Variations of magnetic resonance imaging findings in asymptomatic elbows.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in asymptomatic patients have been described for hips, knees, ankles, shoulders, and intervertebral disks. No such description exists for the elbow. METHODS: MRI scans of 189 asymptomatic elbows divided into 3 groups by age (group 1, 20-39 years; group 2, 40-59 years; and group 3, ≥60 years) were evaluated for abnormalities within 13 anatomic structures using a novel classification system. RESULTS: At least 1 variation was found in all elbows. Of the 13 structures, 8 showed an increase in the prevalence and intensity of signal changes with aging, 2 remained the same, and 2 showed a decrease. One anatomic structure showed no variations in any elbow. CONCLUSIONS: Elbow MRI variations may be seen regardless of symptoms. These changes appear to increase in prevalence and intensity with age. Results from this study can be used to help guide the clinician in interpreting MRI findings of the elbow. We hope this study helps provide a contextual background for discussing MRI findings with patients and differentiating age-related variations from true pathology.

Clinical outcomes of anconeus interposition arthroplasty after radial head resection in native and prosthetic radial heads.

BACKGROUND: Radiocapitellar pathology after traumatic injury to the elbow can be challenging to treat. The anconeus interposition arthroplasty has been proposed to treat radiocapitellar or proximal radioulnar joint dysfunction and pain, or both. This study evaluated whether radial head excision (native or prosthetic), followed by an anconeus interposition arthroplasty, relieves pain and improves subjective and objective elbow function in patients with post-traumatic radiocapitellar pathology. METHODS: A retrospective comparative case series was performed of 50 consecutive patients who underwent a native radial head excision or radial head implant excision, followed by an anconeus interposition arthroplasty. Clinical outcome scores, range of motion, and proximal radius migration were evaluated in patients with at least 2 years of follow-up. RESULTS: Included were 23 patients (11 native and 12 prosthetic radial heads) with a mean age of 41 years. Average follow-up was 38 months. Overall, significant improvement was obtained in the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand and visual analog scale scores. Range of motion significantly improved from preoperatively to postoperatively. Patients with a native radial head excision scored better on the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (76.8 vs. 56.3, P = .037) and obtained significantly more flexion postoperatively (141° vs. 123°, P = .016). Mild wrist pain developed in 3 patients, but no further intervention was required. The overall complication rate was 13%, and 5 patients required reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: Anconeus interposition arthroplasty performed after radial head resection in native and prosthetic groups is a viable adjunct in the operative treatment of patients with post-traumatic radiocapitellar pathology. However, whether anconeus interposition arthroplasty alone produced the favorable clinical results of this study was difficult to determine.

Outcomes After Dermal Allograft Reconstruction of Chronic or Subacute Pectoralis Major Tendon Ruptures.

BACKGROUND: Avoiding delay in the surgical management of pectoralis major (PM) ruptures optimizes outcomes. However, this is not always possible, and when a tear becomes chronic or when a subacute tear has poor tissue quality, a graft can facilitate reconstruction. PURPOSE: The primary aim was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of PM reconstruction with dermal allograft augmentation for chronic tears or for subacute tears with poor tissue quality. A second aim was to determine patient and surgical factors affecting outcome. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Nineteen consecutive patients (19 PM ruptures) with a mean ± SD age of 39.1 ± 8.4 years were retrospectively reviewed at 26.4 ± 16.0 months following PM tendon reconstruction with dermal allograft. Surgery was performed at 19.2 ± 41.2 months after injury (median, 7.6 months; range, 1.1-185.4 months). Several outcome scores were recorded pre- and postoperatively, including Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH), as well as visual analog scale (VAS) (range, 0-10; 0 = no pain) and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE). Range of motion, Constant score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, Simple Shoulder Test score, and complications/reoperations were recorded postoperatively. RESULTS: Scores improved significantly for the DASH (preoperative, 34.9; postoperative, 8.0; P < .001) and VAS (preoperative, 5.0; postoperative, 1.5; P = .011). There was a trend toward improved SANE scores (preoperative, 15.0; postoperative, 80.0; P = .097), but the difference was not statistically significant, likely because of the small number of patients having preoperative SANE scores for review. Increased age was associated with higher VAS scores (r = 0.628, P = .016) and less forward flexion (r = -0.502, P = .048) and external rotation (r = -0.654, P = .006). Patients with workers' compensation had lower scores for 3 measures: SANE (75.8 vs 88.4, P = .040), Constant (86.7 vs 93.4, P = .019), and ASES (81.9 vs 97.4, P = .016). Operating on the dominant extremity resulted in lower Constant scores (87.8 vs 95.4, P = .012). A 2-head tendon tear (107.5° vs 123.3°, P = .033) and the use of >1 graft (105.0° vs 121.3°, P = .040) resulted in decreased abduction. CONCLUSION: This was the first large series to observe patients with chronic or subacute PM tendon tears treated with dermal allograft reconstruction. PM tendon reconstruction with dermal allografts resulted in good objective and subjective patient-reported outcomes.

Transolecranon Surgical Approach for Radial Head Arthroplasty.

The authors propose a novel surgical technique for complex fractures of the elbow necessitating a radial head arthroplasty (RHA) that spares additional soft tissue morbidity and allows for accurate sizing of the radial head. A 56-year-old woman presented with a transolecranon fracture-dislocation of the left elbow. Through a posterior transolecranon approach, there was excellent access to the intramedullary canal for insertion of a RHA to the proximal radius by reflecting the proximal ulna fragment cephalad and performing a shotgun maneuver that hyperflexes the elbow. Also, accurate sizing of the radial head was accomplished with direct visualization of its relationship with the lateral coronoid facet. The transolecranon approach avoids a separate lateral interval, such as the Kaplan or Kocher approach and their potential hazards, for placement of a RHA in complex elbow injuries. It also allows for accurate radial head sizing because of direct visualization of the relationship of the radial head with the lateral coronoid facet. During the past 5 years, the transolecranon approach has been used at the authors' institution for 6 RHAs for complex elbow injuries. These patients have not had postoperative dislocations or revisions. Additionally, no evidence of malsizing has been observed. [Orthopedics.2016; 39(5):e992-e996.].

Management of complications after revision shoulder arthroplasty.

Complications after revision shoulder arthroplasty are similar to those in the primary setting which include instability, fracture, bone loss, infection, nerve injury, and loosening. Unlike in the primary setting, however, the rate of complications for revisions is significantly greater and the management is more complex because of overlapping complications and limited treatment options. Furthermore, there is a paucity of evidence-based literature to direct the management options in these patients. The purposes of this review are to broadly outline the major complications that are seen in revision shoulder arthroplasty and to provide general principles on how to recognize and approach these complex cases.