A call to promote healthcare justice: A summary of integrated outpatient clinics exemplifying principles of Catholic social teaching.

There is an urgent need to promote healthcare justice for patients as well as members of the healthcare team including physicians. In this article, we explain how principles of Catholic social teaching (i.e., dignity of the individual, common good, destination of goods, solidarity, and subsidiarity) are applied to health care, by featuring various types of outpatient clinics including free, charitable-direct primary care, hybrid, federally qualified health center, and rural health clinic. We describe how attempts have been made to improve the quality and access of health care by creating new medical schools (i.e., Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine) and training programs as well as allocating government funding to alleviate the cost of training new healthcare providers through the National Health Service Corps. Finally, we suggest a few approaches (i.e., adopting new clinic models to include volunteer healthcare professionals and cross-training members of the healthcare team) to fill in current gaps in health care. Summary : There is a need to promote justice in healthcare. In this article, we explain how principles of Catholic social teaching are applied to health care. To illustrate this, we feature various types of outpatient clinics. We also describe how attempts have been made to improve the quality and access of health care. Finally, we suggest further ways to improve healthcare reform based upon Catholic social teaching.

Complications after arthroscopic revision rotator cuff repair.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the complication rate of arthroscopic revision rotator cuff repair (ARRCR). METHODS: The retrospective review included 94 patients who underwent ARRCR performed by the 2 senior authors between January 2000 and June 2009 (mean age, 52 years; age range, 44 to 72 years). Sixty-four patients underwent 1 revision rotator cuff repair, 23 patients underwent 2 revisions, and 7 patients underwent 3 or more revisions. The rotator cuff tear at the time of the revision was characterized as massive (>5 cm) in 51 patients (54%), large (>3 to 5 cm) in 14 patients (15%), medium (1 to 3 cm) in 17 patients (18%), and small (<1 cm) in 12 patients (13%). There was a single-tendon tear in 12 patients (13%), 2 tears in 31 patients (33%), and 3 or 4 tears in 51 patients (54%). Additional procedures included revision acromioplasty (n = 66), distal clavicular excision (n = 19), biceps tenodesis (n = 52), suprascapular nerve release (n = 14), and loose anchor removal (n = 6). RESULTS: Complications developed in 19 patients (20.2%) within 1 year of undergoing ARRCR. The complications included failure to heal (10.6%, n = 10), stiffness (7.4%, n = 7), infection (2.1%, n = 2), and nerve injury (1.1%, n = 1). A direct correlation was found between the complication rate and the number of revision surgeries: 14% after 1 revision, 17.4% after 2 revisions, 33% after 3 revisions, and 50% after 4 or more revisions. The minimum follow-up of all the patients in this study was 1 year. We continued to follow up every patient who was diagnosed with complications during this year until resolution of the complication, or we are still continuing to perform follow-up of these patients. CONCLUSIONS: The complication rate after ARRCR is about twice the published rate for primary rotator cuff repair. There is a direct correlation between the complication rate and the number of revision surgeries. The most common complication recognized was failure to heal because of poor tissue quality. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Suprascapular nerve anatomy during shoulder motion: a cadaveric proof of concept study with implications for neurogenic shoulder pain.

BACKGROUND: The suprascapular nerve (SSN) carries sensory fibers which may contribute to shoulder pain. Prior anatomic study demonstrated that alteration in SSN course with simulated rotator cuff tendon (RCT) tears cause tethering and potential traction injury to the nerve at the suprascapular notch. Because the SSN has been implicated as a major source of pain with RCT tearing, it is critical to understand nerve anatomy during shoulder motion. We hypothesized that we could evaluate the SSN course with a novel technique to evaluate effects of simulated RCT tears, repair, and/or release of the nerve. METHODS: The course of the SSN was tracked with a dual fluoroscopic imaging system in a cadaveric model with simulated rotator cuff muscle forces during dynamic shoulder motion. RESULTS: After a simulated full-thickness supraspinatus/infraspinatus tendon tear, the SSN translated medially 3.5 mm at the spinoglenoid notch compared to the anatomic SSN course. Anatomic footprint repair of these tendons restored the SSN course to normal. Open release of the transverse scapular ligament caused the SSN to move 2.5 mm superior-posterior out of the suprascapular notch. CONCLUSION: This pilot study demonstrated that the dynamic SSN course can be evaluated and may be altered by a RCT tear. Preliminary results suggest release of the transverse scapular ligament allowed the SSN to move upward out of the notch. This provides a biomechanical proof of concept that SSN traction neuropathy may occur with RCT tears and that release of the transverse scapular ligament may alleviate this by altering the course of the nerve.

Clinical outcomes of suprascapular nerve decompression.

