Scapula fractures: functional anatomy, clinical assessment and management.

Fractures of the scapula are rare injuries, accounting for 3-5% of all shoulder girdle fractures. They are frequently the result of high energy trauma and often present with concurrent and life-threatening injuries to adjacent structures, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Patients presenting with scapula fractures must receive a thorough and systematic clinical assessment as directed by national trauma guidelines. Appropriate imaging is essential in delineating fracture morphology and should at the very least include anteroposterior, anteroposterior oblique (Grashey) and axillary or scapula 'Y' view of the shoulder. Computed tomography imaging with three-dimensional reconstruction allows better delineation of the fracture morphology and helps with surgical planning. A lack of randomised controlled trials comparing the efficacy of conservative and operative management of scapula fractures has resulted in limited consensus for surgical indications. Nevertheless, most extra-articular fractures can be managed conservatively while intra-articular fractures of the glenoid frequently require surgical fixation.

Clinical and cost-effectiveness of individualised (early) patient-directed rehabilitation versus standard rehabilitation after surgical repair of the rotator cuff of the shoulder: protocol for a multicentre, randomised controlled trial with integrated Quintet Recruitment Intervention (RaCeR 2).

INTRODUCTION: Despite the high number of operations and surgical advancement, rehabilitation after rotator cuff repair has not progressed for over 20 years. The traditional cautious approach might be contributing to suboptimal outcomes. Our aim is to assess whether individualised (early) patient-directed rehabilitation results in less shoulder pain and disability at 12 weeks after surgical repair of full-thickness tears of the rotator cuff compared with current standard (delayed) rehabilitation. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The rehabilitation after rotator cuff repair (RaCeR 2) study is a pragmatic multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial with internal pilot phase. It has a parallel group design with 1:1 allocation ratio, full health economic evaluation and quintet recruitment intervention. Adults awaiting arthroscopic surgical repair of a full-thickness tear are eligible to participate. On completion of surgery, 638 participants will be randomised. The intervention (individualised early patient-directed rehabilitation) includes advice to the patient to remove their sling as soon as they feel able, gradually begin using their arm as they feel able and a specific exercise programme. Sling removal and movement is progressed by the patient over time according to agreed goals and within their own pain and tolerance. The comparator (standard rehabilitation) includes advice to the patient to wear the sling for at least 4 weeks and only to remove while eating, washing, dressing or performing specific exercises. Progression is according to specific timeframes rather than as the patient feels able. The primary outcome measure is the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index total score at 12-week postrandomisation. The trial timeline is 56 months in total, from September 2022. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN11499185.

The Global Track Concept for Assessment of Engaging Hill-Sachs Defects in Anterior Shoulder Instability.

BACKGROUND: The glenoid track concept is used to determine preoperatively whether a Hill-Sachs defect is engaging or not. Currently, the glenoid track concept relies on measurements of bony structures as well as on the confines and elasticity of the rotator cuff as a reference point, which varies extensively among individuals and therefore limits the reliability and accuracy of this concept. PURPOSE: To evaluate the reliability of the global track concept, which determines the angular distance of the Hill-Sachs defect from the center of the articular surface of the humeral head as a new reference point with the help of an automated image analysis software and 3-dimensional analysis of the humeral head. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: Computed tomography scans of 100 patients treated for anterior shoulder instability with different sizes of Hill-Sachs defects were evaluated manually by 2 orthopaedic surgeons independently using the software OsiriX as well as automatically by using a dedicated prototype software (ImFusion). Obtained manual and automated measurements included the Hill-Sachs length, Hill-Sachs width, and Hill-Sachs depth of the defect; the Hill-Sachs interval (HSI); and the glenoid width for the glenoid track concept, as well as the angular distance of the Hill-Sachs defect from the center of the articular surface of the humeral head (global track concept). The reliability of the different measurement techniques was compared by calculating intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). RESULTS: There was a significant difference for all obtained parameters comparing manual and automatic measurements. For manually obtained parameters, measurements referring to bony boundaries (glenoid width, Hill-Sachs length, and Hill-Sachs width) showed good to excellent agreement (ICC, 0.86, 0.82, and 0.62, respectively), while measurements referring to soft tissue boundaries (HSI and glenoid track; ICC, 0.56 and 0.53, respectively) or not directly identifiable reference points (center of articular surface and global track) only showed fair reliability (ICC middle excursion, 0.42). When the same parameters were measured with the help of an automated software, good reliability for the glenoid track concept and excellent reliability for the global track concept in the middle excursion were achieved. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that the more complex global track measurements of humeral defects are more reliable than the current standard HSI and glenoid track measurements. However, this is only true when automated software is used to perform the measurements. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Future studies using the new proposed method in combination with an automated software need to be conducted to determine critical threshold values for defects prone to engagement.

