Editorial Commentary: Magnetic Resonance Arthrogram Is More Accurate and Precise Than Conventional Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Evaluating Labral Tears After First-Time Shoulder Dislocation.

Recent research shows that magnetic resonance arthrogram offers better definition of certain shoulder pathology, especially labral tears, compared with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Conventional MRI accuracy and precision deteriorate after 2 weeks, and few health delivery environments achieve MRI within 14 days of a shoulder dislocation. Moreover, further loss of MRI accuracy is time dependent. Although magnetic resonance arthrogram should be considered a first-line imaging study when evaluating shoulder instability more than 2 weeks after the patient's injury, one must also consider clinical value and cost-effectiveness.

Editorial Commentary: Two-Thirds Glenoid Height Technique Used to Generate a "Perfect Circle" Improves Reliability in Measuring Shoulder Glenoid Bone Loss.

When determining surgical options for shoulder stabilization, patient age, lifestyle, and sport activities help inform which procedure to select. Additionally, there is a need for solidifying the accuracy and effectiveness of measuring glenoid bone loss, which can be the critical factor in choosing a soft tissue or bony augmentation procedure. Makovicka et al. found that using two-thirds of the glenoid height to generate a perfect-circle, rather than a "best-fit" circle improved reliability of MRI-based bone loss measurement. Two-thirds height technique employs a more objective measure of glenoid height, producing a perfect circle used to subsequently estimate glenoid bone loss, which is consistently reproducible, and can be performed in most clinical settings. This was supported by the improved intra-class correlation coefficient from the two-thirds height perfect circle over the "best-fit" circle measurement observed in this study.

Editorial Commentary: Patients May Have Posterior Glenoid Labral Tears in the Absence of Instability or Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings.

Posterior labral tears occur more often than imagined 25 years ago. Although such tears are generally identified in patients with posterior shoulder instability, the spectrum of labral tears in patients without instability creates a challenging diagnosis. Both physical examination and magnetic resonance imaging interpretation are difficult. Pathology encompassing posterior labral tears without instability notably reveals differences compared with throwers with posterior labral tears and patients with posterior instability. Recent research has identified 3 tear types: occult (type 1), incomplete (type 2), and complete (type 3). Attention to diagnosis deserves critical attention, in addition to tailoring of repair techniques to address the appropriate conditions in the shoulder. Even in patients without posterior instability and with ambiguous magnetic resonance imaging or magnetic resonance arthrography findings, posterior shoulder pain during daily activities or sports may indicate a posterior labral tear. Arthroscopic posterior labral repair without capsular plication provides good clinical outcomes and high rates of return to sport and labral healing.

ACL Prehabilitation Improves Postoperative Strength and Motion and Return to Sport in Athletes.

Prehabilitation prior to anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction should include quadriceps strengthening-improving range of motion and balance and proprioception as a minimum. Although the content and duration of prehabilitation varies in the literature, when faced with a delay between diagnosis and surgery, 4-6 weeks of prehabilitation can improve early to mid-term strength and motion and can improve the timing and odds of a patient returning to sport.

Editorial Commentary: Better Stability Found With Primary Latarjet Compared With Those Performed After a Failed Arthroscopic Bankart Repair: Should We Be Doing More Primary Latarjet Procedures?

Traditionally, most orthopaedic surgeons use glenoid bone loss of >15% to 20% glenoid width as the cut off for arthroscopic Bankart repairs. More than that amount of bone loss suggests the need to augment the glenoid with bone-most often performed with a Latarjet coracoid transfer. Primary Latarjet procedures are more widely used in Europe compared with the United States for the treatment of shoulder instability-even with less bone loss than 15%. Better results regarding stability are found using primary Latarjet compared with those in revision Latarjet procedures performed after an arthroscopic Bankart procedure has failed. Perhaps this should lead us to doing primary Latarjet procedures, with a lower threshold of bone loss.

Editorial Commentary: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Identifies the Comma Sign Seen During Arthroscopy for Subscapularis Tears.

Subscapularis tears can sometimes be difficult to identify arthroscopically. Burkart recognized this and described the "comma sign," an arc formed by a portion of the superior glenohumeral ligament/coracohumeral ligament complex, to help identify the subscapularis when it is torn and retracted. The comma sign marks the superolateral corner of the torn subscapularis tendon. In the majority of cases, the comma sign can be identified on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging findings of a comma sign include a predominantly low T1 and T2 signal intensity band of soft tissue, situated anterior and medial to the anterior glenoid labrum, extending vertically immediately lateral to the base of the coracoid, and bridging the subscapularis and supraspinatus fossa. Knowing that a comma sign is present before an arthroscopic subscapularis repair should help surgeons identify and secure the leading edge of the subscapularis for repair.

