Arthroscopic Removal of Extra-Articular Foreign Bodies From the Shoulder: Inside-Out Technique.

Arthroscopic shoulder surgery can be performed for retrieval of bullets and retained metallic fragments in the glenohumeral and subacromial spaces. Previous case reports and case series have demonstrated the effectiveness of an arthroscopic approach over an open procedure, as it is less invasive, allows for improved inspection and documentation of the joint surfaces and periarticular structures, and potentially leads to a faster recovery. An arthroscopic approach for extracting foreign bodies from both the quadrilateral space and the posterior extra-articular space by first accessing the glenohumeral space has yet to be described. This inside-out technique may afford surgeons the potential for improved visualization and less morbidity compared with a traditional open posterior approach. We report a technique for an arthroscopic inside-out approach for removal of extra-articular foreign bodies retained in either the quadrilateral space or the posterior extra-articular space.

The reliability of the Neer classification for proximal humerus fractures: a survey of orthopedic shoulder surgeons.

Background: The Neer classification is among the most widely used systems to describe proximal humerus fractures (PHF) despite the poor interobserver agreement. The purpose of this study was to verify whether or not blinded shoulder surgeons and trainees agree with the authors of articles published in the highest impact-factor orthopedic journals. Methods: All articles regarding PHF published between 2017 and 2019 in the top 10 orthopedic journals as rated by impact factor were searched. Articles were included if the authors used the Neer classification to describe at least 1 PHF in the figures. Figures were extracted without the legend, and X-rays ± computed tomography scan images were included when available. An international survey was conducted among 138 shoulder surgeons who were asked to record the Neer classification for each de-identified radiograph in the publications. The type of fracture mentioned in the legend of the published figure was considered as the gold standard. Results: Survey participants agreed with the published article authors in 55% of cases overall (range 6%-96%, n = 35). The most common response disagreed with the article authors in 13 cases (37%), underestimating the number of parts in 11 of 13 cases. The interobserver agreement between the 138 responders was fair (k = 0.296). There was an association between the percentage of concordant answers and greater experience (number of years of shoulder surgery practice) of the responders (P = .0023). The number of parts, the number or type of available imaging modalities, and the geographic origin of participants did not influence the agreement between responders and authors. Discussion: In more than one-third of cases, specialized shoulder surgeons disagree with article authors when interpreting the Neer classification of de-identified images of PHF in published manuscripts. Morphologic classification of PHF as the sole basis for treatment algorithms and surgical success should be scrutinized.

Muscle Tendon Transfers Around the Shoulder: Diagnosis, Treatment, Surgical Techniques, and Outcomes.

➤: Muscle tendon transfers (MTTs) are effective surgical procedures for reducing pain and for improving active shoulder range of motion and patient-reported outcomes for a wide range of pathologies, including serratus anterior and trapezius muscle palsy, irreparable subscapularis tears, irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears, irreparable posterior rotator cuff tears in the setting of reverse shoulder arthroplasty, and symptomatic complete deltoid deficiency. ➤: The principles of MTT include ensuring that the transferred muscle is expendable, the muscle tendon unit has similar excursion, the line of pull of the transferred tendon and of the recipient muscle are similar in terms of biomechanical force, and the transferred muscle should replace at least 1 grade of strength of the deficient recipient muscle. ➤: When MTT procedures are considered, patients must have exhausted all nonoperative management, have preserved passive range of motion, and have an understanding of the postoperative expectations and potential complications. ➤: For patients with scapulothoracic abnormal motion (STAM) due to long thoracic nerve palsy, the indirect or direct pectoralis major tendon transfer is an effective procedure for reducing pain and improving active forward elevation. For patients with STAM due to spinal accessory nerve palsy, the Eden-Lange or the triple tendon transfer procedures reduce pain and improve active forward elevation and abduction as well as patient-reported clinical outcomes. ➤: Both pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi transfer procedures for isolated irreparable subscapularis deficiency without anterosuperior humeral head escape result in improvement with respect to pain, patient-reported outcomes, and forward elevation, with the pectoralis major tendon transfer demonstrating durable long-term outcomes. ➤: The latissimus dorsi or lower trapezius tendon transfer procedures for irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears reliably improve patient-reported outcomes, forward elevation, abduction, and external rotation range of motion. Additionally, latissimus dorsi transfer with or without teres major transfer can be used to restore active external rotation, both in the native shoulder and in the setting of reverse shoulder arthroplasty. ➤: The complications of MTTs include infection, hematoma, and failure of tendon transfer healing; therefore, it is recommended that these complex procedures be performed by shoulder surgeons with appropriate training.