Exploring temporal trends and burden of traumatic shoulder dislocation: a global perspective.

Objective: To explore the geographical and temporal trends of traumatic shoulder dislocation, describe the association between the social and demographic factors and the health burden due to traumatic shoulder dislocation, and further investigate its causes. Methods: Data on traumatic shoulder dislocation was collected from the Global Burden of Disease 2019, spanning the years 1990 to 2019. The epidemiology and disease burden were examined at global, regional, and national levels. Additionally, the age and gender patterns were analyzed, followed by an investigation into the primary causes. Lastly, the study studied the correlation between age-standardized rates and the socio-demographic index (SDI). Results: Over a span of 30 years, both the crude and age-standardized rates of incidence and years lived with disability (YLDs) rates for all genders displayed a slight fluctuating downward trend. The incidence and YLDs rates in males were consistently higher than those in females. The study analyzed both incidence and YLDs rates of the global, regional, and national of traumatic shoulder dislocations from 1990 to 2019, as well as the temporal trends. Among males, the highest incidence rate was observed in young adulthood, while females exhibited the highest incidence rate in old age. This pattern was mirrored in the YLDs rate. Falls were identified as the main cause contributing to the disease burden related to traumatic shoulder dislocations. Moreover, a positive correlation was found between the age-standardized rates and SDI. Conclusion: The disease burden of traumatic shoulder dislocation has not significantly decreased from 1990 to 2019. The incidence and YLD rates are associated with age, gender, and SDI. A thorough examination of the disease burden contributes to the efficient allocation and utilization of resources, as well as the development of targeted and effective intervention strategies.

Flexed elbow, abducted shoulder, forearm supinated (FABS) reconstruction from three-dimensional elbow MRI: diagnostic performance assessment in biceps head anatomy and pathology.

AIM: To determine inter-reader analysis and diagnostic performance on digitally reconstructed virtual flexed, abducted, supinated (FABS) imaging from three-dimensional (3D) isotropic elbow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six musculoskeletal radiologists independently evaluated elbow MRI images with virtual FABS reconstructions, blinded to clinical findings and final diagnoses. Each radiologist recorded a binary result as to whether the tendon was intact and if both heads were visible, along with a categorical value to the type of tear and extent of retraction in centimetres where applicable. Kappa and interclass correlation (ICC) were reported with 95% confidence intervals. Areas under the receiver operating curve (AUC) were reported. RESULTS: FABS reconstructions were obtained successfully in all 48 cases. With respect to tendon intactness, visibility of both heads, and type of tear, the Kappa values were 0.66 (0.53-0.78), 0.24 (0.12-0.37), and 0.55 (0.43-0.66), respectively. For the extent of retraction, the ICC was 0.85 (0.79-0.91) when including the tendons with and without retraction and 0.78 (0.61-0.91) when only including tendons with retraction. For tear versus no tear, AUC values were 0.82 (0.74-0.89) to 0.96 (0.91-1.01). CONCLUSION: Digital reconstruction of FABS positioning is feasible and allows good assessment of individual tendon head tears and retraction with high diagnostic performance.

Inequities in the Training Environment and Health of Female Golfers Participating in the 2022 International Golf Federation World Amateur Team Championships.