Editorial Commentary: Leukocyte-Poor Platelet-Rich Plasma Decreases Retear Rate in Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: Platelet-Rich Plasma Type Matters.

Numerous studies, including several meta-analysis reviews of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the setting of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, show mixed results. Focusing on specific types of PRP configuration may elucidate which provide value and which do not. Recent meta-analysis demonstrates that leukocyte-poor PRP or "pure PRP" treatment is shown to decrease retear rate and patient-reported outcome measures after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair of the shoulder. Meta-analyses resulting in conflicting results may be attributed to different study inclusion and exclusion criteria and date of search.

Editorial Commentary: Cost Associated With Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Can Be Largely Controlled by the Surgeon.

Surgeons must rely on cost and charge data to inform a patient outcome-optimized value-based approach to arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs. Using biologic and regenerative procedures to augment repairs only when necessary and optimizing anchor number are 2 obvious ways surgeons can help control cost of these procedures. Addition of biologics, such as patches and tissue augmentation, nearly doubled the charges for the procedure.

Editorial Commentary: Should We Worry About Progressive Glenoid Bone Loss After Arthroscopic Bankart Repair?

One of the key factors in shoulder stabilization surgery is how much glenoid bone loss is present. Too much glenoid bone loss, or the combination of glenoid bone loss combined with a humeral side Hill-Sachs deformity, can lead to an "off-track" lesion and significantly greater risk of recurrence. If the potential surgical solution for instability leads to greater glenoid bone loss, we could create more problems for our patients.

Outcomes of Primary Biceps Subpectoral Tenodesis in an Active Population: A Prospective Evaluation of 101 Patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the surgical outcomes of a primary subpectoral biceps tenodesis for long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT) pathology in a large cohort of prospectively, serially collected, patients in a young active population that has known high physical demands and requirements of their shoulder to perform their vocation. METHODS: A retrospective review of prospectively collected data from an active military personnel with a diagnosis of a Type II SLAP tear or biceps tenosynovitis was performed. Outcomes were evaluated at a minimum follow-up time of 18 months based on preoperative and postoperative assessments of the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation, Western Ontario Rotator Cuff index, biceps position, and return to active duty. Inclusion criteria were (1) SLAP tears on magnetic resonance arthrogram (classified into SLAP group), and (2) no SLAP tear but examination findings of biceps tendonitis (placed in the LHBT tendonitis group). Patients were excluded for full-thickness rotator cuff tears, high-grade partial thickness tears requiring repair, acromioclavicular joint pathology, and labral pathology outside of the SLAP lesion. Patients from both groups subsequently were treated with open, subpectoral tenodesis. RESULTS: Over a 6-year period at a mean follow-up of 2.75 years (range 1.5-5.7 years), 125 active-duty military personnel with mean age of 42.6 years (range 26.3-56.5) were enrolled. A total of 101 of 125 patients (81%) completed study requirements at a mean of 2.75 years (range 1.5-5.7 years). In total, 40 patients were diagnosed with type II SLAP tears (39.6%) and 61 with biceps tendonitis without SLAP tear (60.4%). Following open, subpectoral tenodesis, there was a significant improvement in patient outcomes (Western Ontario Rotator Cuff = 54% preoperative vs 89% postoperative, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation = 58 preoperative vs 89.5 postoperative, P < .01). In total, 82% of patients returned to full activity at a mean of 4.1 months. The biceps muscle measured relative to the antecubital fossa of operative (mean 3.20 cm) versus nonoperative (3.11 cm) was not clinically different (P = .57). There was an 8% complication rate, including 3 requiring revision, 2 superficial infections, and 3 transient neurapraxias. CONCLUSIONS: Primary subpectoral open biceps tenodesis for SLAP tears or pathology of the LHBT provides significant improvement in shoulder outcomes with a reliable return to activity level with low risk for complications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV (Case series).

Editorial Commentary: Side-to-side Rotator Cuff Repairs-Are Perfectly Placed Sutures Enough?

