Discoid Double-layered Lateral Meniscus: A Case Report.

Introduction: Abnormalities of the double-layered meniscus are rare and can be difficult to diagnose. The main pathology in this abnormality, which is predominantly seen in the lateral compartment, is an accessory meniscus lying over the normal meniscus. Anatomically, this structure can appear in different forms. Although other meniscal abnormalities associated with a double-layered meniscus have been reported, this case presents a previously undescribed type in the literature. Case Report: A 12-year-old girl presented to our clinic with complaints of knee locking and pain. When the patient underwent arthroscopy, an accessory incomplete discoid meniscus was found overlying the normal lateral meniscus. We performed an excision of the upper accessory meniscus and the patient had no problems during 3 years of follow-up after surgery. Conclusion: Abnormalities of the lateral meniscus are rare and can be difficult to diagnose. In cases where we suspect a meniscal abnormality, a proper arthroscopic examination should be performed and if a discoid meniscus is seen, it should be considered that this may be a double-layered meniscus.

Proprioception After Primary Repair of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament.

BACKGROUND: Primary repair of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has some potential advantages over the reconstruction technique, which include but are not limited to better knee sensation due to preservation of the natural ACL tissue in patients compared with tendon graft. Proprioception is impaired after ACL injuries and the sense of the joint position is lost. PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this study was to compare arthroscopic ACL primary repair and ACL reconstruction techniques clinically and functionally and analyze the differences in proprioception. It was hypothesized that primary repair would restore knee joint proprioception more successfully because the original tissue of the ACL is preserved. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: A total of 63 patients (34 underwent reconstruction and 29 underwent primary repair between 2017 and 2020) and 33 healthy controls, as well as the healthy knees of the operated groups, were evaluated between 24 and 48 months (mean, 29 months) postoperatively. Patients with proximal femoral avulsion tears and stump quality suitable for repair underwent primary repair, and those with tears outside these criteria underwent reconstruction using hamstring tendon autograft. Proprioception was evaluated using the active joint position sensation method during weightbearing, with a digital inclinometer used to measure differences between the target and achieved flexion angles of 15°, 30°, and 60°. RESULTS: At 15° of knee flexion, the deviation angles for the healthy knee of the reconstruction and primary repair groups were significantly smaller than those of the control group (P < .001), but there was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of deviation angle at 30° and 60° of flexion. The deviation angle of the operated knees was statistically significantly larger in the reconstruction group than in the primary repair group at all angles. The deviation angles at 15°, 30°, and 60° were 2.83°, 2.66°, and 2.66° in the reconstruction group and 1.00°, 1.00°, and 1.33° in the primary repair group, respectively (P < .001). There was no statistically significant difference between the reconstruction and primary repair groups in terms of clinical scores. CONCLUSION: Primary ACL repair can preserve proprioception in a well-selected patient group. In short-term follow-up, primary repair of the ACL in patients with proximal femoral avulsion tears and stump quality suitable for repair appears to be proprioceptively protective. Future studies are needed to clarify the long-term consequences of primary repair on proprioception in a larger population.

Can coracoacromial ligament degeneration be evaluated with preoperative MRI?

BACKGROUND: Subacromial impingement syndrome is one of the most common causes of painful shoulder in the middle-aged and elderly population. Coracoacromial ligament (CAL) degeneration is a well-known indicator for subacromial impingement. PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between CAL thickness on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), arthroscopic CAL degeneration and types of rotator cuff tears. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Video records of patients who underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery between 2015 and 2021 were retrospectively scanned through the hospital information record system. In total, 560 patients were included in this study. Video records of the surgery were used to evaluate the grade of coracoacromial ligament degeneration and the type of cuff tear. Preoperative MRI was used to measure CAL thickness, acromiohumeral distance, critical shoulder angle, acromial index, and acromion angulation. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between grades of CAL degeneration in terms of CAL thickness (P < 0.001). As CAL degeneration increases, the mean of CAL thickness decreases. According to the results of post-hoc analysis, the mean CAL thickness of normal patients was significantly higher than those of patients with full-thickness tears (P = 0.024) and massive tears (P <0.001). Patients with articular-side, bursal-side, and full-thickness tears had significantly higher CAL thickness averages than patients with massive tears. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the CAL thickness decreases on MRI as arthroscopic CAL degeneration increases. High-grade CAL degeneration and therefore subacromial impingement syndrome can be predicted by looking at the CAL thickness in MRI, which is a non-invasive method.