OBJECTIVE: To assess health problems and training environment of female golfers participating in the 2022 World Amateur Team Championships (WATC) and to compare golfers (a) with and without health problems prior the WATC and (b) living and training in countries ranking in the upper versus lower 50% of the team results at the 2022 WATC. DESIGN: Cross-sectional cohort study using an anonymous questionnaire. SETTING: International Golf Federation WATC. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred sixty-two female golfers from 56 countries. INTERVENTIONS: N/A. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Golfers' answers on the presence and characteristics of health problems, their training environment, and to the Oslo Sport Trauma Research Centre Questionnaire. RESULTS: Almost all golfers (n = 162; 96%) answered the questionnaire. In the 4 weeks before the WATC, 101 golfers (63.1%) experienced 186 musculoskeletal complaints, mainly at the lumbar spine/lower back, wrist, or shoulder. Just half of the golfers (50.6%) performed injury prevention exercises always or often. More than a third (37.4%) of the golfers reported illness complaints and 32.5% mental health problems in the 4 weeks preceding the WATC. General anxiety, performance anxiety, and low mood/depression were the most frequent mental health problems. Golfers with injury complaints rated their daily training environment poorer. Golfers ranking in the lower 50% at the WATC had significantly less support staff, rated their training environment poorer, and had a higher prevalence of illness complaints and mental health problems. CONCLUSIONS: Effective illness and injury prevention programs should be implemented and better access to education and health support in the daily training environment provided.

Geriatric proximal humerus fracture operative management: a Truven Health Analytics database study (2015-2020).

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to assess the trends in operative management of geriatric (≥65 years) proximal humerus fractures during a 6-year period (2015-2020) within an insurance claims database. METHODS: This retrospective database cohort study used data gathered from the 2015-2020 IBM Truven MarketScan Commercial and IBM Truven MarketScan Medicare Supplemental databases. The International Statistical Classification of Disease and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, data was correlated to the Current Procedural Terminology code for shoulder arthroplasty (proximal humeral prosthetic replacement: 23616, shoulder hemiarthroplasty [HA]: 23470, reverse total shoulder arthroplasty [rTSA]: 23472) or open reduction internal fixation (ORIF; open treatment of proximal humerus fracture with internal fixation: 23615, open treatment of proximal humerus fracture-dislocation with internal fixation: 23680). We investigated the number of proximal humerus fracture operative cases per year, percentage arthroplasty used per year, rTSA and HA per year, hospital cost information, as well as percentage arthroplasty per US geographic region. RESULTS: A total of 8057 operative proximal humerus fractures cases were identified in 7697 patients aged >65 years, with 0.45% (360 of 8057) being bilateral. There was a 40.8% decrease in the rate of operative management of proximal humerus fractures between the first half (2015-2017, 1687.3 ± 146.6) and the second half of the study period (2018-2020, 998.3 ± 258.7). Arthroplasty accounted for 78.7% of all surgeries, 91% of those being rTSA. The total number of cases of rTSA and ORIF performed decreased per year (P = .01). The downward trend of percentage ORIF per year approached significance (P = .054). Arthroplasty was a more expensive option of payment for total case by almost $850.00 (P = .001). There was a larger percentage of arthroplasty performed in the Northeast and North Central US geographic regions. CONCLUSION: Despite the rise of both the elderly population and related geriatric proximal humerus fractures, they were less operatively represented in this insurance claims database across the 6-year period. There may be a trend to use less ORIF when addressing these fractures. Although it incurred a higher in-hospital cost, arthroplasty was being performed at a higher percentage in the Northeast and North Central regions of the United States.

Risk of injury and kinematic assessment of the shoulder biomechanics during strokes in padel players: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Padel players commonly suffer from shoulder pain and the particularly high incidence is probably linked to the high frequency of strokes. In addition, due to the repetitive technical gesture, an adequate technique is essential in terms of performance and injury risk prevention. Aim of this study was to objectively evaluate shoulder kinematic during the athletic gesture to analyze the risk factors linked to padel strokes. METHODS: Professional and amateur padel players underwent a three-dimensional motion analysis of the padel strokes utilizing optoelectronic and surface electromyography systems (BTS Bioengineering, Garbagnate Milanese, Milan, Italy). RESULTS: Twelve padel players were included in this study (10 professional players in Group A and 10 amateurs in Group B). Experience influences the execution of padel strokes with a significant difference between group A and B in terms of gleno-humeral rotation and scapular tilt. Moreover, a subgroup analysis revealed that male players execute voleè with a higher external rotation (P=0.043), and forehand with a higher scapular tilt (P=0.044). CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm that the high ranges of motion of the overhead strokes could rise the risk of slap lesion, impingement, and glenohumeral internal rotation deficit. However, a correct execution of the athletic gesture is linked with a dynamic stabilization of the humeral head. In conclusion, the kinematic analysis could help in the early identification of the kinematic alteration to build a tailored rehabilitation plan based on the athlete's needs.