Arthroscopic side-to-side rotator cuff repair of large U-shaped tears should incorporate repair of the greater tuberosity. Recent research has found that pain at rest and with motion, range of motion, strength, and University of California-Los Angeles and Constant scores improved overall in patients with side-to-side repairs. Although the clinical results were quite good overall, rotator cuff healing was found to be significantly better, with 28% improvement confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging evidence of healing when the side-to-side repair was further repaired to the tuberosity.

Editorial Commentary: Subacromial Decompression Is Unnecessary in Most Routine Rotator Cuff Repairs.

There is no need to perform subacromial decompression in partial bursal-sided rotator cuff repairs to obtain a good result. This, paired with the findings of previous studies of full-thickness rotator cuff repairs, suggests that extrinsic factors rarely affect the rotator cuff.

General and disease-specific use of outcomes scores for the shoulder: a survey of AOSSM, AANA, and ISAKOS members.

OBJECTIVE: To report on the knowledge and use of both general and disease-specific shoulder outcomes scores among orthopedic surgeons. METHODS: A 22-question Internet survey was administered to members of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, the Arthroscopy Association of North American, and the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery, and Orthopedic Sports Medicine via voluntary e-mail participation. Questions targeted demographic information, preferred surgical management of shoulder conditions, and the preferred use of shoulder outcomes instruments in clinical practice. RESULTS: Excluding defunct and duplicate e-mails among membership societies, a total of 3892 unique e-mails were sent, from which 1129 surveys were returned and were fully completed (29%). The largest number of respondents were in private practice (52%); 21% were in academia; and 26% were in a mix of settings. As for location, 74% practiced in the United States, 10% in Europe, 8% in Mexico/South America, and 6% in Asia. A total of 31% total respondents used scores all or most of the time, and 30% used scores at least some of the time. Respondents felt that the 3 most commonly utilized shoulder scores were the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) score, and the Constant score. The majority of respondents (76%) performed all-arthroscopic instability repairs. The ASES and Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI) scores were the most preferred measures to monitor instability patients, whether or not the scores were actually implemented in their practice. Most perform between 10 and 25 superior labrum anterior-posterior repairs per year and preferred the ASES, UCLA, and Constant scores for these repairs; rotator cuff repair preferred outcomes instruments were similar. When asked to choose 1 score for all shoulder conditions, the ASES was the clear favorite. CONCLUSIONS: This study reports the knowledge and utilization of shoulder scores for both general and disease-specific conditions. Most respondents preferred the ASES score for most shoulder conditions; however, other scores, such as the WOSI, the Constant, and the Short-Form (SF)-36/12, were popular. This information offers insight into the current and future use of shoulder outcomes both for general and disease-specific use.

Glenoid bone loss in the setting of an anterior labroligamentous periosteal sleeve avulsion tear.

BACKGROUND: Glenoid bone loss is a factor that has been inversely associated with the success of shoulder instability repair. Recently, patients with an anterior labroligamentous periosteal sleeve avulsion (ALPSA) lesion have also been identified as having a higher failure rate after surgical repair. PURPOSE: To determine differences in the amount of glenoid bone loss and to compare demographic factors of instability in patients with and without ALPSA tears. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: Over a 3-year period, all patients (N = 83) who were treated for anterior shoulder instability at a single institution were reviewed retrospectively. A total of 39 (47%) were identified as having an ALPSA lesion and 44 (53%) as having no ALPSA tear. Glenoid bone loss was determined in 2 ways: (1) radiographically by 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) (humeral head digitally subtracted by 3 blinded observers) and (2) with arthroscopic techniques at the time of surgery. Demographic data such as the time from the initial instability event to advanced imaging and surgery were noted. These data were then analyzed with the Student t test to determine any significant differences between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The patients with an ALPSA lesion had more preoperative instability events than those without (8.2 vs 3.6, respectively; P = .04). The mean glenoid bone loss measured by 3D CT was 12.7% (range, 0%-22.3%) for those with ALPSA tears versus 6.25% (range, 0%-23.1%) for those without (P = .002). The mean duration of total instability for those with ALPSA tears was 42.9 months versus 46.3 months for those without (P = .95). Lastly, the mean bone loss based on arthroscopic measures was 11.4% for patients with ALPSA tears and 4.3% for those without ALPSA tears (P = .017). From the existing magnetic resonance imaging/arthrography scans reviewed, 82% of patients could be correctly identified as having an ALPSA lesion. CONCLUSION: Patients with anterior shoulder instability who have an ALPSA lesion have nearly twice the amount of glenoid bone loss as those with a standard Bankart tear (no ALPSA lesion). Patients with ALPSA lesions had statistically more instability events, and this may be an additional factor in either developing an ALPSA lesion or glenoid bone loss or both.

