Satisfaction, function and repair integrity after arthroscopic versus mini-open rotator cuff repair.

AIMS: Advances in arthroscopic techniques for rotator cuff repair have made the mini-open approach less popular. However, the mini-open approach remains an important technique for repair for many surgeons. The aims of this study were to compare the integrity of the repair, the function of the shoulder and satisfaction post-operatively using these two techniques in patients aged > 50 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We identified 22 patients treated with mini-open and 128 patients treated with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair of July 2007 and June 2011. The mean follow-up was two years (1 to 5). Outcome was assessed using the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) and Simple Shoulder Test (SST) scores, and satisfaction. The integrity of the repair was assessed using ultrasonography. A power analysis ensured sufficient enrolment. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the age, function, satisfaction, or pain scores (p > 0.05) of the two groups. The integrity of the repair and the mean SST scores were significantly better in the mini-open group (91% of mini-open repairs were intact versus 60% of arthroscopic repairs, p = 0.023; mean SST score 10.9 (standard deviation (sd) 1.3) in the mini-open group; 8.9 (sd 3.5) in arthroscopic group; p = 0.003). The ASES scores were also higher in the mini-open group (mean ASES score 91.0 (sd 10.5) in mini-open group; mean 82.70 (sd 19.8) in the arthroscopic group; p = 0.048). CONCLUSION: The integrity of the repair and function of the shoulder were better after a mini-open repair than after arthroscopic repair of a rotator cuff tear in these patients. The functional difference did not translate into a difference in satisfaction. Mini-open rotator cuff repair remains a useful technique despite advances in arthroscopy. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:245-9.

Quantitation of in situ contact areas at the glenohumeral joint: a biomechanical study.

Glenohumeral arthritis may result from abnormal articular mechanics, and shoulder reconstructive procedures often rely implicitly on the belief that the restoration of normal articular mechanics is required to obtain satisfactory clinical results. Despite this, limited knowledge of normal or pathologic glenohumeral joint articular mechanics and contact is available. This study uses a stereophotogrammetry technique to determine contact areas in normal cadaver glenohumeral joints with intact ligaments and capsule through a large range of motion using simulated forces of the four rotator cuff muscles and three deltoid heads. All shoulders were first elevated to their maximum elevation in the scapular plane at an external rotation (starting rotation = 40 +/- 8 degrees), which allowed each shoulder to attain its maximal elevation in the scapular plane, and then repeated at 20 degrees internal to this rotation. Contact areas consistently increased with increasing elevation until 120 degrees to an average of 5.07 cm2 before decreasing with further increased elevation to an average of 2.59 cm2 at 180 degrees of total arm elevation. At 20 degrees internal to the starting rotation, contact areas reached high values 60 degrees earlier (averaged 4.56 cm2 at 60 degrees of total arm elevation) and then remained fairly constant through 120 degrees before decreasing with further increased elevation to 2.51 cm2 at 180 degrees total arm elevation. With increasing elevation in the external starting rotation, humeral head contact dramatically migrates from an inferior region to a superocentral-posterior region while glenoid contact shifts posteriorly. When the humeral shaft is positioned 20 degrees internal to the starting rotation, humeral head contact shifts from inferocentral-anterior to superocentral-posterior regions. Simultaneously, a similar posterior shift in glenoid contact is observed. Furthermore, whereas only a small portion of the humeral head surface area is in contact in any given position, contact on the glenoid surface is much more uniformly distributed over its entire articulating surface.

Tensile properties of the inferior glenohumeral ligament.

