Associated lesions requiring additional surgical treatment in grade 3 acromioclavicular joint dislocations.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence of associated pathologic shoulder lesions that were addressed surgically in grade 3 acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) dislocations, as well as to compare this incidence between younger and older patients and between acute and chronic cases. METHODS: In this multicenter nonrandomized retrospective study, 98 patients operated on for grade 3 ACJ dislocation underwent concomitant arthroscopic evaluation for the identification and treatment of any associated lesions. The type and treatment of associated lesions were collected in a central database and analyzed. We classified patients according to age (<45 years and ≥ 45 years) and according to the length of time between trauma and surgical treatment (≤ 30 days and ≥ 120 days), obtaining the following stratification: younger acute, older acute, younger chronic, and older chronic. RESULTS: Of the patients, 42 (42.8%) were diagnosed with at least 1 additional pathologic lesion, and 29 (29.5%) required a dedicated additional treatment. Rates of treatment on associated lesions were analyzed: younger versus older groups presented a significant difference, as did younger acute versus older acute groups; SLAP and posterior rotator cuff tear treatments represented 24 of the 35 additional surgeries (68.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The overall rate of associated pathologic lesions requiring additional surgical treatment in patients with ACJ dislocation was 29.5%. Patients aged 45 years or older had a greater risk of presenting with associated lesions that needed to be surgically addressed (odds ratio, 3.01). The overall rates of associated surgical lesions in acute versus chronic cases were not shown to be significantly different. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, prognostic case series.

Pseudoparalysis: the importance of rotator cable integrity.

The purpose of this study was to clinically examine the relationship between rotator cable integrity and the presence of pseudoparalysis. A retrospective review was performed of a consecutive series of arthroscopic repairs of massive rotator cuff tears performed between January 2007 and June 2009. A total of 127 massive tears were identified. Group 1 comprised 24 patients with preoperative pseudoparalysis. Group 2 comprised 97 patients (103 repairs) with active forward flexion more than 90°. In group I, no patient maintained integrity of both rotator cable attachments; 1 rotator cable attachment was disrupted in 45.8% of cases; and both rotator cable attachments were disrupted in 54.2% of cases. In group II, both rotator cable attachments were intact in 22.3% of cases; 1 rotator cable attachment was disrupted in 62.1% of cases; and both rotator cable attachments were disrupted in 15.5% of cases. The difference in the distribution of cable attachments between the 2 groups was statistically significant (P<.001). Overall, preoperative pseudoparalysis predicted a disruption of both rotator cables with 88.8% specificity, 44.8% sensitivity, and 77.8% accuracy. Pseudoparalysis requires the disruption of at least 1 rotator cable attachment. This study reinforces the concept of rotator cable integrity and the ability of patients to maintain forward flexion above shoulder level and highlights the importance of reinforcing the rotator cable attachments in the repair of massive rotator cuff tears.

A systematic approach for diagnosing subscapularis tendon tears with preoperative magnetic resonance imaging scans.

PURPOSE: To determine and propose a systematic approach to evaluating magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans for subscapularis tears and compares preoperative MRI interpretations with findings of the same shoulders at arthroscopy. METHODS: The study was composed of 202 patients who underwent shoulder arthroscopy by 1 of 5 orthopaedic surgeons during a 3-month period. All patients had MRI scans performed within 6 months before arthroscopy. RESULTS: Of the 202 patients, 82 had subscapularis tendon tears confirmed at the time of arthroscopy. The orthopaedic surgeons correctly diagnosed 60 of 82 patients (73%) with subscapularis tendon tears on preoperative MRI that were subsequently identified by arthroscopy. The orthopaedic surgeons correctly diagnosed 113 of 120 patients (94%) as not having subscapularis tendon tears. This resulted in an overall sensitivity of 73%, specificity of 94%, positive predictive value of 90%, negative predictive value of 84%, and accuracy of 86%. The frequency of subscapularis tears was highest when the long head of the biceps was displaced from the groove (88%), a combined supraspinatus/infraspinatus tear existed (71%), or the long head of the biceps tendon was torn (69%). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative MRI scans of the shoulder interpreted by orthopaedic surgeons with the described systematic approach resulted in improved accuracy in diagnosing subscapularis tendon tears compared with previous studies. A consistent finding is that larger subscapularis tendon tears are more easily detected using MRI scans whereas smaller tears are more frequently missed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, development of diagnostic criteria with universally applied reference (nonconsecutive patients).