Assessment of an IMU-Based Experimental Set-Up for Upper Limb Motion in Obese Subjects.

In recent years, wearable systems based on inertial sensors opened new perspectives for functional motor assessment with respect to the gold standard motion capture systems. The aim of this study was to validate an experimental set-up based on 17 body-worn inertial sensors (Awinda, Xsens, The Netherlands), addressing specific body segments with respect to the state-of-the art system (VICON, Oxford Metrics Ltd., Oxford, UK) to assess upper limb kinematics in obese, with respect to healthy subjects. Twenty-three obese and thirty healthy weight individuals were simultaneously acquainted with the two systems across a set of three tasks for upper limbs (i.e., frontal arm rise, lateral arm rise, and reaching). Root Mean Square error (RMSE) was computed to quantify the differences between the measurements provided by the systems in terms of range of motion (ROM), whilst their agreement was assessed via Pearson's correlation coefficient (PCC) and Bland-Altman (BA) plots. In addition, the signal waveforms were compared via one-dimensional statistical parametrical mapping (SPM) based on a paired t-test and a two-way ANOVA was applied on ROMs. The overall results partially confirmed the correlation and the agreement between the two systems, reporting only a moderate correlation for shoulder principal rotation angle in each task (r~0.40) and for elbow/flexion extension in obese subjects (r = 0.66), whilst no correlation was found for most non-principal rotation angles (r < 0.40). Across the performed tasks, an average RMSE of 34° and 26° was reported in obese and healthy controls, respectively. At the current state, the presence of bias limits the applicability of the inertial-based system in clinics; further research is intended in this context.

Algorithmic assessment of shoulder function using smartphone video capture and machine learning.

Tears within the stabilizing muscles of the shoulder, known as the rotator cuff (RC), are the most common cause of shoulder pain-often presenting in older patients and requiring expensive advanced imaging for diagnosis. Despite the high prevalence of RC tears within the elderly population, there is no previously published work examining shoulder kinematics using markerless motion capture in the context of shoulder injury. Here we show that a simple string pulling behavior task, where subjects pull a string using hand-over-hand motions, provides a reliable readout of shoulder mobility across animals and humans. We find that both mice and humans with RC tears exhibit decreased movement amplitude, prolonged movement time, and quantitative changes in waveform shape during string pulling task performance. In rodents, we further note the degradation of low dimensional, temporally coordinated movements after injury. Furthermore, a logistic regression model built on our biomarker ensemble succeeds in classifying human patients as having a RC tear with > 90% accuracy. Our results demonstrate how a combined framework bridging animal models, motion capture, convolutional neural networks, and algorithmic assessment of movement quality enables future research into the development of smartphone-based, at-home diagnostic tests for shoulder injury.

Assessment and trends in the methodological quality of the top 50 most cited articles in shoulder arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: Shoulder arthroplasty is increasingly frequent, and the associated literature is abundant. Citation rate is often considered a good means of assessing impact and scientific value. However, analysis of methodological quality is also essential in evidence-based medicine. OBJECTIVES: (1) To identify the 50 most cited articles on shoulder arthroplasty, and (2) to assess the correlation between citation rate and methodological quality. The study hypothesis was that there is no correlation between citation rate and methodological quality. METHOD: Articles were retrieved from PubMed and Google Scholar, identifying the 50 most cited articles on shoulder arthroplasty via the keywords "shoulder joint replacement", "shoulder arthroplasty", "anatomic shoulder prothesis", "reverse shoulder prothesis", and "glenohumeral arthritis". Modified Coleman Methodology Score (MCMS) and the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) were calculated. RESULTS: Mean citation rate for the 50 articles was 312.4±169.5 (range, 151-841.5), with a mean citation density of 18.8±10.6 (range, 4.7-46.7). 56% of the studies (28/50) were retrospective case series with level of evidence IV. There was no correlation between citation rate and methodological quality. DISCUSSION: The 50 most cited articles on shoulder arthroplasty mostly showed low levels of methodological quality. There was no correlation between citation rate and methodological quality: the literature needs to be read with a critical eye. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Long-term trends in the incidence and management of shoulder dystocia in a tertiary obstetric unit in Hong Kong.

