Subacromial Balloon Spacer for Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tear Treatment Shows Improved Pain and Strength at 5-Year Follow-Up.

PURPOSE: To report on minimum 5-year outcomes following subacromial balloon spacer implantation (SBSI), in terms of survivorship, pain reduction, functional outcomes, complications, and reoperations. METHODS: Data were prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed for consecutive patients undergoing SBSI between April 1, 2012, and June 30, 2016. Patients completed preoperative and postoperative follow-up for minimum 5 years on the following patient-reported outcomes (PROs): Constant-Murley Score (CMS), visual analog scale for pain (VAS), strength, and patient satisfaction. Reoperations and complications were recorded. Minimal detectable change (MDC) was calculated and the proportion of patients achieving MDC for CMS and VAS were calculated. RESULTS: During the study period, SBSI was performed in 36 patients. Three patients were deceased within 5 years. Of the remaining 33 patients, follow-up was available on 29 patients (80.6%). Mean age at the time of operation was 72.7 ± 4.5 years, and 69% of the patients were males. Mean follow-up time was 72.5 months. Significant improvements from preoperative to last follow-up were demonstrated in CMS (36.08 vs. 63.88; P < .001), VAS (6.72 vs. 1.68; P < .001), and strength (3.8 vs 5.87 kg; P < .001). These improvements were demonstrated at 3 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, 24 months, and 60 months. Mean patient satisfaction at last follow-up was 8.72. The MDC for both CMS and VAS was achieved by 75.9% (22/29) of patients. Four patients underwent conversion to a reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA). Complications included one patient with balloon dislocation and one patient with a secondary infection due to urinary tract infection. CONCLUSIONS: Pain reduction and functional improvements are sustained at minimum 5 years after SBSI in patients with irreparable rotator cuff tears. The 5-year conversion rate to an RTSA was 13.79%. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, retrospective case-series.

Hip arthroscopy as a treatment for obturator neuropathy secondary to intra-pelvic ganglion: a case report.

The most common types of cystic lesions around the hip joint are synovial or ganglion cysts. In rare cases, the cysts can compress adjacent structures and cause symptoms to arise. Obturator neuropathy secondary to a hip ganglion cyst is a rare phenomenon, with scarce reports on suggested treatment options. Hip arthroscopy is a potential minimally invasive treatment that has yet to be described in such cases. We present a 52-year-old male suffering from obturator neuropathy caused by an intra-pelvic ganglion cyst arising from the hip joint. Hip arthroscopy was performed for decompression of the cyst and dilation of the stalk opening. Six-month post-operative follow-up showed resolution of symptoms and complete elimination of the cyst on magnetic resonance imaging.

Simultaneous pigmented villonodular synovitis and synovial chondromatosis of the hip: case report.

This report presents a case of a 37-year-old female with a history of hip pain. Magnetic resonance arthrography revealed loose bodies within the joint and synovial hypertrophy indicative of synovial chondromatosis (SC). Hip arthroscopy revealed free chondral bodies and focal villonodular synovial proliferation. The focal synovial proliferation was excised, a total synovectomy performed, and all cartilaginous free bodies removed. A post-operative histological examination of the removed nodular mass and synovium yielded evidence of both SC and pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS). A 1-year post-operative clinical examination showed marked clinical improvement and no signs of recurrence on MR images. Despite the clinical similarities, PVNS and SC are two distinct conditions that, to our knowledge, have never been reported as simultaneously occurring in a hip joint. The simultaneous presence of both pathologies may suggest a common origin of synovial metaplasia.