Shoulder arthroplasty in dwarfism: A case report of pseudoachondroplasia with 17-year follow-up.

The purpose of this case report is to report the long-term outcome following shoulder hemiarthroplasty in a patient with dwarfism. A 60-year old female with pseudoachondroplasia dwarfism presented 17 years post-operative with a Subjective Shoulder Value of 90% and minimal pain. Custom designed implants were critical for surgical success. Preoperative planning with a CT scan was important in assessing glenoid dysplasia and determining the feasibility of glenoid resurfacing. The emergence of 3D CT virtual preoperative planning tools can further assist in the recognition of deformity to determine if custom designed implants are needed. Shoulder arthroplasty in dwarfism can lead to excellent long-term outcomes.

Biceps Squeeze Tenotomy: Technique to Improve Efficiency of Arthroscopic Biceps Tenotomy.

Biceps tenotomy is a common procedure performed in arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of both biceps tenotomy and tenodesis to relieve pain and restore function for the diagnoses of bicipital tenosynovitis, SLAP tears, rotator interval pulley lesions, and failed SLAP repairs. It is also frequently performed as a concomitant procedure with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. We report a technique to improve the efficiency of arthroscopic bicep tenotomy using a biceps squeeze maneuver. This is a simple method of manually squeezing the biceps muscle belly while performing the arthroscopic biceps tenotomy. This shortens and tensions the intra-articular portion of the tendon to facilitate a more safe and efficient procedure.

Modified L'Episcopo tendon transfer for isolated loss of active external rotation.

BACKGROUND: Patients with isolated loss of active external rotation (ILER) but preserved active forward elevation have recently been identified as a rare and distinct clinical entity. The modified L'Episcopo procedure attempts to restore horizontal muscle balance and restore active external rotation. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed for all patients with ILER and preserved forward elevation with Hamada stage ≤2 changes undergoing the modified L'Episcopo tendon transfer. Preoperative rotator cuff fatty infiltration and morphology was reported. Clinical, radiographic, and functional outcomes were recorded preoperatively and compared to postoperative outcomes at a minimum of 24 months' follow-up. RESULTS: Nine patients (8 male, 1 female) with a mean age of 58.4 years (range, 51-67 years) were evaluated at a mean follow-up of 64.3 months (range, 24-126 months). Significant improvement was demonstrated in active external rotation with the arm at the side (mean increase of 47°; range, 30°-60°, P = .004) and at 90° abduction (mean increase of 41°; range, 20°-70°, P = .004). The mean Constant score and pain score significantly improved at final follow-up (P = .004). All patients were either very satisfied or satisfied, with a mean subjective shoulder value of 74% (range, 60%-99%). CONCLUSION: In appropriately selected patients with ILER and preserved active forward elevation, the modified L'Episcopo procedure can restore horizontal muscle balance and produce significant improvements in active external rotation, Constant score, and pain.

Labral Morphology and Number of Preoperative Dislocations Are Associated With Recurrent Instability After Arthroscopic Bankart Repair.