BACKGROUND: While the incidence and prevalence of suprascapular neuropathy (SSN) remains largely unknown, the evaluation and treatment of SSN appears to be increasing. Despite multiple technique articles demonstrating nerve decompression, there has been no clinical evidence to support the efficacy of SSN decompression in the absence of rotator cuff disease. METHODS: Between October 2006 and February 2010, 27 patients underwent arthroscopic suprascapular nerve decompression at the suprascapular and/or spinoglenoid notch. Eighty-nine percent (24/27) of patients had preoperative positive electromyography and nerve conduction EMG/NCV studies documenting suprascapular nerve pathology. All patients had either a computed tomography (CT) arthrogram or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) documenting rotator cuff integrity. All patients were evaluated with pre and postoperative subjective shoulder values (SSV) and American Shoulder and Elbow Society (ASES) self-assessment scores. Additionally, patients were questioned whether they would have the procedure again and approximately at what week they experienced noticeable pain relief. RESULTS: The 27 patients were followed for an average of 22.5 months (range, 3-44). Three patients were lost to follow-up. Seventy-one percent (17/24) of patients reported pain relief (VAS [Visual Analogue Scales] pain scale) that was statistically significant (P = .0001) at an average of 9.4 weeks from surgery. Seventy-five percent (18/24) and 71% (17/24) had statistically significant improvement in ASES (P = .0001) and SSV scores (P = .0014), respectively. Seventy-one percent (17/24) would have the surgery again. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates a large series of patients treated for SSN without rotator cuff pathology. Our results show statistically significant improvement in VAS, ASES, and SSV.

Midshaft clavicular fractures: comparison of intramedullary pin and plate fixation.

BACKGROUND: Intramedullary pin and plate fixation for midshaft clavicular fractures both have their proponents, but little comparative data are available. We performed a retrospective comparison of these 2 techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on 40 consecutive patients with closed, simple, or wedge-type midshaft clavicular fractures that were identified from a prospectively collected orthopedic trauma database. Eight patients were excluded due to incomplete follow-up. Intramedullary pins were used in 18 patients and plates in 14; of these, 7 plates were placed superiorly, 6 anteriorly, and 1 inferiorly. Treatment method was determined by preference of the treating surgeon. RESULTS: Among the patients treated with intramedullary pin fixation, all 18 fractures healed, and each underwent a planned procedure for pin removal. Complications included 1 intraoperative pin breakage, 1 superficial wound infection, 2 prominent symptomatic pins, and 1 transient brachial plexopathy. Among the patients treated with plating, delayed union occurred in 1, and refractures occurred in 2 (1 required a second procedure). Three patients underwent plate removal for symptomatic hardware. No patients in either group had significant loss of shoulder motion. CONCLUSION: Intramedullary pin fixation for acute, simple, or wedge-type midshaft clavicular fractures provides a safe and predictable alternative to plate and screw fixation.

Scapular Winging: A Great Masquerader of Shoulder Disorders: AAOS Exhibit Selection.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of scapular winging is unclear, but it may be more common than previously thought. It can be difficult to diagnose because the presenting complaint and physical examination may direct the practitioner toward more common shoulder and neck conditions. Ongoing scapular dysfunction may result in inappropriate or failed surgery. Our goals were to (1) describe the common misdiagnoses (instability, labral abnormality, impingement, and cervical spine disease), the clinical scenarios and examination findings leading to diagnostic difficulty, the definitive treatment options available, and the clinical outcomes and complications; and (2) review the important aspects of the patient history, physical examination of the scapula, and associated studies necessary to make the correct diagnosis of scapular winging. METHODS: We reviewed the literature relative to, and our own experience with, the treatment of scapular winging and identified a series of patients with this condition who were initially misdiagnosed with other shoulder or spine abnormalities. In our literature search, only nine clinical studies reported on a series of patients with scapular winging that was initially misdiagnosed or had a delay in diagnosis (n = 53 patients). We examined these cases for presenting or preexisting diagnoses and for surgical procedures that had been performed before the diagnosis of scapular winging. RESULTS: For patients ultimately diagnosed with scapular winging, initial presentations and diagnoses included rotator cuff disorders (20%), glenohumeral instability (8%), peripheral nerve disorders (6%), cervical spine disease (6%), acromioclavicular disorders (6%), thoracic outlet syndrome (4%), and unknown or unspecified (41%). The most common surgical procedures performed before definitive scapular winging treatment were rotator cuff (22%), instability (22%), nerve (14%), acromioclavicular (12%), cervical spine (5%), and thoracic outlet (4%) procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Clinically, scapular winging often mimics more common shoulder abnormalities and can result in unnecessary or unsuccessful surgical procedures. Diagnosis can be readily achieved with simple physical examination and specific provocative maneuvers in conjunction with electromyography and nerve conduction studies. Prompt diagnosis and recognition can avoid substantial shoulder dysfunction.