Results of decompression and rotator cuff repair in patients 65 years old and older: 6- to 14-year follow-up.

At an average of 9.2 years after surgery, 47 patients with 51 shoulders who had undergone rotator cuff repair and subacromial decompression through an open Rockwood 2-stage acromioplasty-type approach were reviewed. All patients were 65 years or older at the time of their initial index procedure. Results were rated by patient satisfaction, the Constant's score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) Evaluation, and Neer rating. Subjectively, the patients were highly satisfied, with a 94.1 overall satisfaction rate. Objectively, the average Constant's score was 82 when normalized to the opposite shoulder and age. According to the Neer rating scale, there were 20 (39%) excellent, 26 (51%) satisfactory, and 5 (10%) unsatisfactory results. When assessing the ASES Evaluation, the patients who had undergone an extensile deltotrapezial takedown had increased strength in their lateral deltoid as compared with a cohort of individuals who had undergone the VY exposure. There was no statistically significant difference in subjective or objective results. For the most part, open rotator cuff repair and subacromial decompression in older patients has a high level of success with respect to pain relief, independent living, and when desired, reasonable sports participation.

Arterial patterns of the deep and superficial palmar arches.

The vascular patterns of the palmar arches and their interconnecting branches present a complex and challenging area of study. Improvements in microsurgical techniques have made a better understanding of vascular patterns and vessel diameters more important. Forty-five fresh limbs from cadavers were amputated at the level of the midhumerus. Ward's red latex or Batson's compound was injected under pressure to visualize the arterial system in the hand. After hardening of the injected material, the skin, subcutaneous tissues, and tendons were removed. The specimens were digested in concentrated potassium or sodium hydroxide leaving the bony elements and a cast of the arterial system. The superficial palmar arch is most easily classified into two categories: complete or incomplete. An arch is considered to be complete if an anastomosis is found between the vessels constituting it. An incomplete arch has an absence of a communication or anastomosis between the vessels constituting the arch. Complete superficial palmar arches were seen in 84.4% of specimens. In the most common type, the superficial arch was formed by anastomosis between the superficial volar branch of the radial artery and the ulnar artery. This was seen in 35.5% of specimens. In 31.1%, the arch was formed entirely of the ulnar artery. Incomplete superficial arches were seen in 15.5% of specimens. In 11.1%, the ulnar artery forms the superficial arch but does not contribute to the blood supply to the thumb and index finger. The deep palmar arch was found to be less variable with 44.4% formed by an anastomosis between the deep volar branch of the radial artery and the inferior deep branch of the ulnar artery. Injection followed by chemical debridement allows direct visualization and measurement of the arches and the smaller arterial branches that are visualized poorly with other techniques. Based on the vessel measured, vessels of the superficial and deep arches are of sufficient size to allow microvascular repair, although repair of the communicating branches, the dorsal carpal rete, and its branches, probably is not feasible because of their small size.

Reliability evaluation of classifying radial head fractures by the system of Mason.

Inter-observer and intra-observer reliability for classifying radial head fractures by the system of Mason was analyzed. Twenty-three cases of isolated radial head fractures and twenty-five sets of corresponding AP and lateral radiographs representing these fractures were assembled. The cases were reviewed and assessed independently according to the system of Mason by twenty practicing orthopedic surgeons. On two occasions, the inter-observer and intra-observer variation was analyzed by standard unweighted Kappa statistics. In both observations, complete agreement was seen in only 16% of the cases. Kappa statistic values indicated that 69% of the cases at first observation and 45% of the cases at second observation suggest moderate to poor agreement. Intra-observer agreement between the first and second observation was graded fair to poor in 60% of the cases. Individual observer consistency was, on average, only 78% (range 60% to 92%). The demonstrated wide degree of variation suggests that the Mason classification is unreliable.

Factors influencing the outcome of closed tibial fractures treated with functional bracing.

One thousand consecutive closed diaphyseal tibial fractures, treated with prefabricated functional below-knee braces, were analyzed by statistical methods to determine factors predictive of final fracture outcome. Neither the age of the patient nor the location of the fracture influenced the speed of healing. In 95% of the fractures, the final shortening was < or = 12 mm. The mean final shortening was 4.28 mm, compared with mean initial shortening of 4.25 mm. This confirmed the authors' long-held hypothesis, that, in general, for closed, diaphyseal tibial fractures treated with functional bracing and graduated weightbearing ambulation, the final shortening does not increase beyond the initial one. Final angulatory deformity in any plane was < or = 6 degrees in 90% of patients. The presence of an intact fibula was a relative contraindication for functional fracture bracing because angulatory deformity was more likely to develop. The incidence of nonunion was 1.1%. The high union rate and low morbidity associated with functional bracing of closed tibial fractures suggest that the routine use of more expensive surgical treatments is difficult to justify. A clear understanding of the rationale of functional bracing, its indications and contradictions, and its clinical application protocol are essential for the attainment of satisfactory results.

Tibial shaft fractures treated with functional braces. Experience with 780 fractures.

We have reviewed our recent results with functional bracing of tibial shaft fractures in adults in order to define its role in management. We also analysed several parameters of these fractures to discover those which influence healing. A total of 780 tibial fractures treated in prefabricated functional braces were followed to union; shortening of less than 10 mm and angulation of less than 5 degrees in any plane were our parameters for successful treatment. The average time before applying a brace was 3.8 weeks for closed fractures and 5.2 weeks for open ones. Closed fractures healed in an average of 17.4 weeks and open fractures in an average of 21.7 weeks, 90% of them with 10 mm of shortening or less. Varus angulation and posterior angulation were the most common deformities encountered at union. There were 20 nonunions (2.5%) and 46 braces were discontinued during treatment. We found no association between fracture healing and the patient's age, the mechanism of injury or the fracture location. The degree of soft tissue injury appeared to have most influence on the speed of fracture healing. Fracture comminution and initial displacement, the condition of the fibula and the time from injury to bracing also appeared to affect the speed of union.