The Posterior Shoulder Instability Questionnaire (PSI-Q): Internal consistency, content and criterion validity, responsiveness, and reliability of a new tool for the assessment of posterior shoulder instability.

INTRODUCTION: Posterior shoulder instability (PSI) is an increasingly recognized cause of shoulder dysfunction particularly in young active patients and certain athlete populations. When evaluating the efficacy of treatment for PSI, specific outcome measures for this population are essential. The aim of the current research was to describe the development and evaluation of a patient reported outcome measure (PROM) specific for PSI. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study design of patients with PSI was used to develop and evaluate the "Posterior Shoulder Instability Questionnaire (PSI-Q)". Items for PSI-Q were generated through an expert focus group and existing questionnaires. Preliminary data analysis identified redundancy of items and resulted in the PSI-Q being refined. The final PSI-Q was evaluated on 128 patients with PSI with a structural lesion requiring surgical intervention. Participants were excluded in the absence of a posterior glenohumeral joint lesion. Internal consistency (Cronbach α and corrected item-total correlation), content validity, criterion validity, responsiveness, and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient; ICC) were examined. Content validity, criterion validity and responsiveness were compared with the Melbourne Instability Shoulder Score (MISS) and the Western Ontario Shoulder Index (WOSI). The minimum detectable change score (MDC) was calculated. RESULTS: The Cronbach α for the total scale pre and post-intervention was high (α = 0.97). All five domains (Pain, Instability/Weakness/Stiffness, Function, Occupation and Sport, and Quality of Life and Satisfaction) demonstrated acceptable internal consistency for each subsection and the overall score of the scale (α > 0.70). The corrected-item total correlation for each domain were within an acceptable range. The responsiveness of the PSI-Q questionnaire was excellent (effect size, 2.06; standard response mean, 1.34) and was higher than the MISS and WOSI. There were no relevant floor effects and one ceiling effect. Reliability was excellent (ICC (1,1) = 0.93) and the calculated MDC was 10.9 points. DISCUSSION: This study designed and validated a questionnaire specific for measuring symptoms and function in people with structural PSI requiring surgery. The PSI-Q demonstrates good measurement properties and provides an MDC that is useful for researchers and clinicians. In structural PSI, the PSI-Q has a higher responsiveness and more accurately reflects a patient's overall perceived shoulder status compared to current patient reported outcomes for shoulder instability. The psychometric properties of the PSI-Q are still to be determined in a non-surgical population.

Effect of a physiotherapy-directed rehabilitation programme on patients with multidirectional instability of the glenohumeral joint: a multimodal interventional MRI study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Altered neuromuscular control of the scapula and humeral head is a typical feature of multidirectional instability (MDI) of the glenohumeral joint, suggesting a central component to this condition. A previous randomised controlled trial showed MDI patients participating in the Watson Instability Program 1 (WIP1) had significantly improved clinical outcomes compared with a general shoulder strength programme. The aim of this paper is to outline a multimodal MRI protocol to identify potential ameliorative effects of the WIP1 on the brain. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Thirty female participants aged 18-35 years with right-sided atraumatic MDI and 30 matched controls will be recruited. MDI patients will participate in 24 weeks of the WIP1, involving prescription and progression of a home exercise programme. Multimodal MRI scans will be collected from both groups at baseline and in MDI patients at follow-up. Potential brain changes (primary outcome 1) in MDI patients will be probed using region-of-interest (ROI) and whole-brain approaches. ROIs will depict areas of functional alteration in MDI patients during executed and imagined shoulder movements (MDI vs controls at baseline), then examining the effects of the 24-week WIP1 intervention (baseline vs follow-up in MDI patients only). Whole-brain analyses will examine baseline versus follow-up voxel-wise measures in MDI patients only. Outcome measures used to assess WIP1 efficacy will include the Western Ontario Shoulder Index and the Melbourne Instability Shoulder Score (primary outcomes 2 and 3). Secondary outcomes will include the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, Short Form Orebro, Global Rating of Change Score, muscle strength, scapular upward rotation, programme compliance and adverse events. DISCUSSION: This trial will establish if the WIP1 is associated with brain changes in MDI. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Participant confidentiality will be maintained with publication of results. Swinburne Human Research Ethics Committee (Ref: 20202806-5692). TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12621001207808).

Posterior Shoulder Instability in Tennis Players: Aetiology, Classification, Assessment and Management.