The tensile properties of the inferior glenohumeral ligament have been determined in 16 freshly frozen cadaver shoulders. The inferior glenohumeral ligament was divided into three anatomical regions: a superior band, an anterior axillary pouch, and a posterior axillary pouch. This yielded 48 bone-ligament-bone specimens, which were tested to failure in uniaxial tension. The superior band was consistently the thickest region, averaging 2.79 mm. The thickness of the inferior glenohumeral ligament decreased from antero-superiorly to postero-inferiorly. The resting length of all three anatomical regions was not statistically different. Total specimen strain to failure for all bone-ligament-bone specimens averaged 27%. Variations occurred between the three regions, with the anterior pouch specimens failing at a higher strain (34%) than those from the superior band (24%) or the posterior pouch (23%). Strain to failure for the ligament midsubstance (11%) was found to be significantly less than that for the entire specimen (27%). Thus, larger strain must occur near the insertion sites of the inferior glenohumeral ligament. Stress at failure was found to be nearly identical for the three regions of the ligament, averaging 5.5 MPa. These values are lower than those reported for other soft tissues, such as the anterior cruciate ligament and patellar tendon. The anterior pouch was found to be less stiff than the other two regions, perhaps suggesting that it is composed of more highly crimped collagen fibers. Three failure sites were seen for the inferior glenohumeral ligament: the glenoid insertion (40%), the ligament substance (35%), and the humeral insertion (25%). In addition, significant capsular stretching occurred before failure, regardless of the failure mode.

Shoulder pain in tennis players.

Shoulder pain is a common complaint amongst tennis players. The anatomy of the shoulder girdle is complex and defining the exact pathology that accounts for shoulder pain in tennis players can be difficult. Impingement syndrome and glenohumeral instability are the 2 most common causes of shoulder pain in tennis players. Tennis players with impingement syndrome typically present with pain, especially during overhead strokes and serves. The impingement test helps to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment focuses on restoring any motion and strength deficits and anterior acromioplasty with repair of rotator cuff tears for patients who do not respond to nonoperative care. Tennis players with instability present with pain and a sensation of shoulder 'slipping'. Treatment emphasises rotator cuff and scapular muscle strengthening and surgical stabilisation of the capsulo-labral complex for patients who fail a rehabilitation programme. Prevention of injury in tennis players depends on maintaining flexibility, strength and synchrony among the glenohumeral and scapular muscles.

Treatment of trapezius paralysis.

Trapezius paralysis is a painful, disabling problem. Eighteen patients with trapezius paralysis were evaluated and initially treated conservatively. Nine patients had had a misdiagnosis prior to evaluation and only one patient was successfully treated conservatively. Ten patients underwent operative reconstruction, consisting of transfer of the levator scapulae and rhomboid muscles. Seven patients were followed for more than two years, and they had five excellent results, one satisfactory result, and one unsatisfactory result. All patients had improved function and correction of deformity, and six patients had good pain relief.

Late hematogenous infection of total joint replacement.

Late deep wound infection secondary to hematogenous spread of bacteria from a distant focus is an infrequent but devastating complication of total joint replacement. Nine patients (ten implants) with documented late hematogenous infection are reported, all of whom demonstrated several characteristic features. The initial operation was free of clinical evidence of infection and a long asymptomatic interval ensued, followed by a definite febrile illness and acute joint pain. The source of the infection often was not recognized until late and prophylactic antibiotics were not given when it was identified. Seven of the ten implants had to be removed. The primary responsibility for the prevention of this devastating complication lies with the surgeon, who must inform each patient of the risk of late hematogenous seeding from infection elsewhere in the body. It is also important to pay special attention to patients who are at particularly high risk, such as those with rheumatoid arthritis or other systemic diseases. A knowledge of the bacterial flora of the various areas of the human body is essential in choosing the appropriate prophylactic antibiotic.

Operative treatment of failed repairs of the rotator cuff.

