Superior labral anterior posterior (SLAP) lesions of the glenoid labrum: reliability and accuracy of MR arthrography for diagnosis.

PURPOSE: To determine the reliability and accuracy of magnetic resonance (MR) arthrography for the diagnosis of superior labral anterior posterior (SLAP) tears. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MR arthrograms in 80 patients who underwent arthroscopy and MR arthrography during a 54-month period were retrospectively reviewed. MR arthrograms were independently scored by three observers for the presence and type of SLAP lesion. Type I SLAP lesions were regarded as negative as they most often are not clinically relevant. Interobserver agreement for detection of SLAP lesions was calculated by using kappa coefficients. The differences in areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were assessed with a univariate z score test. RESULTS: At arthroscopy, there were 25 SLAP tears: type II (n = 22), type III (n = 2), and type IV (n = 1). Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of each reader were 92%, 84%, and 86%; 92%, 82%, and 85%; and 84%, 69%, and 74%, respectively. Interobserver agreement for SLAP tears was substantial (kappa = 0.77) to moderate (kappa = 0.52, kappa = 0.44). The areas under the ROC curves for each reader were 0.94, 0.93, and 0.83, which were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: MR arthrography of the shoulder is reliable and accurate for detection of SLAP tears.

Confidence of graduating family practice residents in their management of musculoskeletal conditions.

A study was undertaken to determine the confidence of graduating family practice residents in the management of musculoskeletal conditions and to determine the level of exposure of graduating family practice residents to fracture care. A 2-page questionnaire consisting of 50 items was sent to 680 graduating family practice residents at 100 randomly selected residency training programs throughout the United States. Family practice residents were questioned about their fracture care experience, including the number of fractures diagnosed, the number of fractures reduced, the number of fractures treated to healing, and the number of casts and splints applied. Residents were also asked about their training experience on an orthopedic surgery service. Residents were asked to rate their confidence on a scale of 1 (least confident) to 10 (most confident) in the physical examination, radiographic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, including physical examination of the knee, lower back, ankle, wrist, cervical spine, shoulder, hand, and foot; radiographic evaluation of the lumbosacral spine, traumatic cervical spine, hand injuries, adult shoulder trauma, osteomyelitis, and pediatric elbow injuries; diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, herniated lumbar disc, knee instability, rotator cuff tear, and shoulder instability; and treatment of ankle sprain, tennis elbow, olecranon bursitis, distal radius fracture (Colles), bimalleolar ankle fracture, hip avascular necrosis, knee dislocation, and pediatric elbow fracture. These results were compared with graduating family practice residents' confidence in the physical examination, radiographic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of a variety of nonmusculoskeletal conditions. Completed questionnaires were returned by 351 graduating family practice residents. The overall fracture care experience of graduating family practice residents was minimal. Seventy-nine percent of graduating residents had reduced 5 or fewer fractures during their entire residency training program. Experience with cast and splint application was also relatively limited. Graduating family practice residents reported an average of 5.1 weeks (range, 0-10 wk) of training experience on an orthopedic surgery service during their residency. Graduating family practice residents were significantly more confident in the physical examination, radiographic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of nonmusculoskeletal conditions than in those of musculoskeletal conditions (P = .0001). Family practice residents who had rotated on an orthopedic service for 8 weeks or more during their training reported significantly higher confidence for all 4 skills-physical examination (P = .003), radiographic evaluation (P = .003), diagnosis (P = .007), and treatment (P = .009). In conclusion, family practice residents show relatively low confidence in the management of musculoskeletal conditions and receive minimal exposure to all aspects of fracture care. Confidence can be improved with greater exposure to the musculoskeletal sciences--such as a rotation of 8 weeks or more on an orthopedic surgery service.

A comparison of patient-controlled analgesia and continuous lumbar plexus block after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is often a painful operation. Fifty-eight patients who underwent ACL reconstruction using patellar tendon autograft received either a lumbar plexus block (LPB) or patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for pain relief during the first 24 h after surgery. The average total dose of narcotic used was dramatically less for the LPB group (10.1 mg) than for the PCA group (91.9 mg). The common narcotic analgesic side effects of nausea, pruritus, sedation, and urinary retention were significantly less in the LPB group. The LPB is a safe and effective alternative analgesia after ACL reconstruction.