A Radiographic Assessment of Failed Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Can Magnetic Resonance Imaging Predict Graft Integrity?

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showing an "intact" anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) graft may not correlate well with examination findings. Reasons for an ACL graft dysfunction may be from malpositioned tunnels, deficiency of secondary stabilizers, repeat injuries, or a combination of factors. PURPOSE: To evaluate the concordance/discordance of an ACL graft assessment between an arthroscopic evaluation, physical examination, and MRI and secondarily to evaluate the contributing variables to discordance. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: A total of 50 ACL revisions in 48 patients were retrospectively reviewed. The ACL graft status was recorded separately based on Lachman and pivot-shift test data, arthroscopic findings from operative reports, and MRI evaluation and was categorized into 3 groups: intact, partial tear, or complete tear. Two independent evaluators reviewed all of the preoperative radiographs and MRI scans, and interrater and intrarater reliability were evaluated. Concordance and discordance between a physical examination, arthroscopic evaluation, and MRI evaluation of the ACL graft were calculated. Graft position and type, mechanical axis, collateral ligament injuries, chondral and meniscal injuries, and mechanism of injury were evaluated as possible contributing factors using univariate and multivariate analyses. Sensitivity and specificity of MRI to detect a torn ACL graft and meniscal and chondral injuries on arthroscopic evaluation were calculated. RESULTS: The interobserver and intraobserver reliability for the MRI evaluation of the ACL graft were moderate, with combined κ values of .41 and .49, respectively. The femoral tunnel position was vertical in 88% and anterior in 46%. On MRI, the ACL graft was read as intact in 24%; however, no graft was intact on arthroscopic evaluation or physical examination. The greatest discordance was between the physical examination and MRI, with a rate of 52%. An insidious-onset mechanism of injury was significantly associated with discordance between MRI and arthroscopic evaluation of the ACL (P = .0003) and specifically with an intact ACL graft on MRI (P = .0014). The sensitivity and specificity of MRI to detect an ACL graft tear were 60% and 87%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Caution should be used when evaluating a failed ACL graft with MRI, especially in the absence of an acute mechanism of injury, as it may be unreliable and inconsistent.

Isolated iliotibial band rupture after corticosteroid injection as a cause of subjective instability and knee pain in a military special warfare trainee.

Iliotibial band friction syndrome (ITBFS) of the knee is a common overuse injury in athletes, especially in runners. The syndrome occurs when the ITB, a lateral thickening of the fascia lata of the thigh moves repetitively over the lateral femoral condyle. A variety of nonoperative measures are used for ITBFS treatment, including stretching, core strengthening, and therapeutic injection. Isolated distal ITB rupture is a rare entity and has never yet to be reported in the orthopedic literature. We present a case of isolated ITB rupture as a cause of varus instability and knee pain in a Naval Special Warfare candidate diagnosed with ITBFS and previously treated with several local corticosteroid injections before ITB rupture. Because of continued knee pain and a sense of instability, along with an inability to return to his military special warfare duties, the ITB was surgically repaired. This case highlights the presentation and management of isolated distal ITB rupture and discusses some of the potential risk factors for rupture, including prior local corticosteroid injection.

Arthroscopic primary rotator cuff repairs in patients aged younger than 45 years.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mechanism of injury, patient characteristics, tear size, and clinical outcomes after arthroscopic primary rotator cuff repair of full-thickness tears in patients aged younger than 45 years. METHODS: A total of 70 consecutive patients were reviewed in a retrospective, multicenter (2 institutions) study evaluating prospectively collected data. Fifty-three patients, with a mean age of 37.5 years (range, 16.2 to 44.9 years), were available for follow-up at a mean of 35.8 months (range, 13.8 to 59.1 months). Exclusion criteria included patients with revision procedures, repair of partial tears, and follow-up of less than 12 months. Follow-up evaluation included physical examination with dynamometer strength testing and clinical outcome measures including the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, Constant-Murley score, pain score on a visual analog scale, and Simple Shoulder Test score. RESULTS: A total of 60% of the patients (32 of 53) had a traumatic etiology, with 38% (12 of 32) of these related to an athletic event. Of the tears, 36 (68%) were medium tears. Concomitant procedures performed at the time of rotator cuff repair included acromioplasty (51), biceps tenodesis or tenotomy (24), distal clavicle excision (10), anteroinferior stabilization (2), and labral repair (1). The mean postoperative ASES score was 84.6 (range, 21.6 to 100.0), with 2 patients recording ASES scores of less than 50 (21.7 and 41.7) at final follow-up. In the 38 patients available for clinical follow-up examination, forward flexion improved from 158.7° (range, 45° to 180°) to 168.4° (range, 120° to 180°) (P = .014). At the time of follow-up, no patients had undergone revision surgery. On the basis of poor clinical outcome scores, 2 patients (4.0%) were considered failures. CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopic primary rotator cuff repair of full-thickness tears in patients aged younger than 45 years results in improved outcomes with regard to pain, subjective patient satisfaction, and shoulder function. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Clinical Application of the "Glenoid Track" Concept for Defining Humeral Head Engagement in Anterior Shoulder Instability: A Preliminary Report.

