Comparison between single and double suture passing techniques in the suture bridge rotator cuff repair with a 2-mm tape: A simulation study using a three-dimensional finite element method.

BACKGROUND: Suture bridge repair has been widely used as one of the standard procedures in the arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. We compared the intratendinous stress distribution between single and double suture passing techniques in the suture bridge repair using a 2-mm tape and clarified the roles of tensioning in this procedure. METHODS: A board-like model of the supraspinatus tendon and humeral head was used in order to standardize conditions and exclude the influence of anatomical variations between individuals. Reattachment of the supraspinatus tendon to the bone was simulated using both single and double suture passing techniques for the suture bridge repair using a 2-mm tape. A tensile load was applied to the medial end of the tendon, and the stress distribution pattern was observed. Elastic analysis enabled comparison of the von Mises equivalent and maximum principal stresses between the single and double suture passing techniques. The tape configuration was subsequently translated 1 mm toward the insertion points of lateral anchors to simulate the tensioning maneuver. RESULTS: Although the distribution pattern of both the equivalent and the maximum principal stresses was similar for both models, areas with a high stress concentration were smaller in the single suture passing model than those in the double suture passing model. The equivalent stress concentrated within the tendon beneath the tapes as well as in the area between the crossing tapes and the lateral end of the tendon, whereas the maximum principal stress concentrated medial to the sites of suture penetration. CONCLUSIONS: Single suture passing technique can reduce the extent of intratendinous stress concentration compared with double suture passing technique, which might be beneficial to reduce the incidence of type 2 retear after suture bridge repair of rotator cuff tendon using a 2-mm tape.

Ollier's disease treated with grafting using alpha-tricalcium phosphate cement. A case report.

Ollier's disease is a rare disorder characterized by multiple enchondromas with a unilateral predominance, especially in fingers in early childhood. We experienced a case of Ollier's disease treated four times with simple curettage from the age of 2 years and alpha-tricalcium phosphate cement grafting at the age of 21 years. The forth curettage was performed when the patient was 15 years old and preoperative X-rays had shown remarkable finger deformities. Postoperative casting of the involved joints was necessary to prevent fractures but led to some finger contractures. Following X-rays demonstrated incredible improvement of the appearance. This suggests that simple curettage alone at an early stage of Ollier's disease provide cosmetic improvement. At the age of 21 years our patient showed enlargement of the intramedullary finger lesions again. Some lesions seemed to be impending pathological fractures. This time we chose alpha-tricalcium phosphate cement to fill the cavities after curettage had been carried out. Harvesting a large amount of autologous bone was not required. All activities of daily life could be resumed immediately after surgery and none of the finger joints showed further restriction of motion. X-rays taken three years after the operation showed new bone ingrowth surrounding the material with little evidence of absorption. To our knowledge, this may be the first case of Ollier's disease treated with artificial bone grafting reported in the English literature.

Lipofibromatosis arising in a pediatric forearm--a case report.

Lipofibromatosis is a rare pediatric tumour described by Fetsch et al. in 2000. There have been few reports about this tumour and few descriptions of its imaging features. We report a case of this tumour forming a slowly growing, painless mass arising in the forearm of a ten-month-old boy. This is the first report of lipofibromatosis to present the radiological findings before surgery. Plain radiography and computed tomography demonstrated a tumour located just beneath the fascia. Ultrasonic study showed a hyperechoic tumour of 33 x 30 x 7 mm in size. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a multilobular mass with high signal intensities on both T1/T2 weighted images. Macroscopically, the tumour was poorly marginated. Microscopically, the tumour was composed of abundant adipose tissues transversed by fibroblastic bands. The adipose tissue occupied over 70% of the tumour. Adipocytes and fibroblastic element infiltrated into the normal skeletal muscle tissues. Recognition of this clinical entity is needed, especially in cases of lipomatous tumours arising in pediatric hands and feet.

Fatigue fracture of the distal femur arising in the elderly.

Fatigue fractures most frequently involve the tibia and metatarsal bones in the young. We report a very unusual case of fatigue fracture in the distal femur of a 62-year-old man. The differential diagnosis was a pathological fracture due to a metastatic bone tumor. The diagnosis of fatigue fracture was based on the fact that the patient walked every day for a long time, together with the following radiological features: no definite cortical destruction, a radiolucent area surrounded by sclerosis on CT, no extraskeletal mass, and sharp linear low signal intensities in the center of the lesion on MR images. Rest and restricted walking improved his symptoms and fracture healing. Fatigue fracture should be ruled out even in the elderly, especially those who engage in sports activities for long periods.