RESULTS OF SURGICAL TREATMENT OF DENERATIVE ARTHROPATHY OF THE ROTATOR CUFF USING HEMIARTHROPLASTY- CTA(®).

OBJECTIVE: To assess results of CTA(®) partial shoulder arthroplasty for treatment of degenerative arthropathy of the rotator cuff. METHODS: Between December 2006 and June 2009, 23 shoulders of 23 patients were submitted to CTA(®) type partial shoulder arthroplasty for treatment of arthropathy secondary to rotator cuff injury. Post-operative follow up time ranged from 6 to 35 months. Mean age was 74.1 years. Patients were predominantly female, representing 78.3% of cases. The right limb was affected in 18 patients. All patients had undergone at least 6 months of physiotherapy without improvement of the algetic picture, and being submitted to surgery by the same surgical team. None of the patients had history of surgery on the affected shoulder. The method elected for assessing patients during post-operative follow up was based on UCLA scoring criteria. RESULTS: Improvement in pain was observed in all patients after arthroplasty. Mean UCLA pain score was 9.22 (ranging from 10 to 8). Mean function was 6 (10 to 2). Active frontal flexion was 2.39 (highest score 4 and lowest 0). Mean frontal flexion force was 4.09, maximum was 5 and minimum 3. Mean score on the UCLA was 26.52. 95% were satisfied with the surgery. CONCLUSION: CTA(®) type partial shoulder arthroplasty produced satisfactory results in the treatment of degenerative arthropathy of the rotator cuff and had a low rate of complications.

COMPARATIVE ANATOMICAL STUDY BETWEEN THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES OF THE AXILLARY NERVE IN RELATION TO DELTOPECTORAL APPROACH AND ACROMION.

OBJECTIVE: To establish anatomical parameters for the axillary nerve by measuring the distances to the acromion and the deltopectoral access, and to ascertain whether there are any differences in comparative measurements between the left and right sides. METHOD: An anatomical study on the path of the axillary nerve was conducted by dissecting 30 shoulders of 20 fresh adult cadavers. For comparative study, bilateral dissection was performed on 10 cadavers. Digital caliper gauges, accurate to the nearest 0.05 cm, were used to measure the distances between the lateral extremity of the acromion and the anterior and posterior branches of the axillary nerve, and between the deltopectoral space and the anterior branch of the axillary nerve. RESULTS: The shortest distance between the acromion and the axillary nerve was 5.47 cm, and the greatest distance was 7.06 cm. The shortest distance between the deltopectoral groove and the axillary nerve was 3.94 cm. A statistically significant difference was found using Wilcoxon's test in comparative measurements between the left and right sides for the distances between the posterior branch of the axillary nerve and the midpoint of the lateral border of the acromion (A-E), and between the anterior branch of the axillary nerve and the anterior extremity of the acromion (B-C), both of which were larger on the right side. CONCLUSIONS: The axillary nerve was situated between 5.47 and 7.06 cm distally to the acromion, and 3.94 cm laterally to the deltopectoral space. There was a statistically significant difference in the comparison between the left and right sides, and both measurements were larger on the right side.

Estudo anatômico comparativo entre os lados direito e esquerdo do nervo axilar em relação à via deltopeitoral e ao acrômio / Comparative anatomical study between the right and left sides of the axillary nerve in relation to deltopectoral approach and acromion

