Arthroscopic repair of large subscapularis tendon tears: 2- to 4-year clinical and radiographic outcomes.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate outcome and structural integrity after arthroscopic repair of large subscapularis tendon (SSC) tears at 2 to 4 years' follow-up. METHODS: Between January 2006 and October 2008, 52 consecutive patients underwent arthroscopic repair of Lafosse type III and IV SSC ruptures. A total of 46 patients (38 men and 8 women) with a mean age of 62 years (range, 45 to 81 years) were available for final follow-up. Clinical findings were assessed for all patients preoperatively and postoperatively, including range of motion, the lift-off test, the belly-press test, the Constant score, and the modified University of California, Los Angeles score. Subscapularis muscle strength by use of the bear-hug test and external rotation were compared in both shoulders postoperatively. Patients were evaluated with plain radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomographic arthrography before surgery. Postoperatively, radiographic examination was completed by use of magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomographic arthrography in 39 patients (85%). Patients completed the subjective shoulder value and rated their satisfaction at final follow-up. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 35.3 ± 9.6 months (range, 23 to 57 months). An isolated lesion was detected in 13% of patients; a lesion of the SSC and supraspinatus tendon was found in 37%; and a lesion of the SSC, supraspinatus tendon, and infraspinatus tendon was detected in 50%. At latest follow-up, the mean Constant score significantly improved from 46.4 points to 79.9 points and the modified University of California, Los Angeles score improved from 15.1 points to 31.5 points (P < .001). Subscapularis strength was 92% and external rotation was 96% of the nonoperative shoulder. All outcome scores were similar between Lafosse type III and IV SSC ruptures. Radiographic evaluation showed a rerupture rate of 11%. The coracohumeral distance increased from 9.7 mm to 10.1 mm postoperatively (P = .086). The subjective shoulder value improved from 51% to 88% (P < .001), and 98% of patients were satisfied or very satisfied. CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopic treatment of large to massive SSC ruptures results in significant clinical improvements, excellent maintenance of muscle strength, and durable tendon integrity at 2 to 4 years' follow-up. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic case series.

The outcome of rotating-platform total knee arthroplasty with cement at a minimum of ten years of follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Durable, long-term results have been reported for patients managed with first-generation mobile-bearing total knee arthroplasty. Second-generation mobile-bearing total knee arthroplasty has been introduced to enhance instrumentation, to increase flexion, and to improve functional outcome, but, to our knowledge, no long-term results are available. METHODS: From May 1999 to June 2000, 116 consecutive rotating-platform total knee arthroplasties were performed by the two senior authors in 112 patients with use of the LPS-Flex Mobile cemented prosthesis, which was implanted with a measured resection technique. The patella was resurfaced in every knee. The average age of the patients at the time of surgery was sixty-nine years (range, thirty-seven to eighty-five years), and seventy-seven patients (eighty knees) were women. The predominant diagnosis was osteoarthritis. The clinical and radiographic evaluation was performed with use of the Knee Society rating system. The level of activity and patient-reported functional outcome were evaluated with use of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) score and the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), respectively. RESULTS: The average duration of follow-up was 10.6 years (range, ten to 11.8 years). Three patients were lost to follow-up, and five patients died of causes unrelated to knee arthroplasty. Two knees were revised, one because of infection and one because of failure of the medial collateral ligament. Kaplan-Meier survivorship analysis showed an implant survival rate of 98.3% at ten years. For the 104 patients (108 knees) who were evaluated at a minimum of ten years, the average Knee Society knee and function scores improved from 34 to 94 points and from 55 to 88 points, respectively, at the time of the latest follow-up. There was no periprosthetic osteolysis and no evidence of implant loosening on follow-up radiographs. The average knee flexion was 117° preoperatively and 128° at the time of the latest follow-up evaluation. At the time of the latest follow-up, the KOOS quality-of-life score was significantly better for patients with >125° of flexion (p = 0.00034). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated durable clinical and radiographic results at a minimum of ten years after total knee replacement with a second-generation, cemented, rotating-platform, posterior-stabilized total knee prosthesis. According to the functional outcome results obtained in this study, we believe that this design is a valuable option for active patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty.

Is the bare spot a valid landmark for glenoid evaluation in arthroscopic Bankart surgery?

The "bare spot "of the glenoid cavity has recently been described as a consistent reference point to identify the center of the glenoid and to quantify the extent of antero-inferior bone loss of the glenoid following anterior shoulder dislocation. The spot should help the surgeon to determine arthroscopically the width of the remaining inferior glenoid cavity. In this study we prospectively compared arthroscopic images and the multidetector spiral CT arthrographic findings recorded in 58 consecutive patients (mean age, 47 years; range: 17-72 years) with respect to glenohumeral cartilage quality and the presence of a "bare spot". At arthroscopy the "bare spot" was visible in less than 48% of cases and with spiral CT arthrography in less than 26% of cases. We concluded that the "bare spot" seems to be an unreliable landmark to determine the center of the inferior glenoid cavity, as it was present in only half of the shoulders studied.