Background: Micro-traumatic posterior shoulder instability (PSI) is an often missed and misdiagnosed pathology presenting in tennis players. The aetiology of micro-traumatic PSI in tennis players is multifactorial, including congenital factors, loss of strength and motor control, and sport-specific repetitive microtrauma. Repetitive forces placed on the dominant shoulder, particularly combinations of flexion, horizontal adduction, and internal rotation contribute to the microtrauma. These positions are characteristic for kick serves, backhand volleys, and the follow-through phase of forehands and serves. The aim of this clinical commentary is to present an overview of the aetiology, classification, clinical presentation, and treatment of micro-traumatic PSI, with a particular focus on tennis players. Level of Evidence: 5.

Establishing User Error on the Patient-Reported Component of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Shoulder Score.

BACKGROUND: The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score is a patient-reported outcome (PRO) questionnaire developed to facilitate communication among international investigators and to allow comparison of outcomes for patients with shoulder disabilities. Although this PRO measure has been deemed easy to read and understand, patients may make mistakes when completing the questionnaire. PURPOSE: To evaluate the frequency of potential mistakes made by patients completing the ASES score. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study was performed for 600 ASES questionnaires completed by patients upon their first visit to 1 of 2 clinic locations (Australian vs Canadian site). Two categories of potential errors were predefined, and then differences in error rates were compared based on demographics (age, sex, and location). To determine whether these methods were reliable, an independent, third reviewer evaluated a subset of questionnaires separately. The interrater reliability was evaluated through use of the Cohen kappa. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 49.9 years, and 63% of patients were male. The Cohen kappa was high for both evaluation methods used, at 0.831 and 0.918. On average, 17.9% of patients made at least 1 potential mistake, while an additional 10.4% of patients corrected their own mistakes. No differences in total error rate were found based on baseline demographics. Canadians and Australians had similar rates of error. CONCLUSION: To ensure the accuracy of the ASES score, this questionnaire should be double checked, as potential mistakes are too frequently made. This attentiveness will ensure that the ASES score remains a valid, reliable, and responsive tool to be used for further shoulder research.

Patients Undergoing Shoulder Stabilization Procedures Do Not Accurately Recall Their Preoperative Symptoms at Short- to Midterm Follow-up.

BACKGROUND: A patient's ability to recall symptoms is poor in some elderly populations, but we considered that the recall of younger patients may be more accurate. The accuracy of recall in younger patients after surgery has not been reported to date. PURPOSE: To assess younger patients' abilities to recall their preoperative symptoms after having undergone shoulder stabilization surgery. We used 2 disease-specific, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs)-the Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI) and the Melbourne Instability Shoulder Score (MISS)-at a period of up to 2 years postoperatively. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2. METHODS: Participants (N = 119) were stratified into 2 groups: early recall (at 6-8 months postoperatively; n = 58) and late recall (at 9-24 months postoperatively; n = 61). All patients completed the PROMs with instructions to recall preoperative function. The mean and absolute differences between the preoperative scores and recalled scores for each PROM were compared using paired t tests. Correlations between the actual and recalled scores of the subsections for each PROM were calculated using an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The number of individuals who recalled within the minimal detectable change (MDC) of each PROM was calculated. RESULTS: Comparison between the means of the actual and recalled preoperative scores for both groups did not demonstrate significant differences (early recall differences, MISS 1.05 and WOSI -38.64; late recall differences, MISS -0.25 and WOSI -24.02). Evaluation of the absolute difference, however, revealed a significant difference between actual and recalled scores for both the late and early groups (early recall absolute differences, MISS 12.26 and WOSI 216.71; late recall absolute differences, MISS 12.84 and WOSI 290.08). Average absolute differences were above the MDC scores of both PROMs at both time points. Subsections of each PROM demonstrated weak to moderate correlations between actual and recalled scores (ICC range, 0.17-0.61). Total scores for the PROMs reached moderate agreement between actual and recalled scores. CONCLUSION: Individual recall after shoulder instability surgery was not accurate. However, the mean recalled PROM scores of each group were not significantly different from the actual scores collected preoperatively, and recall did not deteriorate significantly over 2 years. This suggests that recall of the individual, even in this younger group, cannot be considered accurate for research purposes.

The Specific AC Score (SACS): a new and validated method of assessment of isolated acromioclavicular joint pathology.

