Clinical Outcome of Arthroscopic Partial Repair of Large to Massive Posterosuperior Rotator Cuff Tears: Medialization of the Attachment Site of the Rotator Cuff Tendon

Background@#The goal of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes of arthroscopic partial repair with medialization of the attachment site of the rotator cuff tendon and to identify prognostic factors affecting rotator cuff healing in patients with irreparable large to massive posterosuperior rotator cuff tears. @*Methods@#Between July 2012 and March 2016, 42 patients with irreparable large to massive posterosuperior rotator cuff tears underwent an arthroscopic partial repair with medialization of the attachment site of the rotator cuff tendon. All patients had a minimum of 2-year follow-up (mean, 35.4 ± 7.3 months). Clinical evaluation was performed using the visual analog scale, the University of California, Los Angeles shoulder rating scale, Constant score, and active range of motion. Radiological evaluation was performed using magnetic resonance imaging and simple radiography. @*Results@#Clinical outcomes at the final follow-up improved significantly compared with the preoperative values (all p < 0.001). The failure rate was 23.8% (10/42); however, clinical outcomes significantly improved regardless of cuff healing (all p < 0.001). The mean acromiohumeral distance was 6.5 ± 1.7 mm (range, 3.2–9.7 mm) before surgery and 6.3 ± 1.6 mm (range, 2.8–9.5 mm) at the final follow-up. Preoperative acromiohumeral distance was associated with failure of cuff healing in the univariate analysis (p = 0.043) and multivariate analysis (p = 0.048). A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the predictive cutoff value for the smallest preoperative acromiohumeral distance for successful healing, which was calculated as 5.3 mm. @*Conclusions@#Despite healing failure, arthroscopic partial repair with medialization can be a possible treatment option for irreparable large to massive posterosuperior rotator cuff tears because of the improvement in clinical outcome. The shorter preoperative acromiohumeral distance was the single most important factor negatively affecting cuff healing, and the likelihood of success of healing might be improved if a repair is performed when the preoperative acromiohumeral distance is < 5.3 mm.

Natural History of Lumbar Degenerative Kyphosis with Conservative Treatment

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the natural history of conservatively treated lumbar degenerative kyphosis (LDK). SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: The correlations between the clinical and radiologic parameters of general adult spinal deformity (ASD) are widely known. However, in LDK, dynamic sagittal imbalance is present during ambulation, meaning that its pathogenesis and natural history are different and not widely recognized compared to those of other forms of ASD, resulting in many controversies regarding treatment. To elucidate the natural history of LDK, we analyzed the clinical and radiologic outcomes of patients, comparing their first and final follow-up visits, and evaluated correlations among clinical and radiologic parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 2006 to January 2014, 31 patients diagnosed with LDK who underwent conservative treatment were studied. The mean age of the patients was 72.5 years, and the mean follow-up period was 59.2 months. Clinical and radiologic evaluations were conducted on the first and final follow-up visits. Clinical evaluations were done using a visual analog scale and the Oswestry disability index, and radiologic evaluations were performed using spinal and pelvic parameters over a follow-up period of at least 24 months. RESULTS: Patients who were diagnosed with LDK and underwent conservative treatment showed no significant differences in their clinical outcomes between the first and final follow-up. Some radiologic parameters significantly progressed. There were no significant differences between clinical and radiologic parameters at the initial and final follow-up visits. CONCLUSIONS: During the follow-up period of patients diagnosed with LDK, some radiologic parameters progressed. However, the progress of LDK and the clinical symptoms reported by the patients did not significantly change. Decisions regarding the treatment of LDK should not be made according to radiologic parameters showing the degree of deformity, but by carefully determining the patients' clinical symptoms and disability level.

Three-Dimensional Scapular Kinematics in Patients with Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty during Arm Motion

