Preoperative and postoperative shoulder position sense in patients who underwent arthroscopic Bankart repair for traumatic shoulder joint instability.

BACKGROUND: Proprioceptive feedback is a reflex dislocation prevention mechanism that contributes to shoulder joint stability. In patients with Bankart lesions, the anteroinferior glenohumeral ligament complex is damaged and reduces the likelihood of tensile stress. As a result, proprioceptive feedback does not work, which leads to instability. Surgical reconstruction is indicated to restore proprioception, but the details of recovery after arthroscopic surgery are unknown. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether arthroscopic Bankart repair can improve the position sense of the shoulder. METHODS: We used the isokinetic dynamometer Biodex System 3 (Biodex, Shirley, NY, USA) to investigate preoperative and postoperative joint position sense in 140 shoulders (137 men, 3 women) undergoing arthroscopic Bankart repair for traumatic shoulder joint instability. The control subjects comprised 40 shoulders of healthy volunteers (all men). Active position sense was measured by setting the shoulder external rotation to 75° based on 90° abduction and neutral internal/external rotation position. Reproductive angle inaccuracy (RAI) was measured thrice, and the mean value was calculated. The RAI was measured preoperatively, 6 months and 1 year postoperatively, and at the final observation (range, 16-96 months; mean, 31.5 months). RESULTS: Mean RAI was significantly higher (6.4°) preoperatively in the traumatic shoulder instability group than in the control group (5.0°). Mean postoperative RAI changed to 5.0, 4.9, and 4.7° at 6 months, 1 year, and final observation, respectively (mean, 31.5 months). RAI recovered to the same level as the control group at 6 months after the surgery and was maintained the same level until final observation. CONCLUSION: Position sense was significantly worse in patients with traumatic shoulder joint instability than in healthy volunteers, and a significant improvement in position sense was observed after reconstruction of the anteroinferior glenohumeral ligament complex by arthroscopic Bankart repair. Therefore, arthroscopic Bankart repair is a favorable procedure that can improve the position sense of the shoulder in patients with traumatic shoulder instability.

[Nerve root compression by gas containing lumbar disc herniation--case report].

The radiographic appearance of gas collection in the intervertebral disc represents the so-called "vacuum phenomenon." Incidence of the vacuum phenomenon on plain radiographs is reported to be 1-20%, whereas gas-containing disc herniations are rarely observed. We present a case report involving a patient with L4/5 gas-containing disc herniation, which was demonstrated by CT and MRI scans and was also surgically documented. A 48-year-old man with no previous back trauma presented with a 14-day history of left leg pain. On neurologic examination, the straight leg raising test was positive at 60degrees. Leg muscle strength was weak on the extensor hallucis longus. Sensory disturbances and abnormalities in deep-tendon reflexes were not observed. Lumbar roentogenograms showed "vacuum phenomenon" at L2/3, L4/5 and the L5/S disc space. MRI indicated a herniated disc at L4/5 displacing the dural sac and a focal low intensity in the lesion. Administration of an epidural block relieved the patient's symptoms. Ten months later, the patient reported a gradual return of similar left leg pain. His symptoms did not respond to conservative management. Lumbar spine films indicated abnormalities identical to the original results. MRI showed an enlarged area of low intensity with compression of the left L5 nerve root. In addition to recurrent pain, discography with metrizamide injections confirmed the presence of intradiscal gas and compression of the left L5 nerve root. During surgery, a gray-bluish air mass compressing the L5 nerve root was identified. Manipulation of the mass resulted in rupture and the release of gas. The displaced nerve root immediately relaxed to its normal position. Seven months after the operation, the patient remains free of pain.

Achilles tendon after percutaneous surgical repair: serial MRI observation of uncomplicated healing.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to prospectively explore the MRI features of normal healing of the expected residual tendon gap in the Achilles tendon after percutaneous surgical repair. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: MR images of the Achilles tendon were obtained approximately 4, 8, and 12 weeks after surgery. Assessment of MR images was focused on the presence of residual tendon gap and gap length, Achilles tendon contour, and contrast enhancement in the ruptured area. Cases of open surgical repair were used for comparison. We attempted to statistically compare the timing of tendon gap disappearance within the percutaneous surgical repair group and between the percutaneous and open surgical repair groups. RESULTS: A total of 30 tendons repaired with percutaneous surgical technique and 10 repaired with open surgical technique were evaluated. At the first, second, and third MRI sessions of the percutaneous surgical repair group, a residual gap was found in 100%, 80%, and none of the tendons on T1-weighted images and in 87%, 63%, and none of the tendons on T2-weighted images. Achilles tendon contour was visualized in 30%, 90%, and 100% of the tendons on T1-weighted images and 90%, 100%, and 100% of the tendons on T2-weighted images. Intratendinous enhancement was present in 100%, 73%, and 7% of the tendons in the percutaneous surgical repair group. Ring-shaped peritendinous enhancement was recognized at the third session in all subjects. A significantly longer time was required for tendon gap disappearance after percutaneous than after open surgical repair. CONCLUSION: The time course of the MR findings in the ruptured Achilles tendon after percutaneous surgical repair appears to reflect regular healing.

Effects of osteogenic protein-1 on distraction osteogenesis in rabbits.

In this study we tested the effect of locally applied osteogenic protein 1 (OP-1) on distraction osteogenesis in rabbits. Seven days after tibial osteotomy, distraction was started at a rate of 0.25 mm per 12 h for 3 weeks. At the end of the distraction period, OP-1 was injected at the site of osteotomy. Four different dosages were tested (0, 80, 800, or 2000 microg; eight rabbits per dose group). Rabbits were sacrificed 3 weeks later, and histologic, densitometric, and biomechanical parameters were assessed. No significant differences were found between groups for any parameter. To explain why this approach was only modestly successful, the expression of BMP receptor protein in the newly formed tissue was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Strong expression of BMP receptor IA, IB, and II was found during the early distraction phase, but not during later stages of the process. Thus, it appears that the lack of receptor protein in the target tissue impairs the effect of OP-1 given at the end of the distraction period. Possibly, OP-1 could be more useful when applied early in the distraction phase.