INTRODUCTION: Because there have been changes in the management of macrosomic pregnancies and shoulder dystocia in the past decade, this study was conducted to compare the incidences of shoulder dystocia and perinatal outcomes between the periods of 2000-2009 and 2010-2019. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary obstetric unit. All cases of shoulder dystocia were identified using the hospital's electronic database. The incidences, maternal and fetal characteristics, obstetric management methods, and perinatal outcomes were compared between the two study periods. RESULTS: The overall incidence of shoulder dystocia decreased from 0.23% (134/58 326) in 2000-2009 to 0.16% (108/65 683) in 2010-2019 (P=0.009), mainly because of the overall decline in the proportion of babies with macrosomia (from 3.3% to 2.3%; P<0.001). The improved success rates of the McRoberts' manoeuvre (from 31.3% to 47.2%; P=0.012) and posterior arm extraction (from 52.9% to 92.3%; P=0.042) allowed a greater proportion of affected babies to be delivered within 2 minutes (from 59.0% to 79.6%; P=0.003). These changes led to a significant reduction in the proportion of fetuses with low Apgar scores: <5 at 1 minute of life (from 13.4% to 5.6%; P=0.042) and <7 at 5 minutes of life (from 11.9% to 4.6%; P=0.045). CONCLUSION: More proactive management of macrosomic pregnancies and enhanced training in the acute management of shoulder dystocia led to significant improvements in shoulder dystocia incidence and perinatal outcomes from 2000-2009 to 2010-2019.

Construct Validity and Experience of Using a Low-cost Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery Simulator / Validação de constructo e experiência de uso de um simulador de artroscopia de ombro de baixo custo

Abstract Objective To validate the low-cost model for arthroscopy training and analyze the acceptance and usefulness of the developed simulator in medical teaching and training. Method Ten medical students, ten third-year orthopedic residents, and ten shoulder surgeons performed predetermined tasks on a shoulder simulator twice. The parameters used were time to complete the tasks, number of looks at the hands, GOALS score (Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills) and comparison between groups and within groups. An adapted Likert scale was applied addressing the individuals' impressions about the simulator and its applicability. Results In the intergroup comparison, the shoulder surgeons had better scores and times than the other groups. When the tasks were repeated, the group of surgeons had a 59% improvement in time (p < 0.05), as did the group of medical students. In the GOALS score, shoulder surgeons had consistently better scores than the other groups. And when we evaluated the evolution from the first to the second test, the group of surgeons and the group of academics had a statistically significant improvement (p < 0.05). In terms of lookdowns, there was a decrease in all groups. There was consensus that the simulator is useful in training. Conclusion The simulator developed allowed the differentiation between individuals with different levels of training in arthroscopic surgery. It was accepted by 100% of the participants as a useful tool in arthroscopic shoulder surgical training.

Resumo Objetivo Validar o modelo de baixo custo para treinamento em artroscopia e analisar a aceitação e utilidade do simulador desenvolvido no ensino e treinamento médico. Método Dez acadêmicos do curso de medicina, dez residentes do terceiro ano em ortopedia e dez cirurgiões de ombro realizaram tarefas pré determinadas em um simulador de ombro duas vezes. Os parâmetros utilizados foram o tempo para completar as tarefas, quantidade de olhares para as mãos, escore de GOALS (Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills) e comparados entre os grupos e intragrupos. Uma escala de Likert adaptada foi aplicada abordando as impressões dos indivíduos acerca do simulador e de sua aplicabilidade. Resultados Na comparação intergrupos, os cirurgiões de ombro tiveram melhores escores e tempos que os demais grupos. Quando as tarefas foram repetidas, o grupo de cirurgiões, teve uma melhora de 59% no tempo (p < 0,05), assim como no grupo de acadêmicos. No escore de GOALS os cirurgiões de ombro apresentaram escores consistentemente melhores que os demais grupos. E quando avaliamos a evolução do primeiro para o segundo teste, o grupo de cirurgiões e o grupo de acadêmicos tiveram melhora estatisticamente significante (p < 0,05). No quesito de lookdowns houve diminuição em todos os grupos. Houve consenso em que o simulador é útil no treinamento. Conclusão O simulador desenvolvido permitiu a diferenciação entre indivíduos com diferentes níveis de treinamento em cirurgia artroscópica. Foi aceito por 100% dos participantes como uma ferramenta útil no treinamento cirúrgico artroscópico do ombro.

