Arthroscopic margin convergence of large-sized rotator cuff tears does not lead to better clinical outcome compared with conventional repair.

Background: The margin convergence (MC) technique is used to repair longitudinal-type tears as direct repair of the apex of the longitudinal-type tear from medial to lateral is challenging. Few studies have compared the postoperative clinical outcomes and retear rates of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) using the MC technique with those of conventional ARCR without using the MC technique. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the efficacy of MC on the clinical outcome and retear rates of patients with large-sized rotator cuff tears. It was hypothesized that ARCR using the MC technique would yield clinical outcome and retear rates similar to those of ARCR without using the MC technique. Methods: The medical records of consecutive patients who underwent ARCR for large-sized rotator cuff tears were retrospectively evaluated. Forty-four and 35 shoulders were repaired using MC (MC group) and not using MC (non-MC group), respectively. The range of motion (ROM) and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score were assessed preoperatively and after a minimum follow-up period of 12 months postoperatively. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed at least 3 months postoperatively to determine whether the tendons had healed. Results: The average postoperative follow-up duration was 26.6 months and 24.3 months in the MC and non-MC groups, respectively. The mean ROM and JOA score improved significantly in both groups postoperatively; however, the postoperative range of external rotation and the total JOA score was significantly lower in the MC group. The overall retear rate did not differ significantly between the MC (13/44, 29.5%) and non-MC (7/35, 20.0%) groups, respectively (P = .332). No significant differences were observed between the cases with retears in the 2 groups in terms of the postoperative ROM and the total JOA score. In contrast, the postoperative range of external rotation and the total JOA score of the patients with healed tendons in the MC group were significantly poorer than those of the patients with healed tendons in the non-MC group. Conclusion: ARCR using MC of large-sized longitudinal-type tears does not lead to better postoperative range of external rotation and clinical outcome compared with those of conventional repair.

Application of indocyanine green fluorescence angiography in evaluating blood flow in rotator cuff tears: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between the degree of vascularization at the edge of a torn rotator cuff tendon and cuff healing remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to employ indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence angiography to evaluate the blood flow at the edge of a torn rotator cuff tendon under the subacromial view. METHODS: Thirteen shoulders of 13 patients who underwent arthroscopic repair of full-thickness rotator cuff tears were included in this prospective study. Viewing from the posterolateral portal, ICG at 0.2 mg/kg body weight was intravenously administered, and the blood flow was recorded. After resecting the poorly vascularized torn edge of the tendon, ICG administration was repeated at the same volume. The fluorescence intensity and perfusion time of the tendon blood flow were evaluated using video analysis and modeling tools. Cuff integrity was evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging at 6 months postoperatively. Patients were divided into healed and retear groups, and the differences in the degree of blood flow were evaluated. RESULTS: ICG fluorescence angiography could visualize the blood flow in the rotator cuff tendon, and the torn edge of the tendon with poor blood flow was resected. The overall retear rate was 23.1 % (3/13). Based on quantitative analysis, the fluorescence intensity factors were significantly lower in the retear group than in the healed group before tendon débridement. The retear rate in the high blood flow group was 0% (0/7), while that in the low blood flow group was 50.0% (3/6). CONCLUSIONS: ICG fluorescence angiography may play a role in the future of shoulder arthroscopy. Further study is needed to determine the effect of blood flow on tendon healing.

Radiologic foot alignment and clinical outcome after percutaneous drilling for symptomatic accessory navicular in skeletally immature children.

Various surgical treatments are available for a symptomatic AN, including percutaneous drilling (PD). PD is reportedly effective for ANs in skeletally immature children. However, no reports have described the foot alignment after PD in skeletally immature children. This study was performed to compare the radiographic parameters between the preoperative period and the final follow-up after PD for symptomatic ANs in skeletally immature children. From October 2013 to December 2020, PD was performed on 13 feet in 10 skeletally immature children. The patients comprised 5 boys and 5 girls with a mean age at surgery of 11.9 years. The mean follow-up period was 14.8 months. We measured 5 radiographic findings preoperatively and at the final follow-up: calcaneal pitch angle (CPA), talocalcaneal angle (TCA), talonavicular coverage angle (TNCA), anteroposterior talo-first metatarsal angle (ATMA), and lateral talo-first metatarsal angle (LTMA). Ten feet were assessed as excellent, 1 as fair, and 2 as poor. Ten unions (76.9%) were achieved among the 13 feet. The mean CPA improved from 16.4 ±â€…4.1 degrees preoperatively to 18.2 ±â€…3.4 degrees at the final follow-up, the TCA improved from 43.0 ±â€…3.7 to 45.2 ±â€…4.4 degrees, and the TNCA improved from 19.9 ±â€…4.4 to 15.4 ±â€…5.0 degrees (P < .05). The ATMA and LTMA were not significantly different between the preoperative period and final follow-up. We found that PD for symptomatic ANs in skeletally immature children was effective treatment, and some radiographic parameters showed significant differences between the preoperative period and final follow-up.

