Rotator cuff crepitus: could Codman really feel a cuff tear?

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of palpating crepitus to diagnose rotator cuff tears. METHODS: Seventy consecutive consenting patients who presented with shoulder pain and no previous imaging or surgery on the affected shoulder were prospectively enrolled during a 10-month period. A standardized patient history and examination, including the crepitus test, were recorded in addition to obtaining standard radiographs. Additional imaging after initial evaluation was performed with magnetic resonance imaging and interpreted by a musculoskeletal radiologist blinded to the examination findings. Statistical analysis was used to determine sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the crepitus test in the clinical diagnosis of a rotator cuff tear. RESULTS: Sixty-three patients had histories, examinations, and imaging studies available for analysis. The crepitus test had a sensitivity of 67%, specificity of 80%, PPV of 91%, and NPV of 43% for all types of rotator cuff tears. The sensitivity and specificity for full-thickness or high-grade partial tears was 82% and 73%, respectively; the PPV and NPV were 77% and 79%. Increasing age improved accuracy as the presence of crepitus in patients older than 55 years had a sensitivity of 76%, specificity of 100%, PPV of 100%, and NPV of 38%. CONCLUSION: The crepitus test has a favorable sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV to assess the integrity of the rotator cuff and may be a useful examination in the clinical diagnosis of a rotator cuff tear.

Sternoclavicular joint surgery: how far does danger lurk below?

BACKGROUND: Surgical stabilization of the sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) is infrequent, and cardiothoracic surgery assistance is often recommended. Patient safety and surgeon efficiency may be improved by greater understanding of the anatomic relationships near the SCJ. The purpose of this study is to determine the distances from the SCJ to critical structures in the superior mediastinum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Distances from the posterior SCJ to adjacent mediastinal structures were recorded using contrast computed tomography scans of 49 consecutive patients. Patient sex, height, body mass index, side, age, and thickness of the sternum and medial clavicle were also recorded. RESULTS: The mean distance to the nearest anatomic structure deep to the clavicular region of the SCJ was 6.6 mm and was 12.5 mm for the sternal region. The clavicle was an average thickness of 18 mm, and the sternum was an average thickness of 17 mm. The closest structure was the brachiocephalic vein. An artery was identified as the closest structure in 21.2% of patients. Distance differences between the right and left sides were noted, but sex had no bearing on distance to structures. CONCLUSION: Multiple mediastinal structures are close to the SCJ. The most frequent structure at risk of injury deep to the SCJ is the brachiocephalic vein. Such knowledge may improve patient safety.

A systematic review of validated methods for identifying orthopedic implant removal and revision using administrative data.

PURPOSE: To identify studies that have validated administrative and claims database algorithms for identifying patients with orthopedic device revision or removal. METHODS: As a part of the Food and Drug Administration's Mini-Sentinel pilot program, we performed a systematic review to identify algorithms for orthopedic implant removal/revision in administrative and claims databases in the USA or Canada. RESULTS: Five studies examined the validity of database algorithms against a gold standard of documentation in medical records (n = 3) or codes/documentation in another database (n = 2). The positive predictive values (PPV) of the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) and/or the Current Procedural Terminology codes for revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) in the US Medicare population compared with medical record review were 92%and 91%, respectively. In another study of the US Medicare population, multiple ICD-9 codes for revision total knee arthroplasty were compared with newly available single ICD-9-CM codes for revision knee arthroplasty; sensitivity was 87% and specificity was 99% (PPV not provided). The fourth study validated the ICD-9-CM codes for revision total knee arthroplasty against Ontario health insurance physician fee service claims as the gold standard and found a PPV of 32%. In the last study in Medicare population, the accuracy of the attribution of revision THA to the same side as the earlier index primary THA was examined; PPV for same laterality of revision THA was 71% (using ICD-9-CM codes). CONCLUSIONS: Validation data, with regard to the ICD-9-CM or the Current Procedural Terminology code algorithms for revision THA in the Medicare population, exist. More validation studies are needed to confirm these findings and examine other large databases.

Sulfenylation Chemistry using Polymer-Supported Sulfides.

Clean sulfenylations are observed upon reaction of activated methylenes with phenyl succinimidyl sulfide. When working with diethyl benzylmalonate, the sulfenylated product can be selectively oxidized and thermally fragmented affording phenylsulfenic acid, initially, and diethyl benzylidenemalonate. The developed method was applied using a polymer-supported thioanisole derivative (JandaJel). Formation of the enedicarboxylate documents proof of principle of polymer-supported sulfides as sulfenylating agents onto activated methylenes.