Glenoid Track Assessment at Imaging in Anterior Shoulder Instability: Rationale and Step-by-Step Guide.

Anterior shoulder dislocation is the most common form of joint instability in humans, usually resulting in soft-tissue injury to the glenohumeral capsuloligamentous and labral structures. Bipolar bone lesions in the form of fractures of the anterior glenoid rim and posterolateral humeral head are often associated with anterior shoulder dislocation and can be a cause or result of recurrent dislocations. Glenoid track assessment is an evolving concept that incorporates the pathomechanics of anterior shoulder instability into its management. Currently widely endorsed by orthopedic surgeons, this concept has ramifications for prognostication, treatment planning, and outcome assessment of anterior shoulder dislocation. The glenoid track is the contact zone between the humeral head and glenoid during shoulder motion from the neutral position to abduction and external rotation. Two key determinants of on-track or off-track status of a Hill-Sachs lesion (HSL) are the glenoid track width (GTW) and Hill-Sachs interval (HSI). If the GTW is less than the HSI, an HSL is off track. If the GTW is greater than the HSI, an HSL is on track. The authors focus on the rationale behind the glenoid track concept and explain stepwise assessment of the glenoid track at CT or MRI. Off-track to on-track conversion is a primary goal in stabilizing the shoulder with anterior instability. The key role that imaging plays in glenoid track assessment warrants radiologists' recognition of this concept along with its challenges and pitfalls and the production of relevant and actionable radiology reports for orthopedic surgeons-to the ultimate benefit of patients. ©RSNA, 2023 Online supplemental material is available for this article. Quiz questions for this article are available through the Online Learning Center.

Assessment of glenoid bone loss and other osseous shoulder pathologies comparing MR-based CT-like images with conventional CT.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and compare the diagnostic performance of CT-like images based on a 3D T1-weighted spoiled gradient-echo sequence (T1 GRE), an ultra-short echo time sequence (UTE), and a 3D T1-weighted spoiled multi-echo gradient-echo sequence (FRACTURE) with conventional CT in patients with suspected osseous shoulder pathologies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with suspected traumatic dislocation of the shoulder (n = 46, mean age 40 ± 14.5 years, 19 women) were prospectively recruited and received 3-T MR imaging including 3D T1 GRE, UTE, and 3D FRACTURE sequences. CT was performed in patients with acute fractures and served as standard of reference (n = 25). Agreement of morphological features between the modalities was analyzed including the glenoid bone loss, Hill-Sachs interval, glenoid track, and the anterior straight-line length. Agreement between the modalities was assessed using Bland-Altman plots, Student's t-test, and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Inter- and intrareader assessment was evaluated with weighted Cohen's κ and intraclass correlation coefficient. RESULTS: All osseous pathologies were detected accurately on all three CT-like sequences (n = 25, κ = 1.00). No significant difference in the percentage of glenoid bone loss was found between CT (mean ± standard deviation, 20.3% ± 8.0) and CT-like MR images (FRACTURE 20.6% ± 7.9, T1 GRE 20.4% ± 7.6, UTE 20.3% ± 7.7, p > 0.05). When comparing the different measurements on CT-like images, measurements performed using the UTE images correlated best with CT. CONCLUSION: Assessment of bony Bankart lesions and other osseous pathologies was feasible and accurate using CT-like images based on 3-T MRI compared with conventional CT. Compared to the T1 GRE and FRACTURE sequence, the UTE measurements correlated best with CT. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: In an acute trauma setting, CT-like images based on a T1 GRE, UTE, or FRACTURE sequence might be a useful alternative to conventional CT scan sparing associated costs as well as radiation exposure. KEY POINTS: • No significant differences were found for the assessment of the glenoid bone loss when comparing measurements of CT-like MR images with measurements of conventional CT images. • Compared to the T1 GRE and FRACTURE sequence, the UTE measurements correlated best with CT whereas the FRACTURE sequence appeared to be the most robust regarding motion artifacts. • The T1 GRE sequence had the highest resolution with high bone contrast and detailed delineation of even small fractures but was more susceptible to motion artifacts.