Bone formation of the coracoid bone graft after the Bristow procedure assessed using three-dimensional computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: The Bristow procedure has been shown to be a reliable method to prevent recurrent anterior shoulder instability by compensating for glenoid bone loss and producing the sling effect. The degree of postoperative morphological change in the coracoid bone graft is speculated to influence glenohumeral joint stability; however, the details of these changes after the Bristow procedure remain unknown. This study was performed to quantify the postoperative change in the coracoid bone graft volume as assessed by three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT). METHODS: The Bristow procedure was performed on 17 shoulders in 17 patients from August 2018 to January 2020. All patients were men, and their mean age at surgery was 17.9 years. The mean follow-up duration was 21.4 months. Within the first week after the operation (Time 0) and at the final follow-up, 3D-CT was used to determine the total coracoid bone graft volume. The clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) shoulder score, the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder score, and the Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI). RESULTS: The mean volume of the total coracoid bone graft was 1.26 ± 0.29 cm3 at Time 0 and 1.90 ± 0.36 cm3 at the final follow-up (p < 0.0001). The mean JOA score, UCLA score, and WOSI were significantly better at the final follow-up than preoperatively (p < 0.001). No postoperative infection, neurovascular injury, or recurrent instability of the glenohumeral joint occurred. CONCLUSIONS: In the Bristow procedure, the volume of the total coracoid bone graft as shown by 3D-CT was significantly greater at the final follow-up than at Time 0, and bone formation of the coracoid bone graft was found after the Bristow procedure.

Efficacy of bone marrow stimulation for arthroscopic knotless suture bridge rotator cuff repair: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of bone marrow stimulation (BMS) on the repair integrity of the rotator cuff insertion treated with arthroscopic knotless suture bridge (K-SB) rotator cuff repair. We hypothesized that BMS during K-SB repair can improve the healing of the rotator cuff insertion. METHODS: Sixty patients who underwent arthroscopic K-SB repair of full-thickness rotator cuff tears were randomly allocated to 2 treatment groups. Patients in the BMS group underwent K-SB repair augmented with BMS at the footprint. Patients in the control group underwent K-SB repair without BMS. Cuff integrity and retear patterns were evaluated by postoperative magnetic resonance imaging. The clinical outcomes included the Japanese Orthopaedic Association score, University of California at Los Angeles score, Constant-Murley score, and Simple Shoulder Test. RESULTS: Clinical and radiological evaluations were completed in 60 patients at 6 months postoperatively, in 58 patients at 1 year postoperatively, and in 50 patients at 2 years postoperatively. Both treatment groups showed significant improvements in the clinical outcome from baseline to the 2-year follow-up, but no significant differences were found between the 2 groups. At 6 months postoperatively, the retear rate at the tendon insertion was 0.0% (0 of 30) in the BMS group and 3.3% (1 of 30) in the control group (P = .313). The retear rate at the musculotendinous junction was 26.7% (8 of 30) in the BMS group and 13.3% (4 of 30) in the control group (P = .197). All retears in the BMS group occurred at the musculotendinous junction, and the tendon insertion was preserved. There was no significant difference in the overall retear rate or retear patterns between the 2 treatment groups during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences were detected in the structural integrity or retear patterns regardless of the use of BMS. The efficacy of BMS for arthroscopic K-SB rotator cuff repair was not proven in this randomized controlled trial.

Real-World Evidence for Risk Factors of Bruises and Fractures from Falls in Patients with Overactive Bladder: A Medical Record Analysis.

