Osteointegration of a Biocomposite Suture Anchor After Arthroscopic Shoulder Labral Repair.

PURPOSE: To evaluate osteoconductivity of a poly-L-lactide co-glycolide (PLG)-calcium sulfate (CS)-ß-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) biocomposite suture anchor after arthroscopic shoulder labral repair. METHODS: The subjects of this study were patients who participated in a clinical trial for acquisition of marketing approval of a PLG-CS-ß-TCP biocomposite anchor in Japan. They underwent arthroscopic labral repair using the anchor, and computed tomographic (CT) images of the glenoid were obtained 2 years after surgery. Osteoconductivity at the anchor sites was evaluated with the CT images using the established ossification quality score. Shoulder function scores including the Rowe score and Japanese Shoulder Society shoulder instability score were also assessed 2 years after surgery. RESULTS: CT images and functional scores were obtained from 37 patients, comprising 29 men and 8 women with a mean age of 29 years (range, 25-33 years) at surgery. A total of 148 anchors were implanted in the 37 shoulders. Osteoconductivity was seen in 133 of 148 anchor sites (90.0%) 2 years after implantation. No significant differences in osteoconductivity were found by anchor diameter or position. The Rowe score significantly improved from 39.9 points (95% confidence interval [CI], 33.8-45.9 points) preoperatively to 96.6 points (95% CI, 95.1-98.1 points) at 2 years postoperatively (P < .001). The Japanese Shoulder Society shoulder instability score also significantly improved, from 63.1 points (95% CI, 58.4-67.7 points) preoperatively to 96.3 points (95% CI, 94.7-97.8 points) at 2 years postoperatively (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Biocomposite suture anchors made of PLG, CS, and ß-TCP exhibited some osteoconductivity 2 years after arthroscopic labral repair, as well as good clinical outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Shoulder and elbow pain in junior high school baseball players: Results of a nationwide survey.

BACKGROUND: Despite proposals and guidelines to prevent baseball injuries in young players by societies and organizations, many shoulder and elbow injuries continue to occur among junior high school baseball players. In order to investigate the training conditions of junior high school baseball players and the risk factors for shoulder and elbow pain in the players, we conducted a questionnaire survey among junior high school baseball players throughout the country. METHODS: The questionnaire survey was conducted among junior high school baseball players in September 2016. RESULTS: A total of 11,134 junior high school baseball players belonging to 495 teams responded to the survey. Among these, 4004 players trained every day of the week and 1151 players played baseball games every month with no off-season. Among 9752 players who did not have shoulder and/or elbow pain in the spring and summer of 2015, 19.2% of players experienced elbow pain over the course of one year, 13.6% of players experienced shoulder pain, and 28.0% complained of shoulder and/or elbow pain. The frequency of elbow pain was more than that of shoulder pain. At risk for shoulder pain were pitchers and catchers and second-year students, while risk factors for elbow pain were playing pitcher and catcher positions, pitching or throwing ≥300 balls per week, playing ≥10 games on average per month and being left-handed. CONCLUSION: Risk factors for shoulder pain were different from those for elbow pain. To prevent elbow pain, coaches should pay attention to pitchers and catchers and left-handed players and not allow players to pitch or throw ≥300 full-power balls per week or participate in ≥10 games per month. They should also pay attention to pitchers and catchers and second-year students to prevent shoulder pain. It is important for coaches to train multiple pitchers and catchers.

Shoulder and elbow pain in elementary school baseball players: The results from a nation-wide survey in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Despite recommendations on how to prevent baseball injuries in youths by the Japanese Society of Clinical Sports Medicine, shoulder and elbow pain still frequently occurs in young baseball players. We conducted a questionnaire survey among baseball players at elementary schools across the country to understand the practice conditions of players, examining the risk factors of shoulder and elbow pain in baseball players. METHODS: The questionnaire survey was conducted among elementary school baseball players as members of the Baseball Federation of Japan in September 2015. RESULTS: A total of 8354 players belonging to 412 teams (average age: 8.9) responded to the survey. Among 7894 players who did not have any shoulder and/or elbow pain in September 2014, elbow pain was experienced in 12.3% of them, shoulder pain in 8.0% and shoulder and/or elbow pain in 17.4% during the previous one year. A total of 2835 (39.9% of the total) practiced four days or more per week and 97.6% practiced 3 h or more per day on Saturdays and Sundays. The risk factors associated shoulder and elbow pain included a male sex, older age, pitchers and catchers, and players throwing more than 50 balls per day. CONCLUSIONS: It has been revealed that Japanese elementary school baseball players train too much. Coaches should pay attention to older players, male players, pitchers and catchers in order to prevent shoulder and elbow pain. Furthermore, elementary school baseball players should not be allowed to throw more than 50 balls per day. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study.

Reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Japanese version of the patient-rated elbow evaluation.

BACKGROUND: The patient-rated elbow evaluation (PREE) is a joint-specific, self-administered questionnaire consisting of a pain scale (PREE-P) and a functional scale (PREE-F), the latter consisting of specific function (PREE-SF) and usual function (PREE-UF). The purpose of this study was to cross-culturally adapt the PREE into Japanese (PREE-J) and to test its reliability, validity, and responsiveness. METHODS: A consecutive series of 74 patients with elbow disorder completed the PREE-J, the Japanese version of the disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH-JSSH) questionnaire, and the official Japanese version of the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Of the 74 patients, 53 were reassessed for test-retest reliability 1 or 2 weeks later. Reliability was investigated in terms of reproducibility and internal consistency. The validity of the PREE-J was examined by factor analysis, and correlation coefficients were obtained using the PREE-J, DASH-JSSH, and SF-36. Responsiveness was examined by calculating the standardized response mean (SRM) and effect size after elbow surgery in 53 patients. RESULTS: Cronbach's α coefficients for PREE-P, PREE-F, and PREE were 0.92, 0.97, and 0.97, respectively, and the corresponding intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.92, 0.93, and 0.94, respectively. Unidimensionality of PREE-P and PREE-F was confirmed by factor analysis. The coefficients of correlation between PREE-P and PREE-F or DASH-JSSH were 0.81 and 0.74, respectively; that between PREE-F and DASH-JSSH was 0.86, and those between DASH-JSSH and PREE-SF or PREE-UF were 0.85 and 0.82, respectively. Moderate correlation was observed in "physical functioning" for SF-36 and PREE-F (r = -0.69) or PREE (r = -0.68). The SRMs/effect sizes of PREE-P (1.31/1.32) or PREE (1.28/1.12) were more responsive than the DASH-JSSH (0.99/0.85), "bodily pain" (-1.15/-1.43), and "physical functioning" (-0.70/-0.44) in SF-36. CONCLUSION: The PREE-J represents a reliable, valid, and responsive instrument and has evaluation capacities equivalent to those of the original PREE.