Characteristics of small to medium-sized rotator cuff tears with and without disruption of the anterior supraspinatus tendon.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the baseline function and results of arthroscopic cuff repair in shoulders with small and medium-sized full-thickness cuff tears with complete supraspinatus disruption compared with those with an intact anterior supraspinatus tendon. METHODS: The study evaluated 112 subjects with small and medium-sized cuff tears. Subjects were grouped according to anterior supraspinatus integrity (83 shoulders intact, group 1; and 29 shoulders with anterior supraspinatus tendon disruption, group 2). Functional assessments included visual analogue scale for pain, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, Simple Shoulder Test score, and Constant score. Repair integrity was assessed by ultrasound examination. RESULTS: Group 2 shoulders had greater mean tear width, length, and area (P < .0001) and greater supraspinatus muscle degenerative changes (P < .0001) compared with shoulders with an intact anterior supraspinatus tendon. There were no differences in demographics or baseline function (ASES score: 45 group 1 vs 46 group 2, P = .79; Constant score: 56 group 1 vs 52 group 2, P = .29) before surgery. There were no differences in any functional parameter (ASES score: 92 group 1 vs 93 group 2, P = .71; Constant score: 84 group 1 vs 85 group 2, P = .84) after surgery. There was no difference in tendon healing rates (93% group 1 vs 86% group 2; P = .26). CONCLUSIONS: In the setting of painful small and medium-sized rotator cuff tears, disruption of the anterior supraspinatus tendon was associated with greater tear size and more advanced supraspinatus muscle degeneration. However, anterior supraspinatus tendon integrity had no influence on the clinical presentation or the functional and structural results of cuff repair surgery.

The addition of preoperative three-dimensional analysis alters implant choice in shoulder arthroplasty.

Background: The primary objective of the present study was to investigate how preoperative imaging modalities including 3D computed tomography (CT) scans with preoperative planning software affect implant choice for shoulder arthroplasty. Methods: X-ray, uncorrected 2D CT scans, and 3D CT scans from 21 patients undergoing primary arthroplasty were reviewed by five shoulder surgeons. Each surgeon measured glenoid version, inclination and humeral head subluxation, and then selected an anatomic or reverse shoulder arthroplasty implant based only on these imaging parameters. Each surgeon virtually positioned the implant. Agreement between surgeons and changes in plan for individual surgeons between imaging modalities were assessed. Results: Average measurements of native version, inclination, and subluxation were similar across all imaging modalities with very good interobserver reliability. Overall, there was a high rate of variability in choice of implant depending on imaging modality. Agreement on implant selection between surgeons improved from 68.6% using x-ray to 80.0% with 3D CT. Introducing age added significant variability, reducing agreement on implant choice to 61.0% with 3D CT. Conclusions: The use of preoperative 3D planning changes implant choice in nearly one-third of cases compared to plain radiographs and improves surgeon agreement on implant choice compared to x-ray and 2D CT.Level of evidence: III.

Treatment of select open calcaneus fractures with reduction and internal fixation: an intermediate-term review.

BACKGROUND: Open calcaneal fractures are devastating, high-energy injuries frequently occurring in multiply-injured patients. Unsatisfactory outcomes with significant complications rates are frequently reported. Our purpose was to assess outcomes of delayed ORIF for open calcaneal fractures with medial hindfoot wounds and limited posterior facet comminution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following acute management of the open fractures, seven patients were determined to have stable medial hindfoot wounds and posterior facet comminution of three or fewer fracture fragments. The average age was 32.5 years. These patients were treated with operative management with a plate-and-screw construct using the extensile lateral approach. RAND-36 Item Health, AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot Survey, and physical examinations were undertaken to access outcomes. RESULTS: All open calcaneal injuries were initially treated with irrigation and debridement, intravenous antibiotics, and plaster immobilization. Definitive fixation was performed at an average of 11.7 days. Six of seven patients were multiply injured. Prior to injury, five were employed on a full-time basis. Four returned to their original or a comparable job. The results of the RAND-36 Item Health Survey and the AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot scores were 56.7 and 71, respectively. There were no postoperative infections. No patients required additional operative hindfoot procedures. Five continued to use tobacco products. None reported chronic narcotic usage. CONCLUSION: Aggressive treatment of select open calcaneal fractures with delayed ORIF produced satisfactory functional results. Most patients were able to return to gainful employment. There were no infections or wound complications.