BACKGROUND: Acromioclavicular (AC) joint (ACJ) pathology is a common cause of shoulder dysfunction, and treatment recommendations vary. When the efficacy of treatment is evaluated, the ability to measure outcomes specific to the population is essential. The aim of the current research was to develop and validate a specific ACJ questionnaire. METHODS: Items for the "Specific AC Score" (SACS) were generated through the use of an expert panel, existing questionnaires, and patient feedback. Preliminary data analysis identified redundancy of items resulting in the questionnaire being refined. The final SACS was evaluated in 125 patients requiring surgical intervention of the ACJ. Internal consistency (the Cronbach α and corrected item-total correlation), content validity, criterion validity, responsiveness, and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient) were examined and compared with the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, Oxford Shoulder Score, and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form. The minimum detectable change score was calculated. RESULTS: The Cronbach α for the total scale preoperatively and postoperatively was high (preoperatively = 0.91, postoperatively = 0.93). All 3 domains (Pain, Function, Quality of Life) demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (α > 0.70), and the correlation between items in each domain was satisfactory. The responsiveness was excellent (effect size, -2.32; standard response mean, -1.85) and was higher than the other general shoulder questionnaires. There were no relevant floor or ceiling effects. Reliability was high (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.89) and the minimum detectable change was 6.5 points. DISCUSSION: This new ACJ-specific questionnaire has been robustly developed, has good measurement properties, and has excellent responsiveness. The SACS is recommended for measuring outcomes in ACJ patients.

Pioglitazone reduces cold-induced brown fat glucose uptake despite induction of browning in cultured human adipocytes: a randomised, controlled trial in humans.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Increasing brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity is a possible therapeutic strategy to increase energy expenditure and glucose and lipid clearance to ameliorate obesity and associated comorbidities. The thiazolidinedione (TZD) class of glucose-lowering drugs increase BAT browning in preclinical experimental models but whether these actions extend to humans in vivo is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of pioglitazone treatment on adipocyte browning and adaptive thermogenesis in humans. METHODS: We first examined whether pioglitazone treatment of cultured human primary subacromioclavicular-derived adipocytes induced browning. Then, in a blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel trial, conducted within the Baker Institute clinical research laboratories, 14 lean male participants who were free of cardiometabolic disease were randomised to receive either placebo (lactose; n = 7, age 22 ± 1 years) or pioglitazone (45 mg/day, n = 7, age 21 ± 1 years) for 28 days. Participants were allocated to treatments by Alfred Hospital staff independent from the study via electronic generation of a random number sequence. Researchers conducting trials and analysing data were blind to treatment allocation. The change in cold-stimulated BAT activity, assessed before and after the intervention by [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose uptake via positron emission tomography/computed tomography in upper thoracic and cervical adipose tissue, was the primary outcome measure. Energy expenditure, cardiovascular responses, core temperature, blood metabolites and hormones were measured in response to acute cold exposure along with body composition before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Pioglitazone significantly increased in vitro browning and adipogenesis of adipocytes. In the clinical trial, cold-induced BAT maximum standardised uptake value was significantly reduced after pioglitazone compared with placebo (-57 ± 6% vs -12 ± 18%, respectively; p < 0.05). BAT total glucose uptake followed a similar but non-significant trend (-50 ± 10% vs -6 ± 24%, respectively; p = 0.097). Pioglitazone increased total and lean body mass compared with placebo (p < 0.05). No other changes between groups were detected. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: The disparity in the actions of pioglitazone on BAT between preclinical experimental models and our in vivo human trial highlight the imperative to conduct human proof-of-concept studies as early as possible in BAT research programmes aimed at therapeutic development. Our clinical trial findings suggest that reduced BAT activity may contribute to weight gain associated with pioglitazone and other TZDs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02236962 FUNDING: This work was supported by the Diabetes Australia Research Program and OIS scheme from the Victorian State Government.

Correction to: Pioglitazone reduces cold-induced brown fat glucose uptake despite induction of browning in cultured human adipocytes: a randomised, controlled trial in humans.

The baseline insulin data given in Table 1 for the placebo group were incorrectly reported as 51 ± 10 pmol/l instead of 48 ± 10 pmol/l. This mistake also impacts on data reported in Table 4.

Catastrophic failure of a low profile metal-backed glenoid component after total shoulder arthroplasty.

