Does application of abduction brace after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair improve blood flow around posterosuperior rotator cuff and repair site, affecting pain levels and clinical and structural outcomes? A pilot randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: As per some cadaveric studies, blood flow in posterosuperior rotator cuff tendons improves in the abducted shoulder position compared with the neutral position. In a clinical post-rotator cuff repair scenario, the impact of abduction on altered blood flow in and around the posterosuperior rotator cuff tendons is unknown in terms of clinical outcomes and structural healing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 42 eligible patients aged between 40 and 70 years with clinically diagnosed and radiologically confirmed rotator cuff tears undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Patients were randomly allocated to undergo application of either an abduction brace (group 1) or an arm pouch (group 2). On postoperative day 1, power Doppler scanning was performed on the index shoulder in adduction and 30° of abduction in each patient; the allocated treatment (abduction brace or arm pouch) was then applied. Power Doppler scanning was repeated at 6 weeks in the immobilization position assigned to the patient (abduction or adduction). The vascular flow in 6 regions was noted as per the criteria of Fealy et al. A visual analog scale score was assessed preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 56 weeks postoperatively. Clinical assessment was performed with the Constant-Murley score at 1 year, and structural healing of the cuff was assessed using ultrasonography at 3 and 12 months. RESULT: On the first postoperative day, blood flow was significantly higher in all 6 areas of the shoulder in group 1 than in group 2. The mean total vascular score was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 on postoperative day 1 (P = .0001) and remained so at 6 weeks (P = .0001). However, significantly higher vascular flow was noted only in the peribursal region at 6 weeks in group 1 (P = .04). No significant difference in the visual analog scale score was noted between the 2 groups at any given point of follow-up. Furthermore, no clinical and structural healing differences were noted between the 2 groups at final follow-up. CONCLUSION: Higher blood flow in and around the posterosuperior rotator cuff owing to an abducted shoulder position with an abduction brace in the first 6 weeks postoperatively fails to offer any advantage in terms of lower pain levels, better clinical scores, or superior cuff healing.

Comparison of MRI & direct MR arthrography with arthroscopy in diagnosing ligament injuries of wrist.

INTRODUCTION: Ligament injuries around the wrist leading to chronic wrist pain are often a diagnostic dilemma.Various imaging modalities like wrist radiographs, CT and MRI have been used to improve the diagnostic accuracy. The objective of this study was to assess the value of MRI & direct magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) of the wrist for detecting & evaluating tears of the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) & scapholunate & luno triquetral interosseous ligament (LTIL & SLIL) injuries in comparison with arthroscopy of the wrist. MATERIALS & METHODS: All patients presenting with chronic wrist pain of more than 3 months duration with suspected ligament injuries were included. MRI was performed with 8 channel wrist coil on 1.5 T machine. (PHILIPS, Netherlands). MRA was performed after obtaining consent. Retrospective MR findings were then correlated with results in those patients who underwent arthroscopy. Arthroscopic correlation was obtained in 22 (46.8%) cases out of the 45 patients who underwent both MRI & MRA. RESULTS: The gold standard arthroscopic procedure diagnosed 15 peripheral & 6 central TFCC tears in 22 patients. 4 scapholunate ligament tears were also identified. MRI diagnosed 16 peripheral & 5 central TFCC tears in these 22 patients. MRA identified 9 central tears and 14 peripheral tears. The sensitivity in diagnosing an overall TFCC tears with MRI as well as MRA was 94.4 & 100%. The specificity of the MRI and MRA in diagnosing an overall TFCC tear was 100% & 75% respectively. DISCUSSION & CONCLUSIONS: Direct MRA has better sensitivity in detecting TFCC central tears. In view of 'substantial' agreement between MRI & MRA with Kappa analysis, conventional MRI can be relied on, in diagnosing TFCC injury. With comparatively low specificity, caution and restraint is advised in interpreting MRA, which may influence decision on surgery.

A case of bilateral aberrant pectoralis minor insertion with absent coracohumeral ligament: Clinical relevance and controversies.

Aberrant insertions of the pectoralis minor tendon are quite rare. Most cases are incidental findings during cadaver dissections, on an MRI or during surgical procedures of the shoulder joint. Rarely the aberrant insertion points can be a source of pain or restriction of the shoulder joint. From the literature review, we found that there has been no mention regarding the frequency of occurrence of this variation with respect to unilateral or bilateral occurence, and only three cases have been reported, in which aberrant bilateral insertions have been documented of which two were noted during cadaveric dissection and one radiologically. We report a rare case of aberrant bilateral insertions of the pectoralis minor, which was found during an arthroscopic procedure, and we discuss its clinical and surgical implications.