Reduction of postoperative stiffness after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: results of a customized physical therapy regimen based on risk factors for stiffness.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the benefits of a modified rehabilitation protocol (incorporating early closed-chain overhead stretching) in reducing the risk of postoperative stiffness after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. METHODS: During a 17-month period, we performed primary arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs in 152 patients. After surgery, patients with risk factors identified in the previous study (calcific tendonitis, adhesive capsulitis, PASTA [partial articular surface tendon avulsion]-type rotator cuff repair, concomitant labral repair, or single-tendon cuff repair) were enrolled in a modified rehabilitation protocol that added early overhead closed-chain passive motion exercises to our standard protocol; alternatively, patients without risk factors received a standard conservative rehabilitation program. Historical controls were used and comprised patients in the senior author's practice who all received the conservative rehabilitation protocol. The prevalence of postoperative stiffness was compared between the historical cohort and current study patients by use of Fisher exact tests. RESULTS: Among the 152 patients studied, 79 were positive for at least 1 of the specified risk factors and received the modified protocol. Postoperative stiffness developed in none of the 79 patients enrolled in the modified program. This finding represented a significant improvement (Fisher exact test, P = .004) over the historical controls, in which 18 of the 231 at-risk patients had significant postoperative stiffness develop. CONCLUSIONS: In at-risk patients (with calcific tendonitis, adhesive capsulitis, PASTA repair, concomitant labral repair, and single-tendon repair), a postoperative rehabilitation regimen that incorporates early closed-chain passive overhead motion can reduce the incidence of postoperative stiffness after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Subscapularis tendon tears: identifying mid to distal footprint disruptions.

We present an arthroscopic technique used to identify mid to distal subscapularis tendon disruptions. These tears can be easy to miss and require a thorough arthroscopic evaluation of the medial biceps sling and the medial side wall of the bicipital groove to detect. The arthroscopic procedure is performed with the patient in the lateral decubitus position, and the same portals used for standard subscapularis repair are used for this technique. If a high degree of clinical suspicion exists for subscapularis pathology and no tendon disruption is initially identified, an inspection of the medial biceps sling and medial side wall of the bicipital groove may show mid to distal subscapularis tendon disruptions. A 70 degrees arthroscope is essential in visualizing the medial sling, the subscapularis tendon, the biceps tendon, and the proximal 2 cm of the bicipital groove. Any disruptions or rents in the medial sling or medial side wall are suggestive of a subscapularis tear. Once a tear is identified, we proceed with a biceps tenodesis and then take down the medial sling from the lesser tuberosity to better delineate the subscapularis footprint. The subscapularis may then be repaired in standard fashion.

Rehabilitation following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

The postoperative rehabilitation program is critical for the successful arthroscopic treatment of rotator cuff injury. The authors' experience has confirmed that the best clinical results (restoration of strength, motion, and relief of pain) following rotator cuff repair are achieved after a durable repair of tendon to bone that heals in its entirety. Therefore, the senior author (SSB) has adopted a customized rehabilitation protocol to optimize postoperative range of motion while maintaining rotator cuff integrity. A customized rehabilitation program that begins closed-chained overhead stretches (table slides) early for groups at risk for developing stiffness and delays overhead stretches for the remaining patients until 6 weeks is best to avoid stiffness without potentially increasing the risk of rerupture in the early postoperative period.

Arthroscopic double-pulley remplissage technique for engaging Hill-Sachs lesions in anterior shoulder instability repairs.

We present a modified arthroscopic technique used to treat anterior shoulder instability associated with mild glenoid bone loss and a large Hill-Sachs lesion. The procedure aims to convert a bony intra-articular defect into an extra-articular defect by insetting the infraspinatus into the Hill-Sachs lesion. The arthroscopic procedure is performed with the patient in the lateral decubitus position, and the same portals used for anterior instability repair are used for this technique. The sequence of steps involves placing and passing the glenoid anchors and sutures and then waiting to tie the anterior sutures until after the humeral suture anchors have been placed. The subacromial bursa is cleared; then 2 transtendon suture anchors are placed in the Hill-Sachs lesion. Next, the previously placed Bankart repair sutures are tied, and finally, the remplissage sutures are tied in the subacromial space over the infraspinatus by use of the transtendon double-pulley technique. This technique uses the eyelets of the 2 suture anchors as pulleys and creates a double-mattress suture.

Radiographic and navigation measurements of TKA limb alignment do not correlate.

UNLABELLED: Precise pre- and postoperative anatomic measurements are necessary to plan, perform, and evaluate total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We evaluated the relationship between radiographic and navigation alignment measurements, identified sources of error in radiographic and navigated alignment assessment, and determined the differences between desired and clinically accepted alignment. Fifty-eight computer-assisted TKAs were performed and limb alignment measurements were recorded both pre- and postoperatively with standard radiographs and with an intraoperative navigation system. Intraoperative navigation produced consistent navigation-generated alignment results that were within 1 degrees of the desired alignment. The difference between preoperative radiographic and navigation measurements varied by as much as 12 degrees and the difference between postoperative radiographic and navigation measurements varied by as much as 8 degrees. This discrepancy depended on the degree of limb deformity. Postoperative radiographic measurements have inherent limitations. Navigation can generate precise, accurate, and reproducible alignment measurements. This technology can function as an effective tool for assessing pre- and postoperative limb alignment and relating intraoperative alignment measurements to clinical and functional outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tunnel placement: a radiographic comparison between navigated versus manual ACL reconstruction.

As participation in sports has increased, so have anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions. The procedure is commonly associated with inaccurate tunnel placements, even when performed by experienced surgeons. Computer-assisted surgery may assist in eliminating inconsistent graft tunnels by increasing precision and providing navigation feedback of the surgical field. This study aimed to compare the accuracy of tunnel placements between computer-navigated and manual ACL reconstructions using radiography. Results suggest that the two methods have comparable accuracy but that the use of additional imaging techniques is recommended during tunnel placement evaluation.