Aim: To identify the risk factors for bruises and fractures from falls in patients with overactive bladder (OAB). Methods: We evaluated 1136 patients with OAB and aged ≥50 years who visited our hospital. Age, sex, frequency of nocturnal urination, and urinary incontinence type were investigated in the 360 eligible patients. Patients were divided into three groups: those patients without falls (no-fall group), those with fall bruises (bruise group), and those with fall fractures (fracture group). The risk factors for bruises and fractures in patients with OAB were evaluated using the logistic regression analysis. In addition, association between the bruises or fractures from falls and the behavior around urination during the night was investigated. Results: The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that female sex (odds ratio (OR) 2.888, p = 0.030) and nocturnal urination frequency ≥3 times/night (OR vs. ≤2 times/night, 2.940; p = 0.040) were significantly associated with bruises. Nocturnal urination frequency ≥3 times/night (OR vs. ≤2 times/night, 2.835; p = 0.026) and urge incontinence (OR 3.415, p = 0.016) were significantly associated with fractures. Behavior around urination during the night was significantly associated with fractures (p = 0.009). Conclusion: In the real-world clinical setting, increasing nocturnal urination frequency is a common risk factor for bruises and fractures. Also, female sex and urge incontinence were the risk factors for bruises and fractures, respectively. OAB patients with urge incontinence would especially require aggressive intervention to prevent fractures during night-time voiding.

Excessively High Repair Tension Decreases Microvascular Blood Flow Within the Rotator Cuff.

BACKGROUND: Repair tension and microvascular blood flow within the rotator cuff has a critical impact on tendon healing after rotator cuff repair. However, the relationship between repair tension and microvascular blood flow within the rotator cuff remains unclear. PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this study was to determine how much tension adversely affects microvascular blood flow within the rotator cuff. The hypothesis was that as the repair tension increases, the microvascular blood flow within the rotator cuff decreases. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: Repair tension and microvascular blood flow within the rotator cuff of 30 patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears were simultaneously measured using a digital tension meter and a contact-type laser Doppler flowmeter, respectively. Microvascular blood flow was measured under 4 levels of tension (0, 10, 20, and 30 N) at 5 points on the rotator cuff. The obtained values were statistically analyzed by a linear mixed-effects model to clarify the effect of tension on microvascular blood flow within the rotator cuff. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in microvascular blood flow (mL/min/100 g) within the rotator cuff between 0 N (mean, 3.51; 95% CI, 3.0-4.0) and 10 N (mean, 3.74; 95% CI, 3.2-4.3) of tension (P = .716). However, there were statistically significant differences in microvascular blood flow within the rotator cuff between 0 and 20 N of tension (mean, 2.84; 95% CI, 2.3-3.4) (P = .002) and between 0 and 30 N of tension (mean, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.9-3.0) (P < .001). CONCLUSION/CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our findings indicate that tension of ≥10 N during rotator cuff repair significantly decreases the microvascular blood flow within the rotator cuff. These data will contribute to determining the optimal repair tension during rotator cuff repair.

Alteration of coracoacromial ligament thickness at the acromial undersurface in patients with rotator cuff tears.

Background: Some researchers have stated that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is useful for assessing the coracoacromial ligament (CAL) at the acromial undersurface. However, few studies have investigated the reliability and clinical significance of MRI findings for the CAL at the acromial undersurface. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between CAL thickness at the acromial undersurface and rotator cuff tear size. Methods: The CAL thickness at the acromial undersurface was evaluated in 182 patients with rotator cuff tears (mean age: 64.9 ± 8.4 years) using a 3.0-Tesla MRI system. The association between CAL thickness at the acromial undersurface and rotator cuff tear size determined by the DeOrio and Cofield classification (partial; small: <1 cm; medium: 1-3 cm; and large or massive: >3 cm) was analyzed statistically. The intraobserver and interobserver reliabilities for MRI measurements of CAL thickness at the acromial undersurface were determined by calculation of intraclass correlation coefficients and their 95% confidence intervals. Results: The mean CAL thickness at the acromial undersurface was 2.7 ± 1.4 mm (range: 0-6.5 mm). Increasing rotator cuff tear size was significantly associated with decreasing CAL thickness at the acromial undersurface (P = .004). The intraobserver and interobserver intraclass correlation coefficients for CAL thickness at the acromial undersurface were almost perfect (0.98 and 0.91, respectively). Conclusion: The present study clarified that (1) MRI was a reliable tool for evaluation of CAL thickness at the acromial undersurface and (2) increasing rotator cuff tear size was significantly associated with decreasing CAL thickness at the acromial undersurface. These findings may assist toward understanding the progressive pathology in rotator cuff disease.

