Chronic Irreducible Anterior Dislocation of the Shoulder without Significant Functional Deficit.

Shoulder dislocation is frequently encountered by orthopedists, and closed manipulation is often sufficient to treat the injury in an acute setting. Although most dislocations are diagnosed and managed promptly, there are rare cases that are missed or neglected, leading to a chronically dislocated state of the joint. They are usually irreducible and cause considerable pain and functional disability in most affected patients, prompting the need to find a surgical method to reverse the worsening conditions caused by the dislocated joint. However, there are cases of even greater rarity in which chronic shoulder dislocations are asymptomatic with minimal functional or structural degeneration in the joint. These patients are usually left untreated, and most show good tolerance to their condition without developing disabling symptoms or significant functional loss over time. We report on one such patient who had a chronic shoulder dislocation for more than 2 years without receiving treatment.

Effect of glenohumeral position on contact pressure between the capsulolabral complex and the glenoid in free ALPSA and Bankart lesions.

PURPOSE: Anterior shoulder dislocation is a common injury, but the optimal management of dislocation remains controversial. We hypothesized that reducing the shoulder in externally rotated position would aid the reduction in capsulolabral lesions. Thus, in this study, contact pressure between the capsulolabral lesion and the glenoid in free ALPSA and Bankart lesions was measured using a cadaver model. METHODS: In 10 specimens, the humerus was externally rotated by abduction on the coronal plane to measure the contact pressure between the capsulolabral complex and glenoid in free ALPSA and Bankart lesions using a Tekscan pressure system. Stability of the joint was confirmed using the Vicon motion analysis system. RESULTS: In the normal shoulder joint, the peak pressure between the subscapularis muscle and the anterior capsule according to the location of the glenohumeral joint decreased to 83.4 ± 21.2 kPa in the 0° abduction and -30° external rotation positions and showed a 300.7 ± 42.9 kPa peak value in the 60° abduction and 60° external rotation positions. In both free ALPSA and Bankart lesions, the lowest pressure between the labral lesion and the glenoid was measured at 0° abduction and -30° external rotation, and the highest pressure was recorded at 60° external rotation and 60° abduction. CONCLUSION: The contact pressure between the capsulolabral complex and the glenoid significantly increased when the abduction and external rotation angles were increased. Based on our results, the conservative management in free ALPSA lesions would respond better than Bankart lesions. IRB OR ETHICAL COMMITTEE APPROVAL: YWMR-12-0-038.

Single-row versus double-row capsulolabral repair: a comparative evaluation of contact pressure and surface area in the capsulolabral complex-glenoid bone interface.

BACKGROUND: Despite the attention that has been paid to restoration of the capsulolabral complex anatomic insertion onto the glenoid, studies comparing the pressurized contact area and mean interface pressure at the anatomic insertion site between a single-row repair and a double-row labral repair have been uncommon. PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to compare the mean interface pressure and pressurized contact area at the anatomic insertion site of the capsulolabral complex between a single-row repair and a double-row repair technique. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: Thirty fresh-frozen cadaveric shoulders (mean age, 61 ± 8 years; range, 48-71 years) were used for this study. Two types of repair were performed on each specimen: (1) a single-row repair and (2) a double-row repair. Using pressure-sensitive films, we examined the interface contact area and contact pressure. RESULTS: The mean interface pressure was greater for the double-row repair technique (0.29 ± 0.04 MPa) when compared with the single-row repair technique (0.21 ± 0.03 MPa) (P = .003). The mean pressurized contact area was also significantly greater for the double-row repair technique (211.8 ± 18.6 mm(2), 78.4% footprint) compared with the single-row repair technique (106.4 ± 16.8 mm(2), 39.4% footprint) (P = .001). CONCLUSION: The double-row repair has significantly greater mean interface pressure and pressurized contact area at the insertion site of the capsulolabral complex than the single-row repair. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The double-row repair may be advantageous compared with the single-row repair in restoring the native footprint area of the capsulolabral complex.

Comparison of early fixation and delayed reconstruction after displacement in previously nondisplaced acromion fractures.

Scapular fractures account for approximately 1% of all fractures, and 8% to 10% are acromion fractures. We compared the results of early and delayed treatment for nondisplaced and type III acromion fractures, respectively, to investigate an early treatment method for nondisplaced acromion fractures. Patients treated between March 1999 and March 2006 with 2-year follow-up were selected for the study. The early fixation group comprised 16 patients, and the delayed reconstruction group comprised 18 patients. Moreover, the delayed reconstruction group was further divided into 2 additional groups: delayed group B and delayed group N. Delayed group B comprised 7 cases receiving bone graft, and delayed group N comprised 11 cases not receiving bone graft. Mean Constant scores were significantly greater for the early fixation group (92+/-6.6; range, 64-98) than for both delayed groups N (86+/-7.8; range, 54-96) and B (81+/-9.4; range, 58-92) (P=.042 and .024, respectively). Mean pain score was 14+/-4.8 (range, 5-15) in the early fixation group, 12+/-7.4 (range, 5-15) in delayed group N, and 9+/-8.8 (range, 5-15) in delayed group B (P=.052 and .018, respectively). Mean daily activity score was also significantly greater in the early fixation group (19+/-6.4; range, 16-20) than in both delayed group N (14+/-6.2; range, 10-18) and delayed group B (10+/-4.4; range, 8-18) (P=.048 and .021, respectively). The P values for Constant, pain, and daily activity scores between delayed groups N and B were .048, .038, and .052, respectively. In cases of young patients with type IC acromion fractures at the time of injury, a high activity level, and the early need for crutches or a walker, early surgical treatment should be considered.

