bone marrow. Inflammation was observed in one rabbit from the experimental group and five rabbits from the control group.

CONCLUSIONTitanium surgical screws coated with polyvinylpyrrolidone-polyurethane interpolymer were associated with less necrosis than standard uncoated screws. The coated screws were also not associated with any cytotoxic side effect.

Animals ; Bone Screws ; Coated Materials, Biocompatible ; Polyurethanes ; toxicity ; Povidone ; toxicity ; Rabbits ; Surgical Wound Infection ; prevention & control ; Titanium