BACKGROUND: There have been few reports on altered kinematics of the shoulder after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA). We investigated differences in 3-dimensional (3D) scapular motions assessed using an optical tracking system between RTSA treated shoulders and asymptomatic contralateral shoulders during arm motion. METHODS: Thirteen patients who underwent RTSA were assessed for active arm elevation in 2 distinct elevation planes (sagittal plane flexion and scapular plane abduction). Their mean age was 72 years (range, 69 to 79 years) and the mean follow-up was 24.4 months (range, 13 to 48 months). The dominant side was the right side in all the 13 patients, and it was also the side treated with RTSA. Scapular kinematics was recorded with an optical tracking system. The scapular kinematics and the scapulohumeral rhythm (SHR) of the RTSA shoulders and asymptomatic contralateral shoulders were recorded and analyzed during arm elevation. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in internal/external rotation and anterior/posterior tilting of the scapula between shoulders during arm motion (p > 0.05). However, upward rotation of the scapula differed significantly during arm motion (p = 0.035 for sagittal plane flexion; p = 0.046 for scapular plane abduction). There were significant differences in the SHR between the two shoulders (p = 0.016 for sagittal plane flexion; p = 0.021 for scapular plane abduction). CONCLUSIONS: The shoulder kinematics after RTSA showed significant differences from the contralateral asymptomatic shoulders. Increased upward rotation and decreased SHR after RTSA indicate that RTSA shoulders use more scapulothoracic motion and less glenohumeral motion to elevate the arm.

Suture Bridge Fixation Technique for Posterior Cruciate Ligament Avulsion Fracture

We presented a surgical technique including a suture bridge technique with relatively small incision for the reduction and fixation of posterior ligament avulsion fractures. A suture anchor was used to hold the avulsed fragment and a knotless anchor was used to continuously compress the bony fragment into the fracture site, thereby maintaining reduction during healing.

Risk Factors and Postoperative Prognostic Factors of Spontaneous Spinal Epidural Hematoma

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: To explore the risk factors and the factors associated with the neurological improvement after operation in the spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: The cause of the spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma is unknown. The objective risk and prognostic factors are still controversial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2006 to December 2014, a total of 12 patients with spontaneous epidural hematoma were evaluated. The risk and prognostic factors analyzed were sex, age, underlying diseases, medications, neurologic status, level and extent of hematoma, cord edema, and interval from onset to surgery. We analyzed the correlation between each factor and neurologic recovery. The neurologic status was analyzed using the American Spinal Injury Association impairment scale (AIS) at the first and the last neurologic examination. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 68.6 years. Seven patients were treated with anticoagulation therapy, and two were advised to switch to a healthier diet. The initial neurologic status of the patients was AIS A in 2 cases, B in 5 cases, C in 4 cases, D in 1 case, and in two patients, cord edema was revealed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The interval of time from onset to surgery was less than 24 hours in 6 cases, 24-48 hours in 4 cases, and more than 48 hours in 2 cases. CONCLUSIONS: The prognostic factors associated with spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma were found to be initial neurologic status, cord edema on MRI, and interval from onset to surgery. We found no correlation between anticoagulation therapy or healthy diet and spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma, but anticoagulation therapy cannot be excluded as a risk factor.

Molecular Characteristics of blaOXA-23-Producing Acinetobacter baumannii Isolated from a University Hospital / 대한임상미생물학회지

BACKGROUND: Multi-drug resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged as a significant infectious agent in hospitals worldwide. The purpose of this study was to determine the molecular characterization of MDR A. baumannii clinical isolates. METHODS: Two hundred eighty-five strains of non-duplicated A. baumannii collected from March to November 2011 from a university hospital laboratory located in the Wonju area of the Gangwon province of Korea were analyzed for MDR genes. RESULTS: All of the 285 imipenem-resistant A. baumannii isolates were encoded by a blaOXA-23-like gene, and all isolates with the blaOXA-23-like gene had the upstream element ISAba1. The 16S rRNA methylase gene armA was detected in 153 (50.2%) clinical isolates, but rmtA, rmtB, rmtC, rmtD and npmA were not detected in any isolates in the present study. The gene encoding aac(6')-Ib was the most prevalent aminoglycoside-modifying enzyme. The sequencing data for the quinolone resistance-determining region of gyrA and parC revealed the presence of Ser (TCA) 83 to Leu (TTA) and Ser (TCG) 80 to Leu (TTG) substitutions. All but one of the 285 A. baumannii isolates showed similar band patterns on repetitive extragenic palindromic-PCR profiles. CONCLUSION: The molecular characteristics of the resistance genes of MDR A. baumannii isolates obtained from the Wonju area of Gangwon province were similar to those of other areas in Korea.

Unstable thoracolumbar spine fractures a comparison study of postoperative maintenance of correctability between harrington instrumentation and transpedicular screw fixation / 대한정형외과학회잡지

No abstract available.