BACKGROUND: The optimal treatment of Hill-Sachs injuries is difficult to determine and is potentiated by the finding that a Hill-Sachs injury becomes more important in the setting of glenoid bone loss, making engagement of the humeral head on the glenoid inherently easier. The "glenoid track" concept was developed to biomechanically quantify the effects of a combined glenoid and humeral head bony defects on instability. PURPOSE: To clinically evaluate humeral head engagement on the glenoid by utilizing glenoid track measurements of both humeral head and glenoid bone loss. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. METHODS: A total of 205 patients with recurrent anterior shoulder instability were evaluated, and of these, 140 patients (68%; 9 females [6%] and 131 males [94%]) with a Hill-Sachs lesion and a mean age of 27.6 years (range, 15-47 years; standard error of mean [SEM], 0.59) were included in the final magnetic resonance angiogram [MRA]) analysis. Bipolar bone loss measures of glenoid bone loss (sagittal oblique MRA) and multiple size measures of the Hill-Sachs injury (coronal, axial, and sagittal MRA) were recorded. Based on the extent of the bipolar lesion, patients were classified with glenoid track as either outside and engaging of the glenoid on the humeral head (OUT-E) or inside and nonengaging (IN-NE). The 2 groups were then compared with clinical evidence of engagement on examination under anesthesia (EUA) using video arthroscopy, number of dislocations, length of instability, and patient age. RESULTS: The mean glenoid bone loss was 7.6% (range, 0%-29%; SEM, 1.20%), and 31 of 140 (22%) patients demonstrated clinical engagement on EUA. Radiographically, 19 (13.4%) patients were determined to be OUT-E, while 121 (86.6%) were IN-NE and not expected to engage. Of those 19 patients with suggested radiographic engagement (OUT-E), 16 (84.5%) had clinical evidence of engagement versus only 12.4% that clinically engaged (15/121) without radiographic evidence of engagement (IN-NE) (P < .001). Younger age and a greater number of recurrence events were jointly predictive of a patient being classified as OUT-E (11.8 vs 6.4 dislocations; P = .015). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that glenohumeral engagement was well predicted based on preoperative glenoid and humeral head bone loss measurements using the glenoid track method. In addition, younger age and a greater number of recurrences were predictive of engagement. The glenoid track concept may be important to fully assess the overall risk for engagement prior to surgery and may help guide surgical decision making such as bony augmentation procedures.

An analysis of shoulder outcomes scores in 275 consecutive patients: disease-specific correlation across multiple shoulder conditions.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the outcomes scores of military patients who initially present with a variety of shoulder conditions, identify which scores demonstrate the highest correlation per diagnosis, and determine if a difference exists for patients who went onto surgery. METHODS: Two-hundred and seventy five consecutive patients with mean age of 36.5 +/- 12.9 at presentation completed baseline outcomes assessments that included Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) Score, Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI), Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC), the Simple Shoulder Test (SST), and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Index (DASH). The patients were grouped by clinical, radiographic, and surgical findings into 10 diagnostic categories. OUTCOMES: The initial mean outcomes scores were SANE 48.8, ASES 50.1, WOSI 1279 (40% normal), WORC 1122.4 (47% normal), SST 6.7, and DASH 33.1. Patients with superior labrum anterior-posterior tears demonstrated the lowest mean scores, followed by instability and rotator cuff tear patients. For all conditions, scores were lower for patients who went onto surgery compared with those managed nonoperatively (p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings may be utilized as a baseline to compare and track patient-derived disability across multiple shoulder conditions and serve to define mean diagnosis-specific shoulder patient preoperative scores.