The potential of posterior cruciate ligament buckling phenomenon as a sign for partial anterior cruciate ligament tears.

INTRODUCTION: Diagnosis of a partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) can be challenging with physical examination and imaging techniques. Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing complete ACL tears, its effectiveness may be limited when it is used to diagnose for partial tears. The hypothesis of the present study is that the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) buckling phenomenon, which is a secondary sign of complete ACL tears on MRI, may be a useful method for diagnosing partial ACL tears. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data of 239 patients who underwent knee arthroscopy in a single institution between 2016 and 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into three groups based on the condition of their ligaments: partial tears, complete tears and intact ligaments. To evaluate the buckling phenomenon on sagittal T2-weighted MRI, measurements of the posterior cruciate ligament angle (PCLA) and the posterior cruciate ligament-posterior cortex angle (PCL-PCA) were conducted in each group. Subsequently, the ability of these two measurement methods to distinguish partial tears from the other groups was assessed. RESULTS: Both methods provided significantly different results in all three groups. Partial tears could be distinguished from intact ligaments with 86.8% sensitivity, 89.9% specificity when PCLA < 123.13° and 94.5% sensitivity, 93.2% specificity when PCL-PCA < 23.77°. Partial tears could be distinguished from complete tears with 79.5% sensitivity, 78.4% specificity when PCLA > 113.88° and with 86.1% sensitivity, 85.3% specificity when PCL-PCA > 16.39°. CONCLUSION: The main finding of the present study is that the PCLA and PCL-PCA methods are useful on MRI for diagnosing partial ACL tears. PCLA value between 113°-123° and PCL-PCA value between 16°-24° could indicate a partial ACL tear. With these methods, it is possible to distinguish partial tears from healthy knees and reduce missed diagnoses. In addition, the differentiation of partial and complete tears by these methods may prevent unnecessary surgical interventions. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Scapular muscle endurance, shoulder pain, and functionality in patients with rotator-cuff-related shoulder pain: a matched, case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Deficiency in scapular muscle endurance (SME) is a risk factor for rotator-cuff-related shoulder pain (RCRSP). However, the exact relationship among SME, pain, and functionality remains unclear. This study aims to compare SME, pain, and functionality in RCRSP patients to those in age-sex-matched healthy controls. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with RCRSP and 23 age-sex matched healthy controls were included in the study. SME was measured using a 1-kg dynamometer. Self-reported pain level was assessed using a visual analog scale. The Functional Impairment Test-Hand, Neck, Shoulder, and Arm (FIT-HaNSA) was also used to assess functional impairment. RESULTS: The control group had higher SME and total FIT-HaNSA scores than the patient group (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant and positive correlation between SME and FIT-HaNSA scores in both groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: SME was affected by RCRSP. Pain and functional impairment were correlated with low SME. Level of evidence: IV.

Is prenatal testosterone-estrogen balance related to critical shoulder angle?

BACKGROUND: The 2D:4D ratio (an indicator of prenatal testosterone-estrogen balance) is the ratio of the second finger length to the fourth finger length. We hypothesized that low 2D:4D values indicating high prenatal testosterone exposure may be associated with increased critical shoulder angle (CSA). AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between CSA and 2D:4D ratio. METHODS: Meeting the study criteria, 252 patients were included in the study. We measured CSA on true anterior-posterior radiographs, glenoid version(GV) and glenoid inclination(GI) on MRI images and the lengths of the second and fourth fingers on both hands of the patients. Additionally, we compared 2D:4D ratios and CSA, GV, GI measurements. RESULTS: We found a significant negative correlation between CSA and the 2D:4D ratio in both hands (p < 0.001). Patients with CSA > 35° had a significantly lower 2D:4D ratio than patients with CSA < 35° (p < 0.001). When the patients were grouped according to CSA35°, the cut-off value for the left-hand 2D:4D ratio was 0.96, which showed 84.8 % sensitivity and 83.3 % specificity(AUC:0.911). Patients were compared in terms of CSA by categorizing as 2D:4D > 1 and 2D:4D < 1. Accordingly, the CSA value was significantly lower in patients with 2D:4D > 1. In the classification made according to this length classification of the left hand, the cut-off value was 30.25°. This value showed 92.2 % sensitivity and 85 % specificity(AUC:0.956). CONCLUSION: The 2D:4D ratio is related to CSA. A low 2D:4D ratio(<0.96), indicating high intrauterine testosterone exposure, is associated with CSA > 35°, while a high 2D:4D ratio (>1), indicating low intrauterine testosterone exposure, is associated with a low CSA(<30.25°).