CONTEXT: The longevity of the glenoid component in total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) continues to be problematic. All polyethylene glenoid components have been most widely used, but loosening rates with time and the need for revision has resulted in high-profile metal-backed components with the potential for a more stable prosthesis bone interface and liner exchange. High revision rates in the high profile metal backed designs led us to evaluate a low profile metal backed component. AIMS: To examine the rate and mode of failure of a TSA in a single surgeon consecutive series that has been identified by the Australian National Joint Replacement Registry to have a higher than anticipated rate of revision. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a single surgeon retrospective consecutive series of 51 arthroplasties undertaken in 50 patients (18 males and 32 females) with an average age of 70.4 ears (range 51-90) and mean follow-up of 5.5 years (range 3.7-8.1). RESULTS: We observed a very high (29%) rate of revision of the metal-backed glenoid components in this series. The primary mode of failure was glenoid baseplate nonintegration which with a well-fixed central cage screw led to bone resorption and implant breakage or disassembly. CONCLUSION: Analysis of the mode of failure of implants identified by robust registries is essential for the development of new prostheses and the pursuit of prosthesis longevity. This low profile metal backed prosthesis has been withdrawn, but without a published mechanism of failure. We feel that any prosthesis withdrawal should be accompanied by appropriate published mechanisms to prevent future component design errors based on similar design problems.

Shoulder Structure and Function Following the Modified Latarjet Procedure: A Clinical and Radiological Review.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes of the modified Latarjet procedure for traumatic, antero-inferior glenohumeral joint instability. METHODS: Case series were used with a mean follow-up of 21.3 months for clinical and radiological review and 47.2 months for recurrent instability. Shoulder function was evaluated by clinical examination and validated shoulder scales: Western Ontario Shoulder Stability Index (WOSI), Melbourne Instability Shoulder Score (MISS) and l'Insalata Shoulder Questionnaire. Shoulder structure was evaluated by computed tomography. RESULTS: Thirty-two cases were enrolled (mean age 27.0 years). One patient reported a redislocation during the follow-up period. Clinical examination revealed that the median external rotation (at 0° and 90° abduction) was reduced on the operative side by 7.5° (p < 0.01) and 10° (p < 0.001), respectively. Subjective shoulder function was good. Mean (SD) scores on the WOSI, MISS and l'Insalata scales were 78.0 (19.7), 75.8 (11.5) and 89.3 (9.9), respectively. No loss of subscapularis strength was identified (p > 0.05). Radiological evaluation revealed a mean (SD) pre-operative glenoid surface area loss of 169.5 (48.5) mm(2) reconstituted surgically by a bone block of 225.4 (73.8) mm(2). Subscapularis muscle bulk was reduced on the operative side, above the level of the muscle split (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The Latarjet procedure reliably restores lost glenoid surface area, shoulder stability, strength and function. A small loss of external rotation is expected and related to altered subscapularis anatomy.

The incidence of early radiolucencies about a pegged glenoid component using cement pressurization.

Glenoid component loosening is the most common early mode of failure of total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) We hypothesised that the use of a pegged glenoid component with a modern glenoid reaming system and an instrumented cement pressurization technique would achieve a low prevalence of early radiolucent lines. Of 81 patients having TSA with a cemented, all polyethylene, 3-peg glenoid component for primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis, 69 had high quality radiographs available for analysis. All preoperative and initial postoperative radiographs were reviewed and graded in a blinded manner using previously established criteria. When the radiolucency grade of cement fixation was converted to a numeric scale of 0 (no radiolucency) to 5 (grossly loose), the mean cementing score was 0.14 + 0.06. Of the 69 shoulders, 62 (90%) had no radiolucencies. These techniques to improve glenoid fixation resulted in a low incidence of early radiolucencies about the glenoid component in patients having TSA for primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis.

Arthroscopic suprascapular nerve release at the suprascapular notch in a cadaveric model: an anatomic approach.

Arthroscopic release of the suprascapular nerve at the suprascapular notch, to our knowledge, has rarely been described. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and relevant anatomic landmarks in a cadaveric model that can be identified arthroscopically for reliable and reproducible arthroscopic release of the superior transverse scapular (STS) ligament. In 8 fresh-frozen cadaveric shoulders, arthroscopic release of the STS ligament was performed. The acromioclavicular joint is first identified while viewing through a posterior subacromial portal. The distal clavicle is then followed medially until the most lateral portion of the coracoclavicular (CC) ligaments (trapezoid ligament) is identified. The most medial margin of the CC ligaments (conoid ligament) is identified, and the trapezoid and conoid ligaments are dissected and identified individually. The conoid ligament is followed inferiorly and medially to the base of the coracoid. At the base of the coracoid, the confluence of the trapezoid and conoid ligaments (CC) and the STS ligament is identified. The STS ligament can be identified coursing horizontally across the field of view. The STS ligament may be incised by use of dissecting scissors through a lateral, accessory lateral, or accessory posterior portal, releasing the suprascapular nerve.