Assessment of pediatric shoulder range of motion and loading response to evaluate the biofidelity of the Large Omni-directional Child (LODC) anthropomorphic test device (ATD) shoulder design.

The shoulder girdle complex, through engagement with the seat belt, influences motor vehicle occupant upper body movement during frontal impacts, affecting the movement of the head and spine. The recently developed Large Omni-directional Child (LODC) anthropomorphic test device (ATD) was designed with flexible shoulder girdle structures that capture the unique kinematics in pediatric occupants. However, the LODC shoulder has not been evaluated for biofidelity due to the lack of biomechanical data available on pediatric shoulder responses. This study evaluated quasi-static pediatric shoulder girdle complex responses through non-invasive displacement measurements. These data were obtained to evaluate, and, if necessary, improve the biofidelity of the LODC ATD. Shoulder range of motion and anthropometric measurements were obtained from 25 pediatric volunteers, ages 8-12 years old. Loads were applied bilaterally exclusively to the shoulder complexes in increments of 25 N up to 150 N per shoulder at 90 and 135 degrees of shoulder flexion. Still photos were used to determine shoulder displacement in the sagittal plane from images captured prior to and following the load applications. Data analysis consisted of motion tracking to evaluate the absolute and relative displacement of the right acromion and T1. The displacements for each volunteer were normalized based on the volunteer's shoulder width compared to the shoulder width of the LODC ATD. For the 90° load, the acromion moved relative to T1 an average of 28.1 mm forward and 3.1 mm downward at maximum displacement. For the 135° load, the acromion moved relative to T1 an average of 15.5 mm forward and 42.7 mm upward at maximum displacement. Similar displacements at higher loads indicated that the volunteers achieved their maximum range of motion. The results of this study will be compared to the LODC ATD, assessing the biofidelity of the shoulder complex.

A Comparison Study of the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index, and the Constant-Murley Score with Objective Assessment of External Rotator Muscle Strength and Pain in Patients after Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair.

Although rotator cuff injures are often associated with a limited range of motion and muscle weakness, being able to conduct pain-free and efficient performances of the activities as part of daily living seems to be more important for patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between two questionnaires-the disease-specific, subjective questionnaire termed the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC), and the shoulder-specific, subjective-objective questionnaire Constant-Murley score (CMS), with the objective assessment of external rotator muscle strength, and the subjective assessment of pain according to the visual analog scale (VAS) in patients after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. The study was carried out among 47 patients twice-6 and 12 months after surgery, respectively. All patients completed the WORC, the CMS, and the VAS. Isokinetic evaluation of the external rotators was performed using the Biodex 4 ProSystem. The correlations of all assessed muscle strength parameters with both the CMS and the WORC were found to be statistically significant, being mostly average during the 1st examination and mostly strong during the 2nd examination. There was a significant improvement in all assessed tools as a result of the undertaken rehabilitation. There were weak correlations present between changes in the WORC and changes in the external rotator muscle strength, with correlations between WORC-Sport and EXT900-AVERAGE-POWER and PEAK-TORQUE also being found statistically significant. Correlations of changes in the CMS scale with changes in the external rotator muscle strength were weak and statistically insignificant. It seems that the WORC questionnaire can be recommended more for the population after rotator cuff repair, which allows for a reliable assessment of patients' ability to function and its changes in various areas of life, and at the same time does not require a direct assessment by a clinician or researcher.

Costs of shoulder and elbow procedures are significantly reduced in ambulatory surgery centers compared to hospital outpatient departments.