The diagnosis of femoroacetabular impingement can be made on pelvis radiographs using deep learning methods.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate diagnostic ability of deep learning models, particularly convolutional neural network models used for image classification, for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) using hip radiographs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2010 and December 2020, pelvic radiographs of a total of 516 patients (270 males, 246 females; mean age: 39.1±3.8 years; range, 20 to 78 years) with hip pain were retrospectively analyzed. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 888 hip radiographs (308 diagnosed with FAI and 508 considered normal) were evaluated using deep learning methods. Pre-trained VGG-16, ResNet-101, MobileNetV2, and Inceptionv3 models were used for transfer learning. RESULTS: As assessed by performance measures such as accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, F-1 score, and area under the curve (AUC), the VGG-16 model outperformed other pre-trained networks in diagnosing FAI. With the pre-trained VGG-16 model, the results showed 86.6% accuracy, 82.5% sensitivity, 89.6% specificity, 85.5% precision, 83.9% F1 score, and 0.92 AUC. CONCLUSION: In patients with suspected FAI, pelvic radiography is the first imaging method to be applied, and deep learning methods can help in the diagnosis of this syndrome.

Retrospective evaluation of the effects of traditional interscalene block alone versus combined with superior truncus block-associated diaphragm paralysis during arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of traditional interscalene block (ISB) alone and ISB combined with superior truncus block (STB)-associated diaphragm paralysis evaluated by ultrasound, duration of analgesia, and rate of complication in patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2020 and December 2022, a total of 285 patients (158 males, 127 females; mean age: 48.0±15.1 years; range, 18 to 80 years) who underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery under ISB, either alone or combined with STB, were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were operated under ISB alone using 30 mL 0.5% bupivacaine (n=140) or ISB using 10 mL (n=67) or 5 mL 0.5% bupivacaine (n=78) combined with STB using 20 mL 0.5% bupivacaine. Ultrasound reports of all patients' diaphragm function were also retrieved. Duration of analgesia, need for additional analgesics, and the type of analgesic drugs, and evaluations of patient and surgeon satisfactions were evaluated. Degree of diaphragm paralysis considered as complete (≥75%), partial (25.1 to 74.9%) and no paralysis (≤25%) were evaluated for comparison between the block types. RESULTS: The patients underwent operation due to rotator cuff rupture (n=218) or Bankart (n=67). Duration of analgesia, need for additional analgesia, and the type of analgesic drugs used were comparable between the block types. The most common complication was Horner syndrome (n=96, 33.68%) which was significantly lower in ISB (5 mL) +STB (20 mL) than the others (17.9% vs. 41.4% and 37.3%, p=0.002). The ISB (5 mL bupivacaine 0.5%) + STB (20 mL bupivacaine 0.5%) resulted in less complete diaphragm paralysis with adequate surgical anesthesia not requiring general anesthesia. CONCLUSION: The ISB using 5 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine + STB instead of traditional ISB alone can be preferred due to the low rate of complete hemi-diaphragm paralysis with adequate surgical anesthesia/analgesia and high patient and surgeon satisfaction.

A brief introduction to medical image processing, designing and 3D printing for orthopedic surgeons.

Advancements in technology and the industry have changed the way that physicians deliver healthcare to their patients. Orthopedic surgery is one of the medical fields chasing advancing technology closely and making it a part of routine practice quickly. Patient-centric approach and customization of the care according to patient's needs are the key components in this new concept. Customized surgical planning with three-dimensional (3D) modelling and printing of the anatomy of each patient scheduled for surgery, custom made implants are on their ways to become the standard of the care. As a result, a higher proportion of technical personnel than before is expected to be involved in the healthcare. Orthopedic surgeons need to be familiar with this new working model and technical terminology to be able to communicate with the technical members of healthcare thoroughly. Processing of the medical images, computer-aided design (CAD) programs and 3D printing are the crucial parts of this workflow. In this review, we discuss the basics concepts of these components with the examples from 3D Slicer as a medical image processing platform and Shapr3D as a CAD platform, with the aspect of orthopedic surgeons.