OBJETIVOS: Estabelecer parâmetros anatômicos para o nervo axilar pelas medidas das distâncias ao acrômio e à via de acesso deltopeitoral, e verificar se há diferenças nas medidas comparativas entre os lados direito e esquerdo. MÉTODO: Realizou-se o estudo anatômico do trajeto do nervo axilar pela dissecção de 30 ombros em 20 cadáveres adultos frescos. Em 10 cadáveres foi realizada dissecção bilateral para estudo comparativo. Utilizou-se paquímetro digital com precisão de 0,05cm, mediram-se as distâncias entre a extremidade lateral do acrômio e os ramos anterior e posterior do nervo axilar e a distância entre o espaço deltopeitoral e o ramo anterior do nervo axilar. RESULTADOS: A menor distância entre o acrômio e o nervo axilar foi de 5,47cm e a maior, de 7,06cm. A menor distância entre o sulco deltopeitoral e o nervo axilar foi de 3,94cm. Houve diferença com significância estatística pelo teste de Wilcoxon nas medidas comparativas entre os lados direito e esquerdo, para as distâncias entre o ramo posterior do nervo axilar e o ponto médio da borda lateral do acrômio (A-E) e entre o ramo anterior do nervo axilar e a extremidade anterior do acrômio (B-C), ambas maiores no lado direito. CONCLUSÕES: O nervo axilar está situado entre 5,47 e 7,06cm distal ao acrômio e 3,94cm lateral ao espaço deltopeitoral. Houve diferença com significância estatística no estudo comparativo entre os lados direito e esquerdo, ambas maiores no lado direito.

OBJECTIVE: To establish anatomical parameters for the axillary nerve by measuring the distances to the acromion and the deltopectoral access, and to ascertain whether there are any differences in comparative measurements between the left and right sides. METHOD: An anatomical study on the path of the axillary nerve was conducted by dissecting 30 shoulders of 20 fresh adult cadavers. For comparative study, bilateral dissection was performed on 10 cadavers. Digital caliper gauges, accurate to the nearest 0.05 cm, were used to measure the distances between the lateral extremity of the acromion and the anterior and posterior branches of the axillary nerve, and between the deltopectoral space and the anterior branch of the axillary nerve. RESULTS: The shortest distance between the acromion and the axillary nerve was 5.47 cm, and the greatest distance was 7.06 cm. The shortest distance between the deltopectoral groove and the axillary nerve was 3.94 cm. A statistically significant difference was found using Wilcoxon's test in comparative measurements between the left and right sides for the distances between the posterior branch of the axillary nerve and the midpoint of the lateral border of the acromion (A-E), and between the anterior branch of the axillary nerve and the anterior extremity of the acromion (B-C), both of which were larger on the right side. CONCLUSIONS: The axillary nerve was situated between 5.47 and 7.06 cm distally to the acromion, and 3.94 cm laterally to the deltopectoral space. There was a statistically significant difference in the comparison between the left and right sides, and both measurements were larger on the right side.

EVALUATION OF SURGICAL TREATMENT OF FRACTURES IN TWO OR THREE PARTS OF THE PROXIMAL HUMERUS WITH THE "PARACHUTE TECHNIQUE".

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the surgical technique called the "parachute technique, as applied to adult patients who suffered displaced and unstable two or three-part fractures of the proximal humerus, through the clinical outcomes. METHODS: Between January 1995 and June 2006, 59 adult patients with displaced and unstable two or three-part fractures underwent operations performed by the Shoulder and Elbow Group of the Orthopedics and Traumatology Service of Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual de São Paulo using the "parachute technique. This method consists of an intramedullary tension band and extramedullary fixation in a figure-of-eight to join the fragments of the fracture, using a 6.5-millimeter spongy screw with partial threading, a washer and two non-absorbable wires, thereby producing stable synthesis with minimal aggression to the surrounding soft tissue and not requiring any subsequent removal of material. The final shape of this synthesis is reminiscent of the shape of an open parachute. The patients had a minimum postoperative follow-up of six months. For the diagnosis, trauma series radiographic views of the shoulder were produced. The fractures were classified in accordance with the system proposed by Neer. We used the scale of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), to evaluate the results. RESULTS: The "parachute technique" produced good results in 47% and excellent results in 26% of the cases, according to the UCLA scores. CONCLUSION: The "parachute technique" is a safe and effective treatment for displaced and unstable two or three-part fractures of the proximal humerus.