Thirty-one patients had a repeat repair after a failure of a previously performed repair of the rotator cuff, and the causes of the original failure and the results of the repeat repair were analyzed. The clinical situation was complex, with multiple factors contributing to the failures. A large or massive tear of the cuff in thirty patients (97 per cent) and persistent subacromial impingement in twenty-eight patients (90 per cent) were the most common factors associated with failure. The over-all result of the repeat repair was satisfactory in sixteen patients (52 per cent) and unsatisfactory in fifteen (48 per cent). Twenty-five patients (81 per cent) had satisfactory relief of pain. However, fourteen patients (45 per cent) had persistent weakness that led to an unsatisfactory result. The factors that were associated with a better result were an intact acromion, an intact origin of the deltoid muscle, and the finding that the remaining tissue of the rotator cuff was of good quality. The factors that were associated with an inferior result were a previous lateral acromionectomy, a previously detached origin of the deltoid muscle, and the finding that the tissue of the rotator cuff that was available at the time of the repeat operation was of poor quality. Persistent pain is the primary indication for a repeat repair. The functional results are not as predictable, especially when the tissue of the cuff is poor and the deltoid origin has been detached previously.

Revision rotator cuff repair: factors influencing results.

BACKGROUND: Revision rotator cuff repair is a surgical challenge, and the results have generally been inferior to those of primary repair. We examined the results of revision rotator cuff repair in a large series of patients and assessed which subgroups of patients had the greatest chance for a satisfactory functional outcome. METHODS: A revision rotator cuff repair was performed in eighty patients after the failure of a previous operative repair. The average age of the patients at the time of the revision was fifty-nine years. Prior to revision, the average pain score was 7.4 points (with 0 points indicating no pain and 10 points, severe pain) and the active range of motion of the shoulder averaged 105 degrees of elevation, 39 degrees of external rotation, and internal rotation to the eleventh thoracic vertebra. All patients underwent repeat repair of the rotator cuff tendons to bone. Additional procedures included revision acromioplasty (fifty-three patients; 66%) and distal clavicular excision (twenty-six patients; 33%), among others. RESULTS: After an average duration of follow-up of forty-nine months, the result was rated as satisfactory (excellent, good, or fair) in fifty-five patients (69%) and as unsatisfactory (poor) in twenty-five (31%). At the time of the latest follow-up, the average pain score had improved to 3.0 points and the active range of motion averaged 130 degrees of elevation, 53 degrees of external rotation, and internal rotation to the tenth thoracic vertebra. Improved results were associated with an intact deltoid origin, good-quality rotator cuff tissue, preoperative active elevation of the arm above the horizontal, and only one prior procedure. All seventeen patients who met all four of these criteria had a satisfactory result. CONCLUSIONS: The results of revision rotator cuff repair are inferior to those of primary repair. While pain relief can be reliably achieved in most patients, the functional results are improved principally in patients with an intact deltoid origin, good-quality rotator cuff tissue, preoperative elevation above the horizontal, and only one prior procedure.

Shift of the posteroinferior aspect of the capsule for recurrent posterior glenohumeral instability.

Thirty-five shoulders in thirty-four patients were treated with a superior shift of the posteroinferior aspect of the capsule because of recurrent posterior glenohumeral subluxation and dislocation. The physical examination revealed three types of posterior instability in these patients preoperatively: unidirectional (six shoulders), bidirectional (posterior and inferior) (seven shoulders), and multidirectional (posterior and inferior dislocation with anterior subluxation) (twenty-two shoulders). Eleven shoulders had had previous operative procedures. At the time of the index operation, the most common abnormal findings in these shoulders were capsular redundancy and excessive volume of the glenohumeral joint. Complete detachment of the posterior aspect of the labrum was found in only four shoulders. There was no excessive glenoid retroversion in these patients. All thirty-four patients were available for follow-up at an average of five years (range, two to twelve and a half years) postoperatively. Over-all, the result for seventeen of the thirty-five shoulders was rated as excellent; eleven, as good; one, as fair; and six, as poor. Four shoulders became unstable again. Six of the seven unsatisfactory results were in shoulders that had had previous attempts at stabilization. A successful result was achieved in twenty-three of the twenty-four shoulders in which the superior shift of the posteroinferior aspect of the capsule was the initial repair.

Transfer of the levator scapulae, rhomboid major, and rhomboid minor for paralysis of the trapezius.