Interscalene block applied by an experienced anesthesiologist has a good anesthetic effect, a long duration of action, and less postoperative pain after arthroscopic shoulder procedures independent of surgery type and operation duration.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the severity of postoperative pain and the time to the onset of pain after arthroscopic surgical treatment of rotator cuff tear or instability under interscalene block. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between October 2015 and June 2016, a total of 172 patients (82 males, 90 females; mean age: 47.9±16.9 years; range, 15 to 83 years) who underwent shoulder arthroscopy under interscalene block by a single surgeon were retrospectively analyzed. The relationship between the postoperative 24-h Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the time to the onset of pain with the type of surgical procedure (rotator cuff repair, n=101 or instability surgery, n=71), and the duration of surgery (<30 min n=92; ≥30 min n=80) was examined. RESULTS: No significant relationship was found between the type of surgical procedure, VAS scores, and the onset of pain after the block (p=0.577 and p=0.780, respectively). No significant relationship was found between the operation duration, and VAS, and the onset of pain after the block (p=0.570 and p=0.408, respectively). The mean duration until the start of postoperative pain was 734±313 (range, 60 to 1,440) min. There was no statistically significant difference in the need for rescue analgesics at the postoperative 24th h and the duration of surgery between the two groups (p=0.393 and p=0.675, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our study results show no significant difference in the time for the onset of postoperative pain and the VAS scores according to the characteristics of the surgical procedure, operation duration, or age and sex of the patient. Shoulder arthroscopy performed by experienced surgeons under interscalene block eliminates the need for analgesics within the first 12 h postoperatively.

Does glenoid bone loss accompany posterior shoulder instability with only labral tear? A magnetic resonance imaging-based study.

BACKGROUND: The primary aim of this study was to investigate bone loss in the glenoid with magnetic resonance imaging in posterior shoulder instability with only a labral tear. METHODS: A total of 76 patients operated on because of posterior and anteroposterior shoulder instability only with a labral tear between 2006 and 2019 (n = 40 and n = 36, respectively) were included in this study. The instability type, a presence of an additional superior labrum anteroposterior (SLAP) lesion, the number of dislocations, and the magnetic resonance imaging-based measurements (the glenoid diameter and the bone defect size in the glenoid, the Hill-Sachs lesion [HSL] and the reverse HSL [rHSL] length, the angle and the arc length of HSL and rHSL, and the humerus head diameter and its area) were analyzed. RESULTS: The size of the anterior glenoid defect, the rHSL measurements (length, angle, and arc length), and the ratio of the anterior glenoid defect size to the glenoid diameter were significantly higher for anteroposterior instability (P < .01) cases. There was no significant difference (P = .49, .64, and .82, respectively) for the presence of an additional SLAP pathology, the glenoid diameter, the posterior glenoid defect, and the ratio of the posterior glenoid defect size to the glenoid diameter in posterior and anteroposterior instability groups. The increased number of dislocations was associated with increased rHSL length and total arc length (P = .04 and .03, respectively). An additional SLAP lesion in posterior shoulder instabilities was not associated with the bone defect size (P = .29). CONCLUSION: Although the posterior shoulder instability with only a labral tear is likely to cause a bone defect, we have shown that the instability is not expected to be caused by the bone defect. Therefore, this study points out that only soft tissue repair without considering the bone defect could be promising in this patient group.