Does application of moderately concentrated platelet-rich plasma improve clinical and structural outcome after arthroscopic repair of medium-sized to large rotator cuff tear? A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has the potential to improve tendon-bone healing. The evidence is still controversial as to whether PRP application after repair of medium-sized to large cuff tears leads to superior structural and clinical outcome, especially after single-row repair. METHODS: In a randomized study, 102 patients (PRP group, 52 patients; control group, 50 patients) with medium-sized and large degenerative posterosuperior tears were included for arthroscopic repair with a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Patients were evaluated with clinical scores (visual analog scale score, Constant-Murley score, University of California-Los Angeles score, and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score) and ultrasound to assess retear and vascularity pattern of the cuff. RESULTS: Visual analog scale scores were significantly lower in the PRP group than in controls at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months but not later. Constant-Murley scores were significantly better in the PRP group compared with controls at 12 and 24 months, whereas University of California-Los Angeles scores were significantly higher in the PRP group at 6 and 12 months (P < .05). The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score in both groups was comparable at all the times. At 24 months, retear in the PRP group (n = 2; 3.8%) was significantly lower than in the control group (n = 10; 20%; P = .01). The retear difference was significant only for large tears (PRP:control group, 1:6; P = .03). Doppler ultrasound examination showed significant vascularity in the PRP group repair site at 3 months postoperatively (P < .05) and in peribursal tissue until 12 months. CONCLUSION: Application of moderately concentrated PRP improves clinical and structural outcome in large cuff tears. PRP also enhances vascularity around the repair site in the early phase.

Does scapular morphology affect the integrity of the rotator cuff?

BACKGROUND: Current evidence suggests that distinct scapular morphologies may predispose patients to a rotator cuff tear. The objective of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the relationship between symptomatic degenerative cuff tears and different radiographic acromial characteristics, including acromion shape, indices (acromial index [AI], critical shoulder angle [CSA]), and acromial spur. METHODS: We divided 166 patients into 3 groups matched for age and sex: group 1, degenerative full-thickness tear; group 2, partial thickness bursal tear; and group 3, normal cuff. Patients were evaluated with standard radiographs and ultrasonography. RESULTS: The presence of an acromial spur was strongly associated with a full-thickness cuff tear (odds ratio, 3.5; P = .001). AI and CSA revealed a statistically significant difference between means of group 1 (P = .006) and group 3 (P < .001). There was no statistically significant difference in means of AI between groups 1 and 2 (P = .695) and between groups 2 and 3, with respect to AI (P = .071) and CSA (P = .125). Receiver operating characteristic curve revealed a higher area for CSA (0.70) than for AI (0.61). Stepwise logistic regression rejected AI as a cuff tear predictor but confirmed CSA and a spur to be stronger predictors of a full-thickness cuff tear. There was no association between the Bigliani acromial type and rotator cuff tear (P = .06). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of an acromion spur is strongly associated with full-thickness cuff tear. Higher AI and CSA are associated with a full-thickness tear but not with partial tears. The type of acromion is not related to cuff tear.

Morel-Lavallee Lesion (MLL) Mimicking A Soft Tissue Neoplasm.

Morel-lavallee lesion (MLL) represents post traumatic subcutaneous cyst generally overlying bony prominences like greater trochanter, lower back, knee and scapula. A 51-year-old man presented with a swelling in left thigh since six years which was insidious in onset, gradually progressive in size and not associated with pain, fever or discharge. There was no history of trauma or any associated constitutional symptoms. Since there was no history of trauma recalled by the patient the clinical dilemma was between soft tissue sarcoma and cold abscess. We report a case of slow growing painless mass lesion of thigh, diagnosed on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as morel lavallee lesion and describe its salient imaging features with treatment options.

Angiomyoma presenting as a painful subcutaneous mass: a diagnostic challenge.

Angiomyoma of the extremity is a notoriously elusive preoperative diagnosis, as the list of differentials for its described classic clinical features of a painful mobile subcutaneous mass is quite vast. Imaging features described for angiomyomas are far from being specific. On ultrasound, angiomyomas are mostly described as a well-defined solid mass lesion showing robust internal vascularity. On T2-weighted MRI they have been described as homogenous to heterogeneously hyperintense relative to skeletal muscle. We report a pathologically proven angiomyoma around the knee joint in a middle aged man, describe its clinical and imaging features, and outlay an approach in diagnosing this rare entity as a differential for painful subcutaneous mass lesions.

Expanding the phenotype associated with 17q12 duplication: case report and review of the literature.

The routine use of molecular karyotyping in the evaluation of patients with idiopathic developmental delay with/without dysmorphic features, has led to the delineation of several submicroscopic deletion/duplication syndromes. De novo copy number variations are often presumed to be pathogenic and inherited ones from a healthy parent likely to be not relevant for the phenotype. However, it is difficult to draw such a conclusion for an inherited copy number variation not known to be a common variation. We report on a child with developmental delay, seizures, microcephaly, hypotonia, unusual stereotypical movements, and changes in the white matter who inherited a 17q12 tandem duplication of ~1.4 Mb from his healthy father. Copy number variations in this chromosomal region are thought to be pathogenic and associated with various phenotypes including developmental delay, growth retardation, seizures, renal disease, and diabetes mellitus. We review all reported cases with 17q12 duplication and discuss the novelty of the phenotype in the present case. We also share our thoughts on submicroscopic complexity that may underlie, at least in part, the wide range of phenotypes in patients with 17q12 duplication.