Twenty-two patients who had paralysis of the trapezius muscle secondary to injury of the spinal accessory nerve had transfer of the levator scapulae and rhomboid major and minor muscles. In each patient, function of the trapezius had failed to improve with either physical therapy or an operative attempt at neurolysis or reconstruction of the spinal accessory nerve. The etiology of the injury was biopsy of a cervical node in thirteen patients, trauma in seven, and radical dissection in the neck in two. All patients had pain, visible deformity, and dysfunction of the shoulder girdle. Physical examination revealed asymmetry of the neckline, drooping of the shoulder girdle with lateral displacement of the scapula, and weakness of active elevation. Fourteen patients had had an incorrect clinical diagnosis, and twelve patients had had an inaccurate or incomplete electromyographic examination. A long thoracic nerve palsy developed in three patients. At an average of seven and a half years (range, two to fourteen years), the result of the operative procedure, as determined with the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Shoulder Evaluation Form, was excellent for thirteen patients, satisfactory for six, and unsatisfactory for three. All but three patients had adequate relief of pain and demonstrable functional improvement.

Three-dimensional analysis of the proximal part of the humerus: relevance to arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Recreation of normal anatomical relationships may be important to optimize the outcome of proximal humeral arthroplasty. With use of computerized tomographic data and three-dimensional computer modeling, we concurrently studied both extramedullary and intramedullary humeral morphology, including canal shape, and related these findings to the design of proximal humeral prostheses. METHODS: Sixty cadaveric humeri (thirty pairs: fifteen from male donors and fifteen from female donors) were studied. Three-dimensional computer models were built from canal and periosteal contours extracted from computerized tomographic data and multiple measured anatomical parameters, including humeral canal axis, humeral head center, and hinge point offset; greater tuberosity and bicipital groove offset; humeral head center, radius, thickness, retroversion, and inclination; and size and torsion of sections of the canal. RESULTS: On the average, the humeral head center was offset both medially (seven millimeters) and posteriorly (two millimeters) from the humeral axis. The humeral head hinge point did not line up with the axis but instead was laterally offset by an average of seven millimeters. The average humeral head thickness was nineteen millimeters. The humeral head thickness and length were proportionately linked. There was marked variability in all of these parameters. Humeral head inclination averaged 41 degrees but was less variable than previously described, with 95 percent of our sample within the range of 35 to 46 degrees. The proximal section of the humeral canal was retroverted, and the retroversion was found to be similar to that of the humeral head on statistical analysis. Version of the middle and distal sections of the canal, however, was dissimilar to that of the proximal section of the canal. Proximal humeral retroversion was found to be extremely variable and averaged 19 degrees. The accuracy, reliability, and repeatability of the computer-based-model measurements were found to be excellent. CONCLUSIONS: Measurements of external proximal humeral morphology made with three-dimensional computer models of cadaveric specimens derived from the Midwestern United States agreed, in general, with those described for different populations evaluated with different measuring techniques. Proximal humeral morphology was extremely variable as highlighted by the large ranges of measurements seen for all variables. Examination of the intramedullary morphology showed that there is an internal version, with measurements dependent on the canal distance distal to the anatomical neck. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Because of the marked variabilities seen in proximal humeral morphology, newer prosthetic designs are now allowing surgeons to control multiple prosthetic variables. An understanding of the normal values for proximal humeral morphology can serve as an important guideline for component selection, especially when the normal anatomy is distorted. Additionally, variations in intramedullary version may have important consequences for future designs of press-fit proximal humeral replacement.

Operative results of the inferior capsular shift procedure for multidirectional instability of the shoulder.