Lesion prevalence and patient outcome comparison between primary and recurrent anterior shoulder instability.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare lesion prevalence and treatment outcomes in patients with primary and recurrent anterior shoulder instability. METHODS: Patients who were admitted to the institution with a diagnosis of anterior shoulder instability and who underwent arthroscopic surgery between July 2006 and February 2020 were retrospectively evaluated. Minimum follow-up duration of the patients was 24 months. The recorded data and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the patients were examined. Patients aged ≥40 years, with a history of shoulder region fracture, inflammatory arthritis, a history of epilepsy, multidirectional instability, nontraumatic dislocation, and off-track lesions were excluded from the study. Shoulder lesions were documented and patient outcome evaluation was made with the Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) and visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS: A total of 340 patients were included in the study. The mean age of patients was 25.6 years (±6.49). The recurrent instability group had a significantly higher rate of anterior labroligamentous periosteal sleeve avulsion (ALPSA) lesions compared to the primary instability group (40.6% vs. 24.6% respectively) (P = .033). Twenty-five patients (43.9%) had superior labrum anterior and posterior (SLAP) lesions in the primary instability group and 81 patients (28.6%) had SLAP lesions in the recurrent instability group (P = .035). OSS increased for both primary (from 35 [16-44] to 46 [36-48]) (P = .001) and recurrent instability groups (from 33 [6-45] to 47 [19-48]) (P = .001). There was no significant difference between the groups regarding postoperative VAS and OSS scores (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Successful results were obtained in patients younger than 40 years with both primary and recurrent anterior shoulder instability after arthroscopic treatment. ALPSA lesion prevalence was higher whereas SLAP lesion prevalence was lower in patients with recurrent instability. Although the postoperative OSS was comparable between the patient groups, the failure rate was higher in the recurrent instability patients.

Evaluation of the relationship between scapula morphology and anterior shoulder dislocation accompanying greater tuberosity fracture.

INTRODUCTiON: It is estimated that 5-30% of traumatic anterior shoulder dislocations are accompanied by greater tuberosity fracture (GTF), and the pathomechanism of these fractures is not yet clear. Our hypothesis is to examine the relationship between the scapula morphology and anterior shoulder dislocation (ASD) accompanying GTF. MATERiALS AND METHODS: The patients were divided into two groups according to the accompanying GTF. 40 patients with isolated traumatic ASD and 31 patients with accompanying GTF were included in the study. Critical shoulder angle (CSA), glenoid inclination (GI), acromial index (AI) and greater tuberosity angle (GTA) values were measured in two sessions by two independent observers in the standard antero-posterior radiographs of the patients in both groups. RESULTS: The mean CSA was 40.82°±3.19° and 35.49°±2.19° in accompanying GTF group and the isolated ASD group, respectively. The mean CSA was significantly higher in accompanying GTF group than isolated ASD group(P<0.001). The GI was significantly higher in the isolated ASD than in accompanying GTF group (P = 0.001). The mean GI was 18.7°±6.85° and 10.45°±4.87° in accompanying GTF group and the isolated ASD, respectively. Cut-off value of CSA and GI was 38° (88.2% sensitivity,88.9% specificity) and 14.5° (70.6% sensitivity and 72.2% specificity), respectively. There was no significant difference regarding the mean GTA and AI values between GTF group and the isolated ASD group (P = 0.98, P = 0.63). CONCLUSiONS: Increased CSA and GI values are associated with traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation accompanied by greater tuberosity fracture.

Capsular remnant in the rotator cuff footprint is a novel arthroscopic finding may indicate the etiology of the tear.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was that the capsule remnant is a common indicator of sub-acromial impingement syndrome and bursal side onset rotator cuff tears. METHODS: Sixty-three patients with capsule remnants in the rotator cuff footprint (Study group) were detected, while the 53 patients did not have any remnant on the tendon footprint (Control group) between 2015 and 2020 were included. Demographic data of patients, such as age, gender, and operated side information were obtained from the archive files. Acromion type, presence of osteophytes in the acromioclavicular joint, Acromiohumeral Distance (AHD), Acromial Index (AI), Critical Shoulder Angle (CSA), and Coracoacromial Ligament (CAL) degeneration values were evaluated from preoperative MRI, radiographic images, and arthroscopic video recordings. RESULTS: Severe stages of CAL degeneration were observed in 82.5% of the patients who had capsule remnant (p: 0.001). While type 2 acromion was found in 61.9%, and also acromioclavicular joint osteophyte was found in 58.7% of the patients in the study group. The mean AHD was 8.22 ± 1.56 mm in the study group and 9.2 ± 1.3 mm in the control group. The mean CSA was 43.3 ± 4.9 in the study group and 40.8 ± 4.2 in the control group. The AI was measured as 0.8 ± 0.1 in the study group and 0.8 ± 0.01 in the control group. As a result of these measurements, a statistical difference was found between the two groups in terms of type 2 acromion ratio (p < 0.001), presence of osteophytes in the acromioclavicular joint (p < 0.001), mean acromio-humeral distance (p < 0.001), critical shoulder angle (p = 0.004), and acromial index values (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The findings of sub-acromial impingement syndrome were found to be more prominent in patients with full-thickness degenerative tear and findings of capsular remnant in the footprint. If the presence of the current finding is detected during glenohumeral arthroscopy, sub-acromial impingement syndrome should be examined in more detail to reveal the underlying cause and prevent a recurrence.