BACKGROUND: Recent literature has shown the advantages of outpatient surgery for many shoulder and elbow procedures, including cost savings with equivalent safety in appropriately selected patients. Two common settings for outpatient surgeries are ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), which function as independent financial and administrative entities, or hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs), which are owned and operated by hospital systems. The purpose of this study was to compare shoulder and elbow surgery costs between ASCs and HOPDs. METHODS: Publicly available data from 2022 provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) was accessed via the Medicare Procedure Price Lookup Tool. Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes were used to identify shoulder and elbow procedures approved for the outpatient setting by CMS. Procedures were grouped into arthroscopy, fracture, or miscellaneous. Total costs, facility fees, Medicare payments, patient payment (costs not covered by Medicare), and surgeon's fees were extracted. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate means and standard deviations. Cost differences were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: Fifty-seven CPT codes were identified. Arthroscopy procedures (n = 16) at ASCs had significantly lower total costs ($2667 ± $989 vs. $4899 ± $1917; P = .009), facility fees ($1974 ± $819 vs. $4206 ± $1753; P = .008), Medicare payments ($2133 ± $791 vs. $3919 ± $1534; P = .009), and patient payments ($533 ± $198 vs. $979 ± $383; P = .009) compared with HOPDs. Fracture procedures (n = 10) at ASCs had lower total costs ($7680 ± $3123 vs. $11,335 ± $3830; P = .049), facility fees ($6851 ± $3033 vs. $10,507 ± $3733; P = .047), and Medicare payments ($6143 ± $2499 vs. $9724 ± $3676; P = .049) compared with HOPDs, although patient payments were not significantly different ($1535 ± $625 vs. $1610 ± $160; P = .449). Miscellaneous procedures (n = 31) at ASCs had lower total costs ($4202 ± $2234 vs. $6985 ± $2917; P < .001), facility fees ($3348 ± $2059 vs. $6132 ± $2736; P < .001), Medicare payments ($3361 ± $1787 vs. $5675 ± $2635; P < .001), and patient payments ($840 ± $447 vs. $1309 ± $350; P < .001) compared with HOPDs. The combined cohort (n = 57) at ASCs had lower total costs ($4381 ± $2703 vs. $7163 ± $3534; P < .001), facility fees ($3577 ± $2570 vs. $6539.1 ± $3391; P < .001), Medicare payments ($3504 ± $2162 vs. $5892 ± $3206; P < .001), and patient payments ($875 ± $540 vs. $1269 ± $393; P < .001) compared with HOPDs. CONCLUSION: Shoulder and elbow procedures performed at HOPDs for Medicare recipients were found to have average total cost increase of 164% compared with those performed at ASCs (184% savings for arthroscopy, 148% for fracture, and 166% for miscellaneous). ASC use conferred lower facility fees, patient payments, and Medicare payments. Policy efforts to incentivize migration of surgeries to ASCs may translate into substantial health care cost savings.

The single assessment numeric evaluation correlates with the western ontario rotator cuff score in non-traumatic shoulder disease.

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are essential clinical instruments used for assessing patient function and assisting in clinical decision making. The Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) index is the PROM for shoulder pathology with the most psychometric properties but is very time consuming. The Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) method is a PROM that takes less time to answer and to analyze. The aim of the study is to evaluate the intra- class correlation between these two outcome scores in establishing shoulder function in patients with non-traumatic rotator cuff pathologies. Fifty five subjects of both genders and different ages presenting with non-traumatic shoulder pain for more than 12 weeks had a physical examination and ultrasound as well as MRI arthrogram scan findings that were consistent of a non-traumatic rotator cuff (RC) based pathology. On the same moment a WORC index and a SANE score questionnaire were filled in by the subject. The intra class correlation of both PROMs was statistically analyzed. The WORC index score and the SANE score show a moderate correlation with an Intra Class Coefficient (ICC) of r = 0.60 (95% CI:0.40-0.75). This study demonstrates a moderate correlation between the WORC index score and the SANE score in rating the disability of patients with atraumatic RC disease. The SANE score is applicable in research and clinical practice and is for the patient and the researcher an almost no time consuming PROM.