BACKGROUND: Neer and Foster previously described the inferior capsular shift procedure for treating multidirectional instability of the shoulder and reported preliminary results that were quite satisfactory. The purpose of our study was to perform a longer-term follow-up evaluation of the efficacy of the inferior capsular shift procedure for treating multidirectional instability of the shoulder. METHODS: An inferior capsular shift procedure was used to treat multidirectional instability of the shoulder in forty-nine patients (fifty-two shoulders). All patients had failed to respond to an exercise program. In this series, the operative approach (anterior or posterior) was based on the major direction of the instability, as determined by the preoperative history and physical examination and as verified by examination with the patient under anesthesia. In all of the patients, the inferior capsular shift was the primary attempt at operative stabilization. The repair consisted of a lateral-side (or humeral-side) shift of the capsule to reduce capsular redundancy and, when necessary, a reattachment of the avulsed labrum to the anteroinferior aspect of the glenoid. RESULTS: A redundant capsular pouch was seen in all of the shoulders in this series. In addition, detachment of the anteroinferior aspect of the labrum was found in ten shoulders and an anterior fracture of the glenoid rim was seen in two shoulders. At an average of sixty-one months (range, twenty-four to 132 months), results were available for forty-nine shoulders (forty-six patients). Thirty shoulders (61 percent) had an excellent overall result, sixteen (33 percent) had a good result, one (2 percent) had a fair result, and two (4 percent) had a poor result. Forty-seven (96 percent) of the forty-nine shoulders remained stable at the time of follow-up. Two of the thirty-four shoulders that had been repaired through an anterior approach began to subluxate anteroinferiorly again. None of the fifteen shoulders that had been repaired through a posterior approach had recurrent instability. Full function, including the ability to perform strenuous manual tasks, was restored to forty-five shoulders (92 percent). A return to sports was possible after thirty-one (86 percent) of the thirty-six procedures done in athletes; however, a return to the premorbid level of participation was possible after only twenty-five (69 percent) of the thirty-six procedures. CONCLUSIONS: The results in this series demonstrate the efficacy and the durability of the results of the inferior capsular shift procedure for the treatment of shoulders with multidirectional instability. The procedure directly addresses the major pathological feature - a redundant joint capsule. Similar results were seen with either an anterior or a posterior approach, and we continue to approach shoulders with multidirectional instability on the side of greatest instability. A postoperative brace was reserved for patients in whom a posterior approach had been used or in whom an anterior approach had involved extensive posterior capsular dissection (ten of the thirty-four shoulders treated with the anterior approach).

The use of pulsing electromagnetic fields to achieve arthrodesis of the knee following failed total knee arthroplasty. A preliminary report.

Treatment with pulsing electromagnetic fields was used as an adjunct in twenty patients who had had a knee arthrodesis after failure of a total joint arthroplasty. Eighteen had had an infected arthroplasty; one, mechanical loosening; and one, recurrent dislocation. Arthrodesis had been attempted twenty-five times in these twenty patients prior to application of the coils. These procedures included the use of twenty-two external fixation frames, one compression plate, one intramedullary rod, and one cylinder cast. Two groups of patients were identified: those with non-union and those with delayed union. Fourteen patients began treatment six months or more after arthrodesis and were considered to have a non-union. The other six patients started treatment less than six months after attempted arthrodesis because there was no evidence of progression toward union. They were considered to have delayed union. In seventeen (85 per cent) of the twenty patients a clinically solid arthrodesis with roentgenographic evidence of bone-bridging was achieved. The average time to union after coil therapy was started was 5.8 months, with a range of three to twelve months. The patients who started coil treatment earlier after arthrodesis showed a tendency to heal faster. The three patients who had failures were the only ones who did not adhere to the protocol, and all three were in the non-union group. All patients with a solid arthrodesis were free of pain and able to walk at the time of follow-up, nine to thirty-one months after the completion of treatment. The use of pulsing electromagnetic fields appears to be a valuable non-invasive adjunct when performing arthrodesis of the knee after failed total joint arthroplasty.

Open reduction and internal fixation of two-part displaced fractures of the greater tuberosity of the proximal part of the humerus.