Are there differences in arthroscopic and histological features between traumatic and degenerative rotator cuff tears in elderly patients? A prospective dual-center analysis.

BACKGROUND: Discriminating traumatic rotator cuff tears (RCTs) from degenerative RCTs is sometimes difficult in elderly patients because the prevalence of asymptomatic RCTs increases with age. Little intraoperative information is available on the characteristics of traumatic and degenerative RCTs in elderly patients. The purpose of this study was to compare the arthroscopic findings and histological changes of the coracoacromial ligament (CAL) between traumatic and degenerative RCTs in elderly patients. METHODS: Forty-two shoulders of 42 patients aged ≥ 65 years underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Nineteen patients had traumatic full-thickness RCTs (Group T), and 23 had degenerative full-thickness RCTs (Group D). The quality of the rotator cuff tissue and the condition of the long head of the biceps were examined. The grade of CAL was evaluated both arthroscopically and histologically. The stiffness of the musculotendinous unit was calculated by measuring the force and displacement using a tensiometer. The arthroscopic and histological findings of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: Although the mean tendon displacement was comparable, the stiffness was different between Group T and Group D (0.56 ± 0.31 and 1.09 ± 0.67 N/mm, respectively; p < 0.001). Both arthroscopic and histological analysis of the CAL showed that the degenerative changes in the CAL were milder in Group T than in Group D (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). There was a moderate positive correlation between the arthroscopic findings of CAL degeneration and the histopathological changes in this ligament (r = 0.47, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Traumatic RCTs were characterized by preserved elasticity of the musculotendinous unit and milder CAL degeneration compared with degenerative RCTs even in elderly patients.

Retrograde Drilling for Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus in Skeletally Immature Children.

BACKGROUND: Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) involve damage to the cartilage and subchondral bone and are infrequent in children. Clinicians usually attempt nonsurgical treatment of OLTs first, and subsequently progress to surgical treatments, including retrograde drilling (RD), if the initial outcomes are insufficient. Good clinical outcomes of RD have been reported. However, the clinical outcomes of RD in skeletally immature children remain unclear, and the associated preoperative and postoperative computed tomography (CT) findings have not been reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes and CT findings and clarify the efficacy of RD for OLTs. METHODS: From January 2015 to April 2018, RD was performed on 8 ankles in 6 skeletally immature children. The patients comprised 4 boys and 2 girls with a mean age at surgery of 11.1 years. The mean follow-up was 22.8 months. The clinical outcomes were evaluated according to the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Foot (JSSF) scale. Preoperative and final follow-up CT findings were used to determine the degree of healing. RESULTS: The mean JSSF scale in all ankles improved from 79.4 (range, 69-90) points preoperatively to 98.4 (range, 87-100) points at final follow-up (P < .05). In the preoperative CT findings, 3 ankles had no bone fragmentation, 4 had partial bone fragmentation, and 1 had whole fragmentation. In the final follow-up CT findings, 4 ankles demonstrated good healing, 3 were fair, and 1 was poor. CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that RD is an effective surgical treatment for OLTs in skeletally immature children. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, retrospective case series.

Predictors of safety margin for coracoid transfer: a cadaveric morphometric analysis.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the bone length available for coracoid transfer without coracoclavicular ligament injury and the distance from the coracoid tip to the attachments of the coracoacromial ligament or pectoralis minor. We hypothesized that cadaver height and the soft tissue attachments on the coracoid process were predictive factors for sufficient bone length for coracoid transfer. METHODS: This study included 28 shoulders from Japanese cadavers: 19 male and 9 female. The distance from the coracoid tip to the distal attachment of the coracoclavicular ligament and the anterior and posterior margins of the coracoacromial ligament or pectoralis minor on the coracoid process were measured. RESULTS: The mean available length for coracoid transfer was 24.8 ± 3.4 mm. There was a significant difference in length between male and female subjects, being 26.0 ± 2.9 mm and 22.2 ± 3.0 mm, respectively (p = 0.004). High positive correlations were found between the length of the coracoid transfer and cadaver's height (r = 0.48, p = 0.009) and the distance from the coracoid tip to the anterior coracoacromial ligament attachment (r = 0.63, p < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic curve area under the curve for cadaver height was 0.72 while that for distance from coracoid tip to anterior coracoacromial ligament was 0.88 when predicted for a sufficient length for coracoid transfer > 25 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings will aid surgeons in preoperative planning and performing of osteotomy of the coracoid safely by predicting the available length of coracoid bone graft.

