Overlapping repair and epitenon healing are more stable biomechanically than side to side repair and endotenon healing in achilles tendon lengthening with Z plasty.

BACKGROUND: The current study aimed to compare biomechanical stability and healing process of side-to-side repair with overlapping repair after Achilles tendon lengthening with Z-plasty. METHODS: In our study, 22 Sprague Dawley male rats were used. Side-to-side repairs were classified as group 1 and overlapping repairs as group 2. The left and right legs of seven rats were used to compare early group 1 and early group 2 biomechanical test results at day 0. Seven rats were used to compare late group 1 and late group 2 biomechanical test results at day 28. Both the right and left tendons were tested from the four rats examined in the biomechanically in the untreated control group. The last remaining four rats were used for histopathological evaluation of tendon repair, at 28-days from the index procedure.The ultimate load to failure was compared between groups. RESULTS: At time 0, there were no measurable differences between group 1 (3.8 ± 1.4 N) and group 2 (3.7 ± 1.1 N), and both could endure less than one-tenth of the untreated control (49 ± 12). At 28 days, ultimate load to failure improved significantly in both group 1 (16.2 ± 3.5 N) and even more in group 2 (36 ± 8.1 N). While there was a significant difference between group 1 and group 2, neither were able to meet the untreated control (49 ± 12). Histopathological evaluation in the post-healing period showed that fibrosis, neovascularization, and inflammation increased in both groups. CONCLUSION: The overlapping suture technique and epitenon healing have more stability compared to side-to-side suture technique and endotenon healing. Human population trials may or may not exist, our study suggests it should be considered and further investigation needed before actual clinical application.

Sprengel Deformity: Comprehensive Evaluation of Concomitant Spinal and Extraspinal Anomalies in 90 Patients.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective, case series. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the concomitant anomalies in patients with Sprengel deformity (SD). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: SD is the most common congenital anomaly of the shoulder. One or more associated anomalies may coexist in SD patients, similar to congenital scoliosis (CS); however, these anomalies and their relationship have not been studied in detail previously. METHODS: SD patients who have applied to our institution between 2005 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were evaluated clinically and radiologically. The patients were divided in two groups as SD patients with CS and without CS, to analyze if these anomalies are present due to CS or SD. Physical examination findings, MRI, CT, and USG reports were analysed for accompanying pathologies. Patients with missing data were excluded. Student-t and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare the groups. Significance value was set as p = 0.05. RESULTS: Ninety patients met inclusion criteria. The most common spinal anomaly was omovertebra, followed by spina bifida and Klippel-Feil. Tethered cord and diastematomiyelia were associated with CS (P = 0.0026 and P = 0.0057, respectively). The most common extra-skeletal anomaly was rib anomalies, followed by urinary and cardiac system anomalies. Rib anomalies were associated with CS (P = 0.00001). CONCLUSION: Concomitant anomalies may accompany SD. The prognosis of SD may be affected by these anomalies. Therefore, patients should be evaluated for possible coexistent congenital anomalies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Treatment options for locked posterior shoulder dislocations and clinical outcomes.

Posterior dislocations are rare and diagnostically difficult injuries. Diagnosis is often delayed and this leads to a locked posteriorly dislocated humeral head.Treatment options include conservative methods and surgical anatomic reconstruction options as well as non-anatomic surgical procedures such as subscapularis tendon transfer, hemiarthroplasty and total shoulder arthroplasty.Decision-making for treatment as well as prognosis depend on the extent of the articular defect size of the humeral head, duration of the dislocation and patient-specific conditions such as age and activity levels. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2019;4:194-200. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.4.180043.

Concomitant SLAP repair does not influence the surgical outcome for arthroscopic Bankart repair of traumatic shoulder dislocations.

BACKGROUND: Prior studies revealed the presence of superior labrum anterior-to-posterior (SLAP) injury together with Bankart lesions in some patients. The purpose of the study is to compare the clinical results of isolated Bankart repairs with the clinical results of Bankart repairs when performed with concomitant SLAP repairs. METHODS: The patients who underwent arthroscopic surgery for treatment of anterior glenohumeral instability were evaluated retrospectively. Group 1 consisted of 19 patients who had arthroscopic SLAP repair together with Bankart repair. The mean age of the patients was 23. Group 2 consisted of 38 patients who underwent isolated Bankart repair. The mean age was 24. Knotless anchors were used in both groups. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 34 months (range: 26-72). In group 1, the mean preoperative Constant score was 84 (range: 74-90, standard deviation (SD): 5.91) and Rowe score was 64.1 (range: 40-70, SD: 8.14). In group 2, the preoperative Constant score was 84.4 (range: 70-96, SD: 5.88) and Rowe score was 60 (range: 45-70, SD: 7.95). In group 1, the postoperative mean Constant score raised to 96.8 (range: 88-100, SD: 2.91) and the mean Rowe score raised to 92.3 (range: 85-100, SD: 5.17). In group 2, the postoperative mean Constant score was 94.9 (range: 88-100, SD: 3.70) and the mean Rowe score was 94.2 (range: 80-100, SD: 4.71). The difference between the scores of two groups was insignificant ( p > 0.05). When the numbers of redislocations and range of motion were compared, no significant difference was found ( p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Accompanying SLAP repair in surgical treatment with Bankart repair for shoulder instability does not affect the results negatively. Properly repaired labral tears extending from anterior inferior to the posterior superior of the glenoid in instability treatment have the same outcome in overall results as repaired isolated Bankart lesions.

Do timing of injection and status of the suction drain effect postoperative pain scores after intra-articular bupivacaine injection in arthroscopic ACL reconstruction?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine if the timing of intra-articular local anesthetic injection and the status of the suction drain affect variable pain scores after ACL reconstruction. METHODS: The study included 40 patients undergoing arthroscopic ACL reconstruction randomized into 4 groups. Patients in Group 1 received intra-articular 20 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine 20 minutes before the start of the operation (preemptive: PE), Group 2 at the end of the operation with the suction drain opened (DO). Group 3 also received intra-articular bupivacaine at the end of the operation and the drain was kept closed for one hour postoperatively (DC). Group 4 did not receive any intra-articular injection (control group: CG) and served as the control group. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores and additional analgesic requirements were recorded. RESULTS: The PE group had the lowest and the control group the highest VAS scores at the second postoperative hour. At the fourth postoperative hour, VAS scores were significantly higher in the DC group than the DO group (p<0.05). At the sixth postoperative hour, the PE and DC groups had significantly lower VAS scores than the other groups (p<0.05). At Hour 12, the PE and control groups had higher VAS scores than the DO and DC groups. VAS scores were not different among groups at Hour 24. The interval to first analgesic requirement was significantly shorter in the control group and longer in the PE group in comparison to the other two groups (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Intra-articular bupivacaine injection at different stages of the operation yielded variable VAS scores in the postoperative period. Closing the drain after intra-articular injection resulted in an early onset analgesic effect without shortening the duration.