Does an Injection of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Loaded in Fibrin Glue Influence Rotator Cuff Repair Outcomes? A Clinical and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

BACKGROUND: The mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based tissue engineering approach has been developed to improve the treatment of rotator cuff tears. Hypothesis/Purpose: The purpose was to determine the effect of an injection of adipose-derived MSCs loaded in fibrin glue during arthroscopic rotator cuff repair on clinical outcomes and to evaluate its effect on structural integrity using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The hypothesis was that the application of adipose-derived MSCs would improve outcomes after the surgical repair of a rotator cuff tear. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: Among 182 patients treated with arthroscopic surgery for a rotator cuff tear, 35 patients treated with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair alone (conventional group) were matched with 35 patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with an injection of adipose-derived MSCs loaded in fibrin glue (injection group) based on sex, age, and lesion size. Outcomes were assessed with respect to the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, range of motion (ROM) (including forward flexion, external rotation at the side, and internal rotation at the back), and functional measures of the Constant score and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder rating scale. Repaired tendon structural integrity was assessed by using MRI at a minimum of 12 months after surgery, and the mean clinical follow-up was 28.8 ± 4.2 months in the conventional group and 28.3 ± 3.8 months in the injection group. RESULTS: The mean VAS score at rest and during motion improved significantly in both groups after surgery. However, there were no significant differences between the groups at the final follow-up ( P = .256 and .776, respectively). Compared with preoperative measurements, forward flexion and external rotation at the side significantly improved at the final follow-up in both groups (all P < .05). However, no significant improvements in internal rotation at the back were observed in either group ( P = .625 and .834 for the conventional and injection groups, respectively). There were also no significant differences between the groups at the final follow-up for any of the 3 ROM positions (all P > .05). The mean Constant score and UCLA score improved significantly in both groups after surgery, but there were no significant differences between the groups at the final follow-up ( P = .634 and .302, respectively). MRI indicated a retear rate of 28.5% in the conventional group and 14.3% in the injection group ( P < .001). CONCLUSION: This study revealed that an injection of adipose-derived MSCs loaded in fibrin glue during rotator cuff repair could significantly improve structural outcomes in terms of the retear rate. There were, however, no clinical differences in the 28-month period of follow-up. Although still in the early stages of application, MSC augmentation of surgical rotator cuff repair appears useful for providing an adequate biological environment around the repair site.

Iatrogenic suprascapular nerve injury after repair of type II SLAP lesion.

Suprascapular neuropathy after an arthroscopic repair of a SLAP lesion is theoretically possible, but it has been rarely reported. We present a case of suprascapular nerve injury at the spinoglenoid notch as a complication of an improperly inserted suture anchor after repair of a type II SLAP lesion. The diagnosis was confirmed by the magnetic resonance imaging findings and an electrodiagnostic study, and direct compression of the nerve was visualized under repeat arthroscopy. An anatomic study of the superior glenoid shows that the available bone stock of the superior glenoid rim for the anchor insertion is found to decrease posteriorly. During the repair of a SLAP lesion, surgeons should consider the possibility of an iatrogenic injury to the suprascapular nerve by an improperly inserted suture anchor.

Arthroscopic suprascapular nerve decompression at the suprascapular notch.

Release of a transverse scapular ligament (TSL) is indicated for the entrapment of the suprascapular nerve (SSN). Previous arthroscopic techniques use step-wise reference landmarks leading to the notch to identify a TSL, and the key landmarks are the conoid ligament of the coracoclavicular ligament and the coracoid. This technique needs considerable amount of fibro-fatty tissue removal, which is time-consuming procedure. The technique described herein uses the superior border of scapula as a key landmark. A lateral portal is used as a viewing portal, and an anterolateral portal, SSN portal, and accessory portal are required for the working portals. To identify the superior border of the scapula, dissection proceeds along the anterior border of the supraspinatus and advances medially into the supraspinatus fossa. Then, the TSL could be identified by palpating laterally along the superior border of scapula as a dimpling portion.

Medial opening wedge high-tibial osteotomy using a kinematic navigation system versus a conventional method: a 1-year retrospective, comparative study.

High tibial osteotomy is a realignment procedure to transfer weight-bearing load to the intact compartment of the knee to alleviate symptoms, slow disease progression, and defer subsequent total knee arthroplasty. To prevent overcorrection or undercorrection, it is not only important to have an exact preoperative calculation of the desired correction angle, but it is also critical to have an accurate intraoperative technique. 85 consecutive patients (90 knees) were enrolled, who were available at 1-year follow-up after a medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy using a kinematic navigation system or a conventional method, for medial unicompartmental osteoarthritis. On radiographic assessment, the navigation group showed better results than the conventional group in both the mechanical axis and the coordinate of the weight-bearing line on a full-length standing anteroposterior radiograph (3.9 degrees +/- 1.0 degrees vs. 2.7 degrees +/- 2.2 degrees of valgus, P < 0.01), (62.3 +/- 2.9% vs. 58.7 +/- 6.6% coordinate at the tibial plateau, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the alteration of tibial slope between the two groups. On clinical assessment, the navigation group showed better results in both the mean Hospital for Special Surgery knee score (84 +/- 8 vs. 79 +/- 7, P < 0.01) and the mean Lysholm knee score (85 +/- 6 vs. 83 +/- 5, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in operation times between the two groups. Kinematic navigation-guided high tibial osteotomy is a reproducible and reliable procedure compared to conventional high tibial osteotomy.