The absorbable subacromial spacer for irreparable posterosuperior cuff tears has inconsistent results.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the 2-year results of an absorbable subacromial spacer in patients with irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears. METHODS: Prospective longitudinal study of a consecutive case series of 16 subjects with irreparable tears of the posterosuperior rotator cuff in which the InSpace® subacromial spacer was arthroscopically implanted. A full clinical evaluation that included the Constant test, Simple Shoulder Test (SST) and the QuickDash questionnaire was performed preoperatively and at 12 and 24 months follow-up. The primary outcome for assessing the success of the procedure was a variable composed of a clinically relevant variation of the Constant (established in an improvement greater than 10 points) and the absence of surgical reintervention. RESULTS: Fifteen subjects (11 women/4 men, median age = 69.4 years [interquartile range 7.50], range 60-80 years) completed the 2-year of follow-up. According to the main evaluation criteria, only 6 patients (40%) had a successful outcome. Five subjects required reconversion to a reverse shoulder arthroplasty (at a median of 9.8 months postoperatively) due to absence of clinical improvement or worsening of symptoms. Of the ten remaining subjects, only 6 had improvements greater than 10 points in the Constant score. Despite of this, these 10 subjects had, on average, some improvement in the Constant test (preoperative Constant: median 35.0 [27.0-52.5] vs Constant at 24 months: 53.5 [55.0-84.0], significant differences p = 0.02), in the SST (3.0 [2.0-4.0] vs 6.0 [3.25-7.75], p = 0.039) and in the QuickDASH test (37.0 [33.25-40.0] vs 27.5 [20.5-32.75], p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes of the implantation of the subacromial biodegradable spacer at 2-year follow-up are not satisfactory. In this small case series only 40% of patients seem to clearly benefit from surgery. One in three required revision to a reverse shoulder arthroplasty. The described technique does not seem a reasonable alternative for the management of the majority of patients with irreparable ruptures of the rotator cuff. The indications of this device should be more clearly defined. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Evaluation of the inter and intraobserver reproducibility of the GRASP method: a goniometric method to measure the isolated glenohumeral range of motion in the shoulder joint.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the intra and interobserver reproducibility of a new goniometric method for evaluating the isolated passive range of motion of the glenohumeral joint in an outpatient setting. METHODS: This is a prospective observational study on healthy subjects. The Glenohumeral ROM Assessment with Scapular Pinch (GRASP) method is a new method for assessing the isolated range of motion (ROM) of the glenohumeral joint (GH) by a single examiner with a clinical goniometer. It measures the isolated glenohumeral passive abduction (GH-AB), passive external rotation (GH-ER) and internal rotation (GH-IR) with the arm at 45º of abduction. These three GH ROM parameters were measured in both shoulders of 30 healthy volunteers (15 males/15 females, mean age:41.6[SD = 10.3] years). The full shoulder passive abduction, passive external rotation and internal rotation 45º of abduction were measured by the same examiners with a goniometer for comparison. One examiner made two evaluations and a second examiner made a third one. The primary outcome was the intra- and interobserver reproducibility of the measurements assessed with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and the Bland-Altman plot. RESULTS: The intra-observer ICC for isolated glenohumeral ROM were: 0.84 ± 0.07 for GH-ABD, 0.63 ± 0.09 for GH-ER, and 0.61 ± 0.14 for GH-IR. The inter-observer ICC for isolated glenohumeral ROM were: 0.86 ± 0.06 for GH-ABD, 0.68 ± 0.12 for GH-ER, and 0.62 ± 0.14 for GH-IR. These results were similar to those obtained for full shoulder ROM assessment with a goniometer. CONCLUSION: The GRASP method is reproducible for quick assessment of isolated glenohumeral ROM. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Vertebral instrumentation and Phlegmasia cerulea dolens. / Instrumentación vertebral y flegmasía cerúlea dolens.

Phlegmasia cerulea dolens is a very infrequent condition secondary to a deep venous thrombosis of multietiological origin usually affecting the lower extremities. It presents with pain and edema in the lower limb rapidly progressive that can compromise the perfusion of the limb, being able to cause gangrene, amputation and even death. We present an extremely rare case of a phlegmasia secondary to a massive deep venous tombosis of the left iliofemoral axis caused by chronic compressive hematoma of a traumatic origin due to a S1 screw shearing in a patient operated three months ago of a lumbar herniated disc through a L5-S1 fussion. This article shows the need to perform a scrupulously scrutinize of the screws both intra and postoperatively when we are close to the great vessels.

Biomechanical Analysis of Stability of Posterior Antiglide Plating in Osteoporotic Pronation Abduction Ankle Fracture Model With Posterior Tibial Fragment.

BACKGROUND: We performed a biomechanical comparison of 2 methods for operative stabilization of pronation-abduction stage III ankle fractures; group 1: Anterior-posterior lag screws fixing the posterior tibial fragment and lateral fibula plating (LSLFP) versus group 2: locked plate fixation of the posterior tibial fragment and posterior antiglide plate fixation of the fibula (LPFP). METHODS: Seven pairs of fresh-frozen osteoligamentous lower leg specimens (2 male, and 5 female donors) were used for the biomechanical testing. Bone mineral density (BMD) of each specimen was assessed by means of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. After open transection of the deltoid ligament, an osteotomy model of pronation abduction stage III ankle fracture was created. Specimens were systematically assigned to LSLFP (group 1, left ankles) or LPPFP (group 2, right ankles). After surgery, all specimens were evaluated via CT to verify reduction and fixation. Axial load was then applied onto each specimen using a servohydraulic testing machine starting from 0 N (Zwick/Roell, Ulm, Germany) at a speed of 10 N/s with the foot fixed in a 10 degrees pronation and 15 degrees dorsiflexion position. Construct stiffness, yield, and ultimate strength were measured and dislocation patterns were documented with a high-speed camera. The normal distribution of all data was analyzed using Shapiro-Wilk test. The group comparison was performed using paired Student t test. Statistical significance was assumed at a P value of .05. RESULTS: All specimens had BMD values consistent with osteoporosis. BMD values did not differ between the left and right ankles of the same pair ( P = .762). The mean BMD values between feet of men (0.603 g/cm2) and women (0.329 g/cm2) were statistically different ( P = .005). The ultimate strength for LSLFP (group 1) with 1139 ± 669 N and LPPFP (group 2) with 2008 ± 943 N was statistically different ( P = .036) as well as the yield in LSLFP (group 1) 812 ± 452 N and LPPFD (group 2) 1292 ± 625 N ( P = .016). Construct stiffness trended to be higher in group 2 (179 ± 100 kNn) compared to group 1 (127 ± 73 kN/m) but this difference was not statistically significant ( P = .120). BMD correlated with bone-construct failure. CONCLUSION: Fixation of the posterior tibial edge with a posterolateral locking plate resulted in higher biomechanical stability than anterior-posterior lag screw fixation in an osteoporotic pronation-abduction fracture model. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The clinical implication of this biomechanical study is that the posterior antiglide plating might be advantageous in patients with osteoporotic pronation abduction stage III ankle fracture.