Moderating effects of immunosuppressive medications and risk factors for post-operative joint infection following total joint arthroplasty in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Inconclusive findings about infection risks, importantly the use of immunosuppressive medications in patients who have undergone large-joint total joint arthroplasty, challenge efforts to provide evidence-based perioperative total joint arthroplasty recommendations to improve surgical outcomes. Thus, the aim of this study was to describe risk factors for developing a post-operative infection in patients undergoing TJA of a large joint (total hip arthroplasty, total knee arthroplasty, or total shoulder arthroplasty) by identifying clinical and demographic factors, including the use of high-risk medications (i.e., prednisone and immunosuppressive medications) and diagnoses [i.e., rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), gout, obesity, and diabetes mellitus] that are linked to infection status, controlling for length of follow-up. METHODS: A retrospective, case-control study (N = 2212) using de-identified patient health claims information from a commercially insured, U.S. dataset representing 15 million patients annually (from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2009) was conducted. Descriptive statistics, t-test, chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and multivariate logistic regression were used. RESULTS: Male gender (OR = 1.42, p < 0.001), diagnosis of RA (OR = 1.47, p = 0.031), diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.38, p = 0.001), obesity (OR = 1.66, p < 0.001) or gout (OR = 1.95, p = 0.001), and a prescription for prednisone (OR = 1.59, p < 0.001) predicted a post-operative infection following total joint arthroplasty. Persons with post-operative joint infections were significantly more likely to be prescribed allopurinol (p = 0.002) and colchicine (p = 0.006); no significant difference was found for the use of specific disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and TNF-α inhibitors. CONCLUSION: High-risk, post-operative joint infection groups were identified allowing for precautionary clinical measures to be taken.

Factors affecting outcome after structural failure of repaired rotator cuff tears.

BACKGROUND: Failure of structural healing is not infrequent after rotator cuff repair and often is not associated with clinical outcome. The goals of this study are to describe outcomes in a cohort of patients with a failed rotator cuff repair and to evaluate factors associated with clinical outcome. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of all patients with failure of structural integrity after rotator cuff surgical repair. A threshold American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score of 80 points was used to allocate patients into either the successful (≥80 points; Group 1) or unsuccessful (<80 points; Group 2) cohorts. Demographics, patient-centered instruments for shoulder function, radiographic parameters, and shoulder motion were compared between groups. RESULTS: On the basis of the postoperative ASES score, thirty-three patients (54.1%) were included in Group 1 and twenty-eight patients (45.9%) were included in Group 2. Fifteen patients (53.6%) in Group 2 reported a labor-intensive occupation compared with two patients (6.1%) in Group 1 (p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that labor-intensive occupation (odds ratio [OR], 202.3; p = 0.026), preoperative Simple Shoulder Test (SST) score (OR, 0.50; p = 0.028), and preoperative external rotation (OR, 0.91; p = 0.027) were associated with inclusion in Group 2. Age and other demographic variables, including sex, dominant-sided surgery, and medical comorbidities, were similar for the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Successful outcomes were achieved in 54% of patients with failed rotator cuff repair. Those who self-identified their occupation as being labor-intensive represented a special group of patients who are at high risk for a poor outcome after a failed rotator cuff repair.

Functional improvement after humeral shaft nonunion in a patient with glenohumeral ankylosis.

Functionally limiting heterotopic ossification about the shoulder represents an uncommon clinical entity, which has been most commonly reported as a consequence of prolonged immobilization in intensive care unit patients. Severe cases may result in complete glenohumeral ankylosis, with resultant upper extremity motion through the scapulothoracic joint, and significant functional consequences. We report the case of a 72-year-old male with spontaneous glenohumeral ankylosis who suffered a humeral shaft fracture with resultant painless nonunion. Motion through the nonunion site caused significant subjective functional improvements, increased range of motion, and the ability to complete his activities of daily living. Patients with limited shoulder range of motion may be at higher risk for humeral fractures and nonunion. These patients, however, may experience improved function due to increased upper extremity range of motion through the nonunion site.

The cost-effectiveness of single-row compared with double-row arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

BACKGROUND: Interest in double-row techniques for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair has increased over the last several years, presumably because of a combination of literature demonstrating superior biomechanical characteristics and recent improvements in instrumentation and technique. As a result of the increasing focus on value-based health-care delivery, orthopaedic surgeons must understand the cost implications of this practice. The purpose of this study was to examine the cost-effectiveness of double-row arthroscopic rotator cuff repair compared with traditional single-row repair. METHODS: A decision-analytic model was constructed to assess the cost-effectiveness of double-row arthroscopic rotator cuff repair compared with single-row repair on the basis of the cost per quality-adjusted life year gained. Two cohorts of patients (one with a tear of <3 cm and the other with a tear of ≥3 cm) were evaluated. Probabilities for retear and persistent symptoms, health utilities for the particular health states, and the direct costs for rotator cuff repair were derived from the orthopaedic literature and institutional data. RESULTS: The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for double-row compared with single-row arthroscopic rotator cuff repair was $571,500 for rotator cuff tears of <3 cm and $460,200 for rotator cuff tears of ≥3 cm. The rate of radiographic or symptomatic retear alone did not influence cost-effectiveness results. If the increase in the cost of double-row repair was less than $287 for small or moderate tears and less than $352 for large or massive tears compared with the cost of single-row repair, then double-row repair would represent a cost-effective surgical alternative. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of currently available data, double-row rotator cuff repair is not cost-effective for any size rotator cuff tears. However, variability in the values for costs and probability of retear can have a profound effect on the results of the model and may create an environment in which double-row repair becomes the more cost-effective surgical option. The identification of the threshold values in this study may help surgeons to determine the most cost-effective treatment.