Mid-Term Outcomes of Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: The effectiveness of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients remains a controversial topic. This study investigates the mid-term outcomes of ARCR in RA patients and identifies the factors influencing clinical efficacy. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled RA patients with small or medium rotator cuff tears (RCTs) between February 2014 and February 2019. Visual Analog Scale (VAS), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), and Constant-Murley scores were collected at each follow-up time. Ultimately, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and X-ray were employed to assess rotator cuff integrity and progression of shoulder bone destruction, respectively. Statistical methods used two-way repeated-measures ANOVA or generalized estimation equations. RESULTS: A total of 157 patients were identified and divided into ARCR (n = 75) and conservative treatment (n = 82) groups. ARCR group continued to be divided into small tear (n = 35) and medium tear (n = 40) groups. At the final, all scores were better in ARCR group than in the conservative treatment group (p < 0.05). A radiographic evaluation of the final follow-up demonstrated that the progression rate in ARCR group (18.67%) was significantly lower than that of the conservative treatment group (39.02%, p < 0.05). In the comparison of the small tear and medium tear groups, all scores increased significantly after surgery (p < 0.05), and the final follow-up scores were better than preoperative scores (p < 0.05) but worse than those of the 6-month postoperative follow-up (p < 0.05). Comparison between the two groups revealed that all scores of the small tear group were significantly better than those of the medium tear group at 6-month postoperative follow-up (p < 0.05). Although the scores of small tear group remained better than those of the medium group at the final postoperative follow-up, the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Radiographic assessment of the final follow-up demonstrated that the progression rate in the small tear group (8.57%) was significantly lower than that in the medium group (27.50%, p < 0.05), and the retear rate of small tear group (14.29%) was significantly lower than that of the medium tear group (35.00%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: ARCR could effectively improve the quality of life for RA patients with small or medium RCTs, at least in the medium term. Despite the progression of joint destruction in some patients, postoperative retear rates were comparable to those in the general population. ARCR is more likely to benefit RA patients than conservative treatment.

[Clinical study on the control of intra-articular hemorrhage by tranexamic acid after shoulder arthroscopy].

OBJECTIVE: To explore clinical effects of tranexamic acid on postoperative intra-articular hemorrhage after shoulder arthroscopy. METHODS: From February to July 2018, 60 patients with rotator cuff tears treated by shoulder arthroscopy were randomly divided into observation group and control group, 30 cases in each group. In observation group, there were 6 males and 24 females; aged from 55 to 70 years old with an average age of (62.3±5.5) years; the courses of disease ranged from 2 to 36 months with an average of (11.7±1.7) months; received 0.5 g tranexamic acid (1 g of tranexamic acid was diluted with normal saline to 20 ml) in each articular cavity and subacromial space after operation. In control group, there were 5 males and 25 females; aged from 56 to 72 years old with an average of (63.4±5.8) years old; the courses of disease ranged from 4 to 36 months with an average of (10.8±1.4) months; 10 ml of normal saline was injected into joint cavity and subacromial space. Hemoglobin values between two groups before and after operation at 1 day were recorded, circumference of shoulder joint was measured preoperatively and the 1st and 7th days after operation, and circumference difference of shoulder joint was recorded. Complications such as subcutaneous blood stasis and DVT were recorded. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in hemoglobin values between two groups before and after operation at 1 day (P>0.05) . On the first day after surgery, peripheral diameter of shoulder joint in observation group [(32.9±0.3) cm ] was significantly lower than that in control group [(35.1±0.5) cm ], and the circumference difference of shoulder joint in observation group [(8.7±0.4) mm ] was also significantly lower than that in control group [(12.3±0.5) mm ], the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05) . However, there was no significant difference in circumference of shoulder joint and the difference in circumference of shoulder joint between two groups on the 7th day after operation (P>0.05) . Two patients in observation group occurred subcutaneous ecchymosis, while 6 patients occurred in control group, but without statistical difference between two groups (P>0.05) . CONCLUSION: Subacromial and articular injection of tranexamic acid could significantly reduce early swelling of soft tissue after arthroscopic shoulder surgery, and it has better safety.

[Patellofemoral arthroplasty for the treatment of patellofemoral arthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical effect of patellofemoral joint replacement in the treatment of patellofemoral arthritis. METHODS: From July 2013 to June 2017, 35 patients with 42 knees underwent patellofemoral arthroplasty, including 34 females and 1 male, aged 45 to 70 (55.0±8.2) years old, with a course of 6 to 36 (13.7±2.5) months. Before and at the end of the follow-up, the patients were assessed with Oxford knee score, satisfaction with the operation was assessed at the end of the follow-up. In addition, X-ray films of the front and side of the knee joint and axial films of the patella were taken to assess whether the prosthesis was loose, and complications such as hematoma and joint infection were recorded. RESULTS: Forty-two knees of 35 patients were followed up for 18 to 65 (35.0±7.2) months, and the operation time was (56.2±8.7) min. Oxford knee joint score increased from preoperative 28.14±0.36 to 37.19±0.47 at the end of the follow-up (P<0.05) . The score of pain items increased from preoperative 10.12±0.26 to 15.83±0.30 at the end of the follow-up, and the score of functional items increased from preoperative 18.02±0.13 to 21.36±0.23 at the end of the follow-up (P<0.05) , there was statistical significance (P <0.05) . In one case, there was wound suture reaction in the early postoperative period, which was improved after debridement; in the other case, there was swelling around the wound 5 weeks after operation, which was improved after antibiotic treatment; in one case, there was tear at the suture of quadriceps femoris muscle at 1 month after operation, which was improved after re suture; no loosening of prosthesis was found. CONCLUSION: The second generation of patellofemoral arthroplasty for the treatment of simple severe patellofemoral arthritis has satisfactory early clinical effect and few complications, but the indication of operation should be strictly grasped. For severe cases, CT scan of knee joint can be used to customize the patellofemoral prosthesis, so as to reduce postoperative complications and improve the clinical effect.