Associated lesions requiring additional surgical treatment in grade 3 acromioclavicular joint dislocations.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence of associated pathologic shoulder lesions that were addressed surgically in grade 3 acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) dislocations, as well as to compare this incidence between younger and older patients and between acute and chronic cases. METHODS: In this multicenter nonrandomized retrospective study, 98 patients operated on for grade 3 ACJ dislocation underwent concomitant arthroscopic evaluation for the identification and treatment of any associated lesions. The type and treatment of associated lesions were collected in a central database and analyzed. We classified patients according to age (<45 years and ≥ 45 years) and according to the length of time between trauma and surgical treatment (≤ 30 days and ≥ 120 days), obtaining the following stratification: younger acute, older acute, younger chronic, and older chronic. RESULTS: Of the patients, 42 (42.8%) were diagnosed with at least 1 additional pathologic lesion, and 29 (29.5%) required a dedicated additional treatment. Rates of treatment on associated lesions were analyzed: younger versus older groups presented a significant difference, as did younger acute versus older acute groups; SLAP and posterior rotator cuff tear treatments represented 24 of the 35 additional surgeries (68.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The overall rate of associated pathologic lesions requiring additional surgical treatment in patients with ACJ dislocation was 29.5%. Patients aged 45 years or older had a greater risk of presenting with associated lesions that needed to be surgically addressed (odds ratio, 3.01). The overall rates of associated surgical lesions in acute versus chronic cases were not shown to be significantly different. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, prognostic case series.

70° frontal visualization of lateral compartment of the elbow allows extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon release with preservation of the radial lateral collateral ligament.

PURPOSE: To determine whether the radial component of the lateral collateral ligament (R-LCL) and extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) are consistently visible, using a 70° arthroscope, as parallel structures in the extra-articular space of the elbow, and to evaluate the clinical outcomes of these techniques in a series of patients. METHODS: An arthroscopic ECRB tendon release was performed between 2008 and 2010. Eighteen patients were retrospectively evaluated at a minimum of 24 months' follow-up. The surgeon performed the ECRB release while protecting the R-LCL and viewing the structures extra-articularly with a 70° arthroscope through the anteromedial portal. Patients underwent surgery if they presented with localized tenderness and pain not responding to conservative treatment for 12 months and had magnetic resonance imaging scans indicating tendinopathy or degeneration. Arthritis, posterolateral rotatory instability, trauma, and previous surgeries were exclusion criteria. Intraoperative videos were reviewed and a clinical examination was performed by an independent reviewer at 24 months postoperatively. Patients were also evaluated with the Mayo Elbow Performance Score; Andrews-Carson score; and shortened Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire. Direct varus stress was applied in extension and flexion (40°), and the posterolateral pivot-shift and chair tests were performed. RESULTS: Visualization with the 70° arthroscope through the anteromedial portal was successful in all of the cases (100%). Visualization of the residual ECRB tendon stump, as well as the posterior common extensor tendon, was also achieved 94% of the time. The final mean Mayo Elbow Performance Score and Andrews-Carson score were 82.5 (range, 60 to 100) and 185.3 (range, 125 to 200), respectively. The mean postoperative score on the shortened Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire was 20.14 (range, 5 to 57.5). Clinical tests showed stability in all the cases. CONCLUSIONS: The 70° arthroscope allows visualization of the ECRB insertion and R-LCL frontally and in parallel. A surgical plane could be created between the structures. The clinical outcome was good or excellent in 78% of the cases. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Sagittal balance in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: radiographic study of spino-pelvic compensation after surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: Radiographic retrospective study of a consecutive series of 76 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) undergoing posterior only surgical correction and fusion. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sagittal profile changes in a population of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis after posterior only surgical correction. Although the relationship between pelvic indexes and sagittal profile is well known, little has been published about the sagittal profile changes after posterior surgery in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. METHODS: Radiological data of 76 AIS patients were analyzed by an independent observer to compare pelvic indexes and spino-pelvic parameters before and at the last follow-up after surgical posterior correction. All patients underwent a posterior only surgical correction by using different anchor techniques (all screws or hybrid construct), but the same derotation correction maneuver (C-D technique). The collected data were analyzed, on AP and LL radiographic views of the entire spine in the upright position, from the same independent observer and using the same Impax software analysis. We collected for each patient on latero-lateral X-rays the following data: pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS), lumbar lordosis (LL), thoracic kyphosis (TK), C7 plumb line (C7PL) and spino-sacral angle (SSA). All data were analyzed using a D'Agostino-Pearson normality test and the comparison between the groups was performed with a student's t test. RESULTS: The mean pelvic incidence (PI) of the cohort was 48.89° (± 11.24), with a mean Cobb angle for the main curve of 60.13° (± 13.6). The mean value of residual scoliosis after surgery was 28.18° (± 13.22) with an average improvement of the curve in the frontal plane of 53.2 %. The amount of curve correction of the primary scoliosis curve was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). In the evaluation of the whole group after surgery, we observed an increasing amount of PT (average delta value 2.38°) with a statistical significance (p = 0.0034). If we compare the mean ideal PT value (11.09°) with the pre- and post-operative mean true PT values, we found statistical significance only for the post-operative difference (p = 0.0014). In the general assessment, C7PL seems to remain stable after surgery, and in particular it remains negative. In Lenke 1 group, there was a mean PI value of 50.54° (± 11.45) which is higher than the one reported in the global assessment. Also in this subgroup, we observed a reduction in the mean SS values, with consequent increase in the PT values, as in the general assessment. The C7PL tends to move posteriorly after surgery and this difference is statistically significant. In Lenke 1 group we found a strong statistical significance between pre- and post-surgery data for the Cobb primary curve and for the C7PL, which continues to remain negative. The C7PL remains relatively stable only in the normokyphotic group, while it tends to move behind in the other three groups (Lenke 3, hyperkyphosis and hypokyphosis). CONCLUSIONS: In our series of 76 adolescent affected by AIS, we reported mean PI values of 48.9° with a mean pre-operative PT of 11.51°. After surgery we observed an increase in the PT mean value, about three degrees higher than the ideal value, meaning that there was some compensatory mechanism. Patients affected by AIS showed a slight posterior imbalance and the intervention of scoliosis correction seems to cause a slight further posterior imbalance, especially in Lenke 1 type curves and in patients with hypokyphosis. The clinical significance of this slight imbalance must be carefully evaluated. Further studies are necessary to better establish which could be the best surgical strategy to obtain an optimal spinal sagittal balance.