Recovery of active external rotation and elevation in young active men with irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tear using arthroscopically assisted latissimus dorsi transfer.

BACKGROUND: Massive irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears represent a serious functional disablement for young and active patients in their daily activities. Latissimus dorsi (LD) muscle-tendon transfer can restore elevation and external rotation where supraspinatus and infraspinatus function is lost. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2009 and 2013, 45 consecutive patients underwent arthroscopically assisted LD transfer for an irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tear. Thirty-three patients agreed to participate in this retrospective study. For 8 patients, we used a standard passage of the LD through the plane between the infraspinatus-teres minor and the deltoid muscles. For the remaining 25 patients, we transferred the LD tendon in front of the triceps muscle according to a personal described technique. The follow-up period was 35.7 months. Final follow-up included assessment by standard radiographs, bipolar surface electromyography, pain score by visual analog scale, Constant-Murley shoulder score, and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score. For quantitative strength evaluation measurements, a Biodex dynamometer was used. RESULTS: Overall clinical outcomes improved at the final follow-up and were significantly age related. We found similar results for revision and primary patients with mean increase in Constant-Murley scores of 29.5 and 30.5 points, respectively. In our series, we recorded osteoarthritis progression in 33.3% of patients. CONCLUSION: Arthroscopic LD tendon transfer for irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears can achieve good clinical outcomes at a midterm follow-up, especially in active men 60 years of age or younger and in patients with low preoperative elevation (<80°) but an intact or reparable subscapularis tendon.

Reliability of forced internal rotation and active internal rotation to assess lateral instability of the biceps pulley.

PURPOSE: the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between positive painful forced internal rotation (FIR) and lateral pulley instability in the presence of a pre-diagnosed posterosuperior cuff tear. The same investigation was conducted for painful active internal rotation (AIR). METHODS: a multicenter prospective study was conducted in a series of patients scheduled to undergo arthroscopic posterosuperior cuff repair. Pain was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (DASH) was administered. The VAS score at rest, DASH score, and presence/absence of pain on FIR and AIR were recorded and their relationships with lesions of the lateral pulley, cuff tear patterns and shape of lesions were analyzed. RESULTS: the study population consisted of 115 patients (mean age: 55.1 years) recruited from 12 centers. The dominant arm was affected in 72 cases (62.6%). The average anteroposterior extension of the lesion was 1.61 cm. The mean preoperative VAS and DASH scores were 6.1 and 41.8, respectively. FIR and AIR were positive in 94 (81.7%) and 85 (73.9%) cases, respectively. The lateral pulley was compromised in 50 cases (43.4%). Cuff tears were partial articular in 35 patients (30.4%), complete in 61 (53%), and partial bursal in 19 (16.5%). No statistical correlation between positive FIR or AIR and lateral pulley lesions was detected. Positive FIR and AIR were statistically associated with complete lesions. Negative FIR was associated with the presence of partial articular tears. CONCLUSIONS: painful FIR in the presence of a postero-superior cuff tear does not indicate lateral pulley instability. When a cuff tear is suspected, positive FIR and AIR are suggestive of full-thickness tear patterns while a negative FIR suggests a partial articular lesion. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: level I, validating cohort study with good reference standards.

Stemless shoulder arthroplasty: a literature review.

The design of humeral implants for shoulder arthroplasty has evolved over the years. The new-generation modular shoulder prostheses have an anatomical humeral stem that replicates the three-dimensional parameters of the proximal humerus. An anatomical reconstruction is the best way to restore stability and mobility of the prosthetic shoulder and improve implant durability. However, a perfect anatomical match is not always possible in, for example, patients with post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the shoulder and deformities in the metaphyseal region. To avoid stem-related complications while retaining the advantages of the fourth generation of shoulder implants, different stemless implants have been developed. The stemless shoulder prosthesis is a new concept in shoulder arthroplasty. The authors review the indications, surgical technique, clinical and radiological midterm results, and complications of these humeral implants.

Recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation with glenoid bone loss and concurrent irreparable rotator cuff tear in a young patient: case report.

