Holding on by a thread: the continuing story of rotator cuff tears.

Rotator cuff tears are a common cause of shoulder pain. The incidence of these tears has increased significantly over the years, with the demands of an increasingly active elderly population. Therefore, a detailed understanding of rotator cuff tears will help doctors manage their patients' condition. This field has rapidly advanced over the past decade and this review provided an insight into the latest developments.

Tissue Engineering for the Ovine Rotator Cuff: Surgical Anatomy, Approach, Implantation and Histology Technique, along with Review of Literature.

Aim: Tissue engineering is a contemporary topic, which is widely discussed in shoulder surgery. The preclinical success of tissue engineering has not yet fully translated to clinical studies. In this study, we present our experience in this subject and discuss measurements to analyze the sheep tissue as comparative model. We also present a comprehensive systematic review of the literature in relation to tissue engineering and rotator cuff. Method: We studied the anatomy, histology and surgical approach of 24 infraspinatus tendons specimens in sheep and focused on certain measurements such as: (1) size of the normal tendon; (2) diameter of the normal footprint; and (3) bone hardness of the footprint using a durometer. Blood from six sheep was obtained and processed to produce platelet rich plasma using both the Harvest Smartprep and Cascade kit. We then outlined an approach to the infraspinatus tendon footprint in preparation for implantation of a biological augmentation material, which was repaired using a double row technique. This was followed by a histological analysis. Results: The average measurements of the footprint were 21 mm ×21 mm, the tendon length was 35.1 mm and the width proximal and distal was 21.9 and 14 mm, respectively. The average bone hardness at the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock position was 64.1, 52.3, 50.1, and 37.7 respectively. Central footprint and lateral edge hardness was 44.8 and 43.4. Only the Harvest Smartprep and using a modified method, was able to produce a platelet concentration factor of 4. The Cascade method was unable to concentrate sheep blood. Conclusion: The sheep model is a suitable tissue for studying the rotator cuff. The researcher must be aware of certain interspecies caveats. Clinical tissue engineering and surgical techniques must be modified in order to be suitable when using sheep model.

Atypical tibial tuberosity fracture in an adolescent.

Avulsion fractures of the tibial tuberosity are typically sustained by adolescent males during sporting activities. Tibial tuberosity avulsions with simultaneous proximal tibial epiphyseal fractures are rare injuries. We present an unusual case of Ogden type IIIA avulsion fracture of tibial tuberosity with a Salter Harris type IV posterior fracture of proximal tibial epiphysis in a 13-year-old boy. We believe that the patient sustained the tibial tuberosity avulsion during the take-off phase of a jump while playing basketball due to sudden violent contraction of the quadriceps as the knee was extending. This was then followed by the posterior Salter Harris type IV fracture of proximal tibial physis as he landed on his leg with enormous forces passing through the knee. Although standard radiographs were helpful in diagnosing the complex fracture pattern, precise configuration was only established by computed tomography (CT) scan. The scan also excluded well-recognized concomitant injuries including ligament and meniscal injuries. Unlike other reported cases, our patient did not have compartment syndrome. Anatomic reduction and stabilization with a partially threaded transepiphyseal cannulated screw and a metaphyseal screw followed by early mobilization ensured an excellent recovery by the patient.Our case highlights the importance of vigilance and a high index of suspicion for coexisting fractures or soft tissue injuries when treating avulsion fractures of tibial tuberosity. A CT scan is justified in such patients to recognize complex fracture configurations, and surgical treatment should be directed appropriately to both the fractures followed by early rehabilitation. Patients with such injuries warrant close monitoring for compartment syndrome during the perioperative period.