The Relationship Between Fibular Notch Anatomy and ATFL Rupture.

The anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) is the first to be damaged during a lateral ankle sprain. Dynamic and static structures have been investigated to better understand ATFL rupture, but the predisposing factors have not been fully elucidated. This study aims to define the fibular notch version that can evaluate the position of the fibular notch relative to the tibia and investigate the relationship between the fibular notch version (FNV) and ATFL rupture. This study included 71 patients with isolated ATFL rupture diagnosed clinically and radiologically and 71 control patients without any foot or ankle pathologies. Anterior facet length (AFL), posterior facet length (PFL), anterior-posterior facet angle (APFA), fibular notch depth (ND), and FNV measurements were performed on axial magnetic resonance images (MRI). We defined FNV as a parameter that evaluates the fibular notch's relative position to the distal tibia. The mean FNV was 16.6° ± 4.9° in patients with ATFL rupture and 12.4° ± 5.6° in the control group; when both groups were compared, FNV measurements were significantly higher in patients with ATFL rupture (p = .002). The mean APFA was 123.9° ± 10° in the group with ATFL rupture and 129.7° ± 7.8° in the control group. When both groups were compared, APFA was significantly lower in patients with ATFL rupture (p = .014). There was no significant difference between the groups regarding AFL, PFL, and ND. A more posterior (retroverted) fibular notch and a lower fibular notch angle seem to be associated with higher rates of ATFL rupture.

Is it the subcoracoid impingement or the subacromial impingement that tears the subscapularis tendon? A comparison of the MRI findings of the operated and healthy shoulders of the patients.

BACKGROUND: : The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the etiological factors accepted as causes of idiopathic subscapularis tears are true or not when the comparison is made with the opposite side healthy shoulder of the patients who underwent arthroscopic repair for an isolated subscapularis tear. METHODS: Sixteen patients who underwent shoulder arthroscopy between February 2016 and January 2018 and were diagnosed with isolated subscapularis tear were evaluated. The coracohumeral distance (CHDax), coracoid overlap (CO), and tuberculum minus cysts (TMC) were evaluated on the axial images of the MRI studies while the acromiohumeral distance (AHDsag), CHDsag, and subscapularis tendon slip number (STSN) on the sagittal oblique images and the AHDcor and SLAP lesion on the coronal oblique images. Degeneration of the coracoacromial ligament was evaluated during arthroscopy. RESULTS: The mean CHDsag (11.26-10.08), CHDax (10.63-9.98), CO (14.2-15.43), AHDsag (8-7.66), and AHDcor (7.65-7.68) measurements (operated side-healthy side, respectively) were statistically similar (p > 0.05). No statistically significant difference was found between TMC and STSN in healthy and operated shoulders (p > 0.05). There was mild coracoacromial ligament fraying in 4 (25%) and obvious coracoacromial ligament fraying in 8 (50%) which indicated subacromial impingement in 75% of the patients. DISCUSSION: The parameters of the coracoid process did not reveal any significant difference between the operated (for an isolated subscapularis tear) and opposite-side healthy shoulders of the patients. However, coracoacromial ligament degeneration was present in 75% of the patients.

Does the presence of arthroscopically detected stage 1-2 glenohumeral osteoarthritis have any clinical impact on the outcome of arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs?

BACKGROUND: : Rotator cuff rupture (RCR) and glenohumeral osteoarthritis (GHO) are two common disorders of the shoulder joint. However, there are very few reports that examine the relationship between them. This study aimed to present at least two years' clinical results of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair of full-thickness and massive tears accompanied by arthroscopically detected early-stage osteoarthritis. METHODS: From August 2016 to December 2017, three hundred and twenty patients with total or massive rotator cuff tears were evaluated retrospectively. Thirty-five patients who were determined as