Full-thickness rotator cuff tear associated with gleno-humeral anterior dislocation is a rare injury in patients younger than 40 years of age. We here report a case of recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation with glenoid bone loss and concurrent irreparable rotator cuff tear in a young patient. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first such case reported in the literature. We also discuss the type of surgical treatment adopted and the measures that can be undertaken to address both instability and massive rotator cuff tear.

Arthroscopically assisted latissimus dorsi transfer with a minimally invasive harvesting technique: surgical technique and anatomic study.

Latissimus dorsi musculotendinous transfer has been described for the treatment of massive rotator cuff defects. The aim of this paper is to present the relevant surgical anatomy of an arthroscopically assisted technique associated with a modified harvesting of the tendon. For tendon harvesting, a skin incision of about 5-6 cm in length is made in the axillary crease orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the upper arm. For the musculotendinous transfer, we propose to increase vector action of the latissimus dorsi by passing the transferred tendon ahead the triceps muscle under or over the Teres Major and fixing the transferred tendon behind the humeral head center of rotation in a more posterolateral position. In order to check the feasibility and safety of this new surgical technique, two fresh-frozen adult cadaveric hemithorax specimens with an intact upper extremity were dissected, and the relationships between the tendons and local neurologic structures were described during various steps of the latissimus dorsi transfer procedure.

Healing of fresh tibial fractures with OP-1. A preliminary report.

Osteogenic proteins (OP) are elements of a class of natural growth factors called Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMP). A specific member of this class is OP-1, a human recombinant protein that has osteogenic properties. The osteoinductive and osteoconductive properties of OP-1, with its specific collagen matrix, promote the generation of new functionally active, biologically and biomechanically mature bone. We carried out a clinical study to verify the potential of this protein in fresh tibial closed fractures, using OP-1 associated with osteosynthesis by means of a monolateral external fixator.

The CLOS MB intramedullary nail for the treatment of pathological femoral shaft lesions.

Advances in systemic and radiation therapy have led to considerable improvement in the prognosis of patients with metastatic disease. As a result, orthopedic surgeons are being asked with increasing frequency to evaluate and treat the manifestations of skeletal metastases. Intramedullary nailing is a valuable technique for stabilizing (impending) pathological femoral fractures or osteolytic lesions. From January 1999 to January 2001 we treated 5 patients for skeletal metastases in the diaphyseal region of the femur. One month after surgical stabilization of the pathological lesion involving the femur, we observed significant improvement in quality of life, including pain relief and early ambulation.

Low-velocity gunshot fractures of the tibia.

A gunshot-related fracture is a unique type of open fracture. Bullet-induced fractures of the tibia may be encountered in any urban or rural setting as a result of hunting or cleaning mishaps or, perhaps more frequently, of criminal activity. For surgeons with limited experience, there is a bewildering range of apparently contradictory advice concerning their management. This article reports a case of a 53-year-old man with a highly comminuted bullet-induced shaft fracture of the tibia received during hunting activity. The patient was treated with a unilateral external fixator and vascularized flap for skin reconstruction. Six months after surgery, the external fixator was removed at clinical and radiological evidence of healing. At 1 year follow-up, the patient obtained complete healing and returned to normal activity.

Three years of experience with the clos nail for tibial shaft fractures.

The Clos tibial nail is a new interlocking dynamic compression nail. From September 1998 to September 2001 fifty-six patients who had tibial shaft fractures were treated. Depending on positioning of the blocking screw, the system can be mounted in four different configurations: static configuration (19 cases), dynamic configuration (30 cases), static-compression configuration (1 case), and dynamic-compression configuration (6 cases). There were 40 male and 16 female (average age of 42 years); 36 simple fractures and 20 multifragmentary fractures. The fibula was safe in two cases, fractured at the same level of the tibial fracture in 34 cases and fractured at another level in 20 cases. The mean time to full weight bearing was 11 weeks (10-14). There were no cases of delayed union or dynamization or infections. All the fractures healed in a mean time of 16 weeks (10-20 weeks). There were 3 malunions, one in varus and two in valgus, and one patient healed with 3 cm of shortening. All patients returned to their previous activity levels.