PURPOSE: To develop a method to measure capsule and labral volume on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging to predict surgical failure after primary Bankart repair. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was conducted on patients undergoing primary anterior arthroscopic shoulder stabilization. Surgical failure was defined as a recurrent dislocation event. Cases were matched to controls based on age and sex in a 1:2 ratio. Preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) arthrograms were analyzed by 2 trained reviewers using Vitrea software to measure labral and capsular volume with a 3-dimensional model. Labral size was also qualitatively measured on axial images. A "diffusely small" labrum was defined as labral height less than the width of the glenoid tidemark cartilage. RESULTS: Of the 289 patients who had an arthroscopic Bankart repair from 2006 to 2015, 33 who had a postoperative dislocation met the inclusion criteria and were matched to 62 control patients who did not. There was no difference between groups with regard to age (P = .88), sex (P = .82), contact sport participation (P = .79), proportion of overhead athletes (P = .33), proportion of throwers (P = 1), surgical positioning in lateral decubitus (P = .18), or number of repair anchors used (P = .91). The average number of preoperative dislocations was significantly higher in the failure group (3.2 vs. 2.0, P < .0001). In patients with normal labrum morphology, the odds of having surgical failure increased by 26% for a 1-unit increase in the number of prior dislocations (odds ratio [OR] 1.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02 to 1.55). The case and control groups had similar labral and capsular volume as measured in Vitrea. The failure group had a significantly higher proportion of patients with a diffusely small labral morphology (47% vs. 17%, P = .03). Controlling for number of preoperative dislocations, the odds of having a diffusely small labral morphology was 3.2 times more likely in the case group than the control group (95% CI 1.259 to 8.188). Interrater reliability between 2 independent reviewers was excellent for measurement of capsule volume (r = 0.91) and good for measurement of labral volume (r = 0.74). CONCLUSIONS: This study presents a novel method of measuring labral and capsule volume with high interrater reliability. An increased number of recurrent dislocations prior to primary Bankart repair was associated with increased odds of recurrent instability after surgery. The OR for failure also increased with increasing number of preoperative dislocations. Diffusely small labral morphology was associated with having a postoperative redislocation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III (case-control study).

Variation in the Cost of Care for Different Types of Joint Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Lower-extremity arthroplasty constitutes the largest burden on health-care spending of any Medicare diagnosis group. Demand for upper extremity arthroplasty also continues to rise. It is necessary to better understand costs as health care shifts toward a bundled-payment accounting approach. We aimed (1) to identify whether variation exists in total cost for different types of joint arthroplasty, and, if so, (2) to determine which cost parameters drive this variation. METHODS: The cost of the episode of inpatient care for 22,215 total joint arthroplasties was calculated by implementing time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) at a single orthopaedic specialty hospital from 2015 to 2018. Implant price, supply costs, personnel costs, and length of stay for total knee, total hip, anatomic total shoulder, reverse total shoulder, total elbow, and total ankle arthroplasty were analyzed. Individual cost parameters were compared with total cost and volume. RESULTS: Higher implant cost appeared to correlate with higher total costs and represented 53.8% of the total cost for an inpatient care cycle. Total knee arthroplasty was the least-expensive and highest-volume procedure, whereas total elbow arthroplasty had the lowest volume and highest cost (1.65 times more than that of total knee arthroplasty). Length of stay was correlated with increased personnel cost but did not have a significant effect on total cost. CONCLUSIONS: Total inpatient cost at our orthopaedic specialty hospital varied by up to a factor of 1.65 between different fields of arthroplasty. The highest-volume procedures-total knee and hip arthroplasty-were the least expensive, driven predominantly by lower implant purchase prices. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: We are not aware of any previous studies that have accurately compared cost structures across upper and lower-extremity arthroplasty with a uniform methodology. The present study, because of its uniform accounting process, provides reliable data that will allow clinicians to better understand cost relationships between different procedures.

Uncomplicated Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair in Chronic Ipsilateral Upper Extremity Lymphedema: A Case Report.

CASE: A 69-year-old woman with chronic upper extremity lymphedema secondary to bilateral mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer 10 years before presented to the clinic with a massive rotator cuff tear. Her shoulder pain and dysfunction persisted despite nonoperative treatment. She underwent left shoulder arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR) and biceps tenotomy. Arm, forearm, and wrist circumference measurements were obtained, preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, and 1-week and 2-weeks postoperatively. No permanent increase in extremity circumference measurements was observed. CONCLUSION: This case suggests that it is possible to perform an arthroscopic RCR in a patient with chronic upper extremity lymphedema without creating further morbidity.

Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty for Geriatric Proximal Humerus Fracture Dislocation With Concomitant Nerve Injury.