Anatomical study of the position and orientation of the coracoclavicular ligaments: Differences in bone tunnel position by gender.

BACKGROUND: Reconstructing both coracoclavicular ligaments following acromioclavicular dislocation has recently been reported to restore the function of the acromioclavicular joint better than traditional procedures. Knowing the appropriate position and orientation of the bone tunnels and the potential risks of neurovascular injuries leads to safe reconstruction. We aimed to answer the following questions: what is the difference in the accurate clavicular bone tunnel positions (BTPs) during coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction between sex, and what are the potential risks for neurovascular injuries? HYPOTHESIS: The BTPs differ by sex at the site of coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We introduced two Kirschner wires into 25 cadaver shoulders (17 male, 8 female), one through the insertion center of the trapezoid ligament and one through the conoid ligament, and measured the distance from the respective Kirschner wire insertion points to the bony landmarks of the clavicle and the oblique angle of each Kirschner wire. The shortest distance from the insertion point of each Kirschner wire to the suprascapular nerve and artery was also measured. RESULTS: While the distance from the acromioclavicular joint to the respective Kirschner wire insertion points tended to be longer in males, the ratio of these insertion points to total clavicle length was constant. Other measurements for respective Kirschner wire insertions to the bony landmarks and neurovascular structures were comparable, as were abduction and retroversion angles. The distance from the suprascapular nerve to the insertion point of the conoid ligament at the coracoid process was 13.8±4.0mm, while the distance from the suprascapular artery was 7.1±3.3mm. DISCUSSION: Appropriate position and orientation of the bone tunnels, and the ratio of the BTPs to the total clavicular length, aid surgeons in performing the reconstruction. The conoid ligament insertion on the coracoid was just proximal to the suprascapular artery, so surgeons should be careful with conoid insertion. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: V, cadaver study.

A comparative study of surgical invasion in arthroscopic and open rotator cuff repair.

SUMMARY: This study investigated the degrees of surgical invasion for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and open rotator cuff repair by evaluating the serum levels of C-reactive protein, hemoglobin, and interleukin-6. The study participants were 17 patients (group A) who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and 15 patients (group O) who underwent open rotator cuff repair by the same surgeon. The difference in the size of the rotator cuff tear between the 2 groups was not significant (P > .05). No significant differences were recorded in the postoperative serum levels of C-reactive protein and hemoglobin between the 2 groups (P > .05). The mean postoperative serum level of interleukin-6 was significantly lower in group A than in group O (P < .01). Our findings indicate that arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is less invasive than open rotator cuff repair.

Pressure between the humeral head and the subscapularis tendon after the modified Boytchev procedure.

The pressure between the humeral head and the subscapularis tendon was determined in 32 patients who had recurrent anterior shoulder dislocations. These patients' pressures were measured during a modified Boytchev procedure both before and after transposition of the conjoined tendon, and they were remeasured at the time of screw removal, performed at a mean of 13 months after the initial surgery. The mean clinical follow-up period was 31 months. A micro-tip catheter transducer was inserted into the glenohumeral joint between the humeral head and the subscapularis tendon. Pressures were measured at particular degrees of motion for two positions: passive external rotation of the arm at the side at 0 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, and 60 degrees and passive external rotation at the 90 degrees abducted position at 0 degrees, 30 degrees, 60 degrees, and 90 degrees. The pressures were statistically significantly higher after the conjoined tendon transfer at all measured degrees of motion in the two positions. The pressures at the time of screw removal were not statistically significantly different from those seen after the tendon transfer during external rotation at 90 degrees of abduction. The modified Boytchev procedure increases the pressure between the humeral head and the subscapularis tendon. We suspect that this increased pressure increases proprioceptive stimuli in the subscapularis tendon and thus accelerates the protective reflex needed to prevent shoulder dislocation.