Prevalence comparison of accompanying lesions between primary and recurrent anterior dislocation in the shoulder.

BACKGROUND: Many authors have reported the presence of intra-articular lesions after primary dislocation of the shoulder joint. However, few studies have focused on their prevalence or the differences in accompanying lesions between primary and recurrent dislocations of the shoulder joint. PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to investigate and analyze accompanying lesions, including types of anteroinferior labrum injuries, using diagnostic arthroscopy and magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) in 144 patients with traumatic anterior dislocation of the shoulder joint. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: There were 33 patients with 33 dislocations in the primary dislocation group and 111 patients with 111 dislocations in the recurrent dislocation group. Preoperative magnetic resonance arthrography and diagnostic arthroscopy were performed on all patients. RESULTS: In the primary dislocation group, 8 Bankart lesions, 9 free anterior labrum periosteal sleeve avulsion (ALPSA) lesions, 4 bony Bankart lesions, and 1 adhesive ALPSA lesion were observed. In the recurrent dislocation group, 68 Bankart lesions, 11 free ALPSA lesions, 13 bony Bankart lesions, 16 adhesive ALPSA lesions, and 1 glenoid articular rim disruption lesion were found. There were 22 (66.6%) and 109 (98.1%) patients with lesions in the anteroinferior labrum in the primary and recurrent groups, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (P = .002). Also, there was a significant difference between the 2 groups in the prevalence of the Hill-Sachs lesion and inverted pear-shaped glenoid lesion (P = .008/P = .047). Inverted pear-shaped glenoids were observed in 15 patients in the recurrent group. In 139 of 144 patients, surgical findings of accompanying lesions coincided with magnetic resonance arthrography findings (96.5%). CONCLUSION: Various forms of anteroinferior labral lesions were seen in patients with traumatic anterior dislocation of shoulder. The recurrent dislocation group showed a significantly higher prevalence of anteroinferior labral lesions and bony lesions in comparison with the primary group. In our study, magnetic resonance arthrography was an accurate method to assess accompanying lesions in first-time and recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder, suggesting that this may be a useful tool for determining a treatment method.

The spectrum of lesions and clinical results of arthroscopic stabilization of acute anterior shoulder instability.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate and analyze accompanying lesions including injury types of anteroinferior labrum lesion in young and active patients who suffered traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation for the first time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study used magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) to 40 patients with acute anterior shoulder dislocation from April 2004 to April 2008, and of those, 36 with abnormal MRA finding were treated with arthroscopy. RESULTS: There was a total of 25 cases of anteroinferior glenoid labrum lesions. A superior labrum anterior-posterior lesion (SLAP) lesion was observed in 8 cases. For bony lesions, 22 cases of Hill-sachs lesions, 4 cases of lesions in greater tuberosity fracture of humerus, and 4 cases of loose body were found. For lesions involving rotator cuff, partial articular side rupture was found in 2 cases and 2 cases were found to have a complete rupture. CONCLUSION: Under MRA and arthroscopy performed on patients with acute anterior shoulder dislocation, it was observed to have varying types of anteroinferior labrum lesions such as Perthes, Bankart, ALPSA, and bony Bankart lesion. that MRA is a remarkably useful tool to classify various lesions in acute anterior dislocation of the shoulder and to make a diagnosis, making it a useful tool to decide a treatment method while consulting patients and their families.

Comparison study of intraarticular and intravenous gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage in a canine model.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and measurement of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) have potential for characterization of hyaline articular cartilage. Recently, some reports have demonstrated the potential of direct administration of contrast media for MR imaging of cartilage. PURPOSE: To prove the feasibility of intraarticular gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging of cartilage (iGEMRIC) and T1 relaxation mapping of the articular cartilage in vivo with intraarticular injection of Gd-DTPA2-. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five healthy beagle dogs underwent MR imaging and T1 relaxation mapping of the knee joints of both hind legs. The delayed gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging of cartilage (dGEMRIC) and iGEMRIC techniques were interchanged with MR imaging. For dGEMRIC, a double routine dose of Gd-DTPA2- (0.2 mM/kg) was administered intravenously. For iGEMRIC, 2.5 and 1.25 mmol/l saline-diluted Gd-DTPA2- solutions were separately injected into the right and left knee joints, respectively, prior to MR imaging. Color-coded T1 maps of 20 femoral condyles were obtained from the dGEMRIC and iGEMRIC images. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) delineation of articular cartilage were compared between the dGEMRIC and iGEMRIC techniques. RESULTS: The mean SNR was higher with dGEMRIC than with iGEMRIC, but the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.174). The mean (+/-SD) CNR was higher with iGEMRIC (-11.6+/-3.4) than with dGEMRIC (-16.7+/-4.0; P=0.000), although the absolute value of the CNR was higher with dGEMRIC. The layering and gradient distribution of GAG were more clearly visualized on the iGEMRIC images. The mean scores of GAG delineation with dGEMRIC and iGEMRIC were 0.7+/-0.6 and 2.2+/-1.7, respectively. The iGEMRIC method better visualized GAG distribution (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Although the SNR did not differ significantly between the iGEMRIC and dGEMRIC techniques, the color-coded T1 map produced with iGEMRIC allowed better cartilage evaluation. Thus, iGEMRIC exhibits the useful features of both MR arthrography and dGEMRIC, and provides a color-coded T1 map that is useful for diagnosing early articular cartilage damage.