INTRODUCTION: Preoperative axillary nerve palsy is a contraindication to reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) due to the theoretical risk of higher dislocation rates and poor functional outcomes. Treatment of fracture-dislocations of the proximal humerus with rTSA is particularly challenging, as these injuries commonly present with concomitant neurologic and soft tissue injury. The aim of the current study was to determine the efficacy of rTSA for this fracture pattern in geriatric patients presenting with occult or profound neurologic injury. METHODS: A retrospective case series of all shoulder arthroplasty procedures for proximal humerus fractures from February 2006 to February 2018 was performed. Inclusion criteria were patients aged greater than 65 years at the time of surgery, fracture-dislocations of the proximal humerus, and treatment with rTSA. Patients with preoperative nerve injuries were compared to patients without overt neurologic dysfunction. Forward elevation, Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV) were obtained at final follow-up. RESULTS: Forty-six rTSA for acute fracture were performed during the study period, 16 patients met the inclusion criteria and 5 (31%) presented with overt preoperative nerve injuries. At mean 3.1 years follow up, there were no postoperative complications including dislocations and final forward elevation was similar between study groups. Patients with overt nerve palsy had higher QuickDASH and VAS scores with lower SSV and self-rated satisfaction. DISCUSSION: In the majority of patients with or without overt nerve injury, rTSA reliably restored overhead function and led to good or excellent patient-rated treatment outcomes. Overt nerve palsy did not lead to higher complication rates, including dislocation. Despite greater disability and less satisfaction, complete or partial nerve recovery can be expected in the majority of patients. CONCLUSION: Nerve injury following proximal humeral fracture dislocation may not be an absolute contraindication to rTSA.

Humeral head resurfacing is associated with less pain and clinically equivalent functional outcomes compared with stemmed hemiarthroplasty at mid-term follow-up.

PURPOSE: Humeral head resurfacing (HHR) is a less invasive, anatomic alternative to the conventional stemmed hemiarthroplasty in patients in whom isolated humeral head replacement is preferred. It was hypothesized that, in a mid-term cross-sectional subjective outcome analysis, HHR would have equivalent patient-reported and functional outcomes to stemmed hemiarthroplasty (HA). METHODS: A total of 213 HHR and 153 HA procedures were performed at a single academic institution from 2000 to 2014. Of these, 106 HHR and 47 HA patients corresponding with 120 HHR and 55 HA shoulders responded to a survey that collected patient demographics, surgical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and self-reported range of motion scores using both bespoke and validated metrics. RESULTS: Follow-up was longer in the HA group (9.4 ± 3.4 vs. 5.2 ± 1.8 years, p < 0.0001). Self-reported range of motion was equivalent between groups. Surgery was perceived as helpful following 76.7% of HHRs and 78.2% of HAs (p > 0.99). The ASES pain subscore was significantly worse in the HA group (25.2 ± 29.5 vs. 38.5 ± 12.7 after HHR, p < 0.0001), which translated into worse ASES total scores (45.1 ± 14.8 HA vs. 52.2 ± 23.7 HHR, p < 0.05). These findings were equivocal in responses received 2-8 years vs. ≥ 8 years after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Indications should be equivocal; humeral head resurfacing is a viable alternative to hemiarthroplasty, with equivalent patient satisfaction and reduced pain in the mid-term post-operative period. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Morphologic Risk Factors in Predicting Symptomatic Structural Failure of Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repairs: Tear Size, Location, and Atrophy Matter.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether morphologic characteristics of rotator cuff tear have prognostic value in determining symptomatic structural failure of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair independent of age or gender. METHODS: Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair cases performed by five fellowship-trained surgeons at our institution from 2006 to 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Data extraction included demographics, comorbidities, repair technique, clinical examination, and radiographic findings. Failure in symptomatic patients was defined as structural defect on postoperative magnetic resonance imaging or pseudoparalysis on examination. Failures were age and gender matched with successful repairs in a 1:2 ratio. RESULTS: A total of 30 failures and 60 controls were identified. Supraspinatus atrophy (P = .03) and tear size (18.3 mm failures v 13.9 mm controls; P = .02) were significant risk factors for failure, as was the presence of an infraspinatus tear greater than 10 mm (62% v 17%, P < .01). Single-row repair (P = .06) and simple suture configuration (P = .17) were more common but similar between groups. Diabetes mellitus and active tobacco use were not significantly associated with increased failure risk but psychiatric medication use was more frequent in the failure group. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms previous suspicions that tear size and fatty infiltration are associated with failure of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair but independent of age or gender in symptomatic patients. There is also a quantitative cutoff on magnetic resonance imaging for the size of infraspinatus involvement that can be used clinically as a predicting factor. Although reported in the literature, smoking and diabetes were not associated with failure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective case control.