Twelve patients, ranging in age from thirty-four to seventy-two years (average, fifty-three years), were evaluated an average of five years (range, two to eight years) after open reduction and internal fixation of a two-part displaced fracture of the greater tuberosity of the proximal part of the humerus. The indication for operative reduction was one centimeter or more of displacement of the fracture as seen on the diagnostic radiographs. The anterosuperior deltoid-splitting approach, combined with rotation of the humerus, allowed adequate exposure of the retracted tuberosity. Internal fixation of the greater tuberosity with heavy, non-absorbable sutures and careful repair of the rotator cuff permitted early passive motion. All fractures healed without postoperative displacement. Six patients had an excellent result and six had a good result; active elevation averaged 170 degrees. There was one partial, transient palsy of the axillary nerve.

Geographic variations in the rates of operative procedures involving the shoulder, including total shoulder replacement, humeral head replacement, and rotator cuff repair.

BACKGROUND: Although geographic variations in the rates of orthopaedic procedures have been well documented, considerable controversy remains regarding the factors that drive these variations, particularly the role of the availability of orthopaedic surgeons. Moreover, little attention has been specifically focused on variations in the rates of commonly performed shoulder procedures. METHODS: The current study documents state-to-state variations in the rates of total shoulder replacement, humeral head replacement, and rotator cuff repair and examines factors that might account for these variations. The regional incidences of these three procedures were analyzed with use of the Health Care Financing Administration Medicare database (MEDPAR, 1992). The rates were age-adjusted, and variations were measured with use of high:low ratios, variation coefficients, and systematic components of variation. Potential causes of variation were analyzed with use of Spearman and partial correlations as well as with Poisson regression. RESULTS: Rates for the three procedures that were studied varied from one state to another by as much as tenfold. Humeral head replacement had the lowest rate of variation according to all three measures. All three procedures were performed less often in states that were more densely populated. With the numbers available for study, no consistent, significant relationship was found between the density of orthopaedists and shoulder surgeons and the rates of any procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The striking variations that were noted for these commonly performed procedures showed that there is a clear need for well designed clinical research to further define the factors that account for the variations and to examine the effectiveness and appropriate indications for the procedures.

Arthroscopic treatment of glenoid labral tears.

We reviewed 52 consecutive patients who had undergone arthroscopic labral debridement. The average age was 29 and there were 35 men and 17 women. At operation, 27 patients had superior labrum anterior and posterior (SLAP) lesions, 20 patients had anteroinferior labral lesions, and 5 patients had posterior labral lesions. Despite the fact that, preoperatively, none of these patients had a history of dislocations or clinically evident instability, 70% of the patients with superior labral lesions, and all of those with anteroinferior and posterior lesions had instability on examination under anesthesia. The average followup was 36 months. At 1 year after arthroscopy, 78% of the patients with superior lesions had excellent relief compared with 30% of the patients in the anteroinferior group. At 2 years followup, these results decreased to 63% and 25%, respectively, and only 45% of the patients with superior labral lesions and 25% of those with anteroinferior lesions had returned to their previous athletic performance level. Four patients required a reoperation: 2 for instability and 2 for impingement. We conclude that occult instability is frequently present in patients with glenoid labral tears. The overall results are not encouraging, but this procedure may have an indication for short-term goals in competitive athletes or those who are willing to accept some compromise in function.

Open revision stabilization surgery for recurrent anterior glenohumeral instability.

Fifty patients (average age, 27 years) who underwent revision anterior stabilization surgery for failed anterior glenohumeral instability procedures were retrospectively reviewed. Failure of the original procedure occurred subsequent to significant trauma in only 17 of 50 shoulders. At revision, 49 shoulders underwent an anteroinferior capsular shift procedure and 23 underwent concurrent repair of a Bankart lesion. One shoulder was treated with a coracoid transfer to reconstruct the anteroinferior glenoid. At an average follow-up of 4.7 years (range, 2 to 10), there were 36 excellent and 3 good results (78%). Eleven shoulders were considered unsatisfactory (22%); 7 of these 11 patients had a diagnosis of voluntary dislocation. All 17 patients who had failed results after significant trauma had excellent results after revision surgery. However, only 22 of the 33 patients (67%) with atraumatic recurrent instability achieved excellent or good results after revision surgery. This difference was statistically significant. No patients had radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis at the most recent follow-up. Range of motion, return to function, and glenohumeral stability can be reliably restored in a high percentage of patients after revision anterior stabilization surgery for glenohumeral instability. However, the results are not as predictable as for primary surgery. Factors associated with poor results of revision repair included an atraumatic cause of failure, voluntary dislocations, and multiple prior stabilization attempts.

Inferior capsular shift procedure for anterior-inferior shoulder instability in athletes.

Sixty-eight shoulders in 63 athletic patients with anterior-inferior glenohumeral instability underwent an anterior-inferior capsular shift procedure. Shoulders with glenoid fractures, predominantly posterior instability, or routine, unidirectional anterior instability were not included in this study. There were 42 men and 21 women, with an average age of 23 years. Forty-two repairs were performed on the dominant arm. All 31 overhead throwing athletes had their dominant arms repaired. Forty-six shoulders had histories of recurrent anterior dislocations, while 22 shoulders had recurrent subluxation. All 68 shoulders had an anterior-inferior capsular shift, tailored to the degree of laxity found; in addition, 21 had repair of a Bankart lesion. Forty-two patients were rated excellent (67%), 17 good (27%), 2 fair (3%), and 1 poor (3%). Fifty-eight of 63 (92%) patients returned to their major sports, 47 (75%) at the same competitive levels. Only 5 of 10 elite throwing athletes returned to their prior competitive levels. Loss of external rotation averaged 7 degrees. Two patients (2.9%) re-dislocated postoperatively, after violent falls.

An electromyographic analysis of the shoulder during a medicine ball rehabilitation program.

We used dynamic electromyography and a motion analysis system to describe the muscle firing patterns in 10 shoulder muscles and the basic kinematics of a two-handed overhead medicine ball throw. Ten healthy male subjects with no history of shoulder injury were evaluated. The two-handed medicine ball throw was divided into three phases for analysis: cocking, acceleration, and deceleration. The average duration of the throw was 1.92 seconds; the cocking phase represented 56%, the acceleration phase 15.5%, and the deceleration phase 28.5% of the throw. In the cocking phase, the upper trapezius, pectoralis major, and anterior deltoid muscles showed high activity ( > 40% to 60% maximum manual test), and the rotator cuff muscles had moderate activity ( > 20% to 40%). In the acceleration phase, five of the muscles demonstrated high levels of activity ( > 40% to 60%) and the upper trapezius and lower subscapularis muscles had very high levels of activity ( > 60%). Analysis of the deceleration phase revealed high activity in the upper trapezius muscle and moderate activity in all other muscles except the pectoralis major. Our findings support the use of medicine ball training as a bridge between static resistive training and dynamic throwing in the rehabilitation of the overhead athlete. This training technique provides a protective method of strengthening that closely simulates portions of the throwing motion.

Surgical treatment of complete acromioclavicular dislocations.

Forty-four patients, ranging in age from 17 to 57 years (average, 32), were evaluated an average of 4 years (range, 2 to 9) after surgical reconstruction for Allman-Tossy Grade III acromioclavicular dislocations. Twenty-seven patients underwent repair for acute injuries (< 3 weeks after injury) and 17 patients underwent reconstructions for chronic injuries (> 3 weeks). Coracoclavicular fixation with heavy nonabsorbable sutures was used to correct superior displacement in all cases. In addition, transfer of the coracoacromial ligament to the distal clavicle was performed in 15 of the 27 early repairs and 17 of the 17 late reconstructions. Overall, 26 of 27 (96%) early repairs and 13 of 17 (77%) late reconstructions achieved satisfactory results. There was a trend for better results and return to sports or heavy labor with early repairs; however, this was not statistically significant (P = 0.065). When the results of early repairs were compared with those of late reconstructions performed more than 3 months after injury, the results of the shoulders undergoing early repair were significantly better (P < 0.01). Overall, 39 of 44 (89%) patients achieved a satisfactory result. Surgical reconstruction for acromioclavicular dislocation provides reliable results including use of the arm for sports or repetitive work.