Predictive Surgical Reasons for Failure After Coracoid Process Transfers.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent anterior shoulder instability after coracoid process transfers may be caused by trauma, sports injury, or technical failure of the index procedure. Surgical techniques vary with regard to graft orientation and positioning and number of screws utilized for fixation. PURPOSE: To identify surgical and patient-related factors associated with failure, defined as the need for revision surgery. We hypothesized that failures will occur more commonly with single-screw fixation and graft malposition. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Eighty-three patients (mean age, 24 years) who underwent an Eden-Hybinette operation as a revision procedure for recurrent anterior instability after primary coracoid process transfer between 1977 and 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative medical records were queried for demographic data, failure event, and physical examination. Two fellowship-trained shoulder surgeons reviewed radiographs to identify for graft positioning, nonunion, and hardware failure. Descriptive analysis was used to assess reasons for failure. RESULTS: Seventy-five percent of patients sustained a redislocation event after primary coracoid process transfer. Revisions were performed on average 50.3 months after the index procedure, most commonly on males, with two-thirds of recurrent instability occurring during sports. Among all patients, single-screw methods for fixation and inferior graft malposition during index bone block transfer were the most common. Hardware failure and graft nonunion were more frequent with the single-screw technique. CONCLUSION: In our series, recurrent anterior shoulder instability after primary coracoid process transfer was more likely to occur during sports in young, male patients. The most common technical errors leading to revision were placing the graft inferior to the 5-o'clock position on the glenoid face or relying on single-screw fixation.

Voiding function in obese and type 2 diabetic female rats.

The effects of obesity and type 2 diabetes (DMII) on the lower urinary tract (LUT) were characterized by evaluating voiding function and anatomy in female Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats. Age-matched female virgin rats were separated into three experimental groups: Zucker lean rats (control; normal diet, n = 22), ZDF rats (obese+nondiabetic; low-fat diet, n = 22), and ZDF rats (obese+diabetic; high-fat diet, n = 20). Rats were placed on their specified diet for 10 wk before urodynamic LUT evaluation. A suprapubic catheter was implanted 2 days before urodynamic studies. Voiding function was evaluated by cystometric and leak point pressure (LPP) testing. The bladder, urethra, and vagina were immediately excised for qualitative histological evaluation. Compared with control rats, obese+nondiabetic and obese+diabetic rats had significantly decreased contraction pressure (P = 0.003) and increased cystometric filling volume (P < 0.001). Both obese groups exhibited significantly higher voided volumes (P = 0.003), less frequent urinary events (P < 0.001), and increased residual volumes (P = 0.039). LPP studies showed a nonsignificant decrease in LPP (P = 0.075) and baseline pressure (P = 0.168) in both obese groups compared with control. Histology of the external urethral sphincter in obese rats showed increased fibrosis, leading to disruption of the skeletal muscle structure compared with control. Additionally, the bladder wall of the obese+nondiabetic and obese+diabetic rats demonstrated edema and vasculopathy. Voiding dysfunction was evident in both obese groups but with no significant differences due to DMII, suggesting that voiding dysfunction in DMII may be attributable at least in part to chronic obesity.

Lower urinary tract phenotype of experimental autoimmune cystitis in mouse: a potential animal model for interstitial cystitis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine bladder function in a newly developed experimental autoimmune cystitis (EAC) model in female SWXJ strain mice, as a potential animal model for interstitial cystitis (IC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In all, 20 SWXJ female mice were divided into two groups: an EAC group immunized with mouse bladder homogenate in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) and a control group immunized with CFA alone. At 4 months after injection, the bladder function of some mice (six) was studied with 24-h micturition habits using metabolic cages and conscious cystometrography (CMG). The bladder and lung were harvested for histological examination and to assess interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) mRNA expression. RESULTS: Histology examination showed obviously thickened lamina propria, infiltration of lymphocytes, giant cells, and increased mast cells in the detrusor muscle of the EAC mice. The lungs of EAC mice showed normal histology. The IFN-gamma mRNA expression increased significantly in the bladder, but not in the lung of the EAC mice. The 24-h micturition habits measurements showed increased frequency of urination in the EAC mice compared with the controls. Similarly, CMG showed decreased intercontraction intervals and voided volumes per micturition in the EAC mice compared with the controls. However, there were no significant differences in peak voiding pressure or total voiding volume between the EAC and control mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our murine EAC model has comparable functional and histological alterations to those seen in human IC, and may provide a useful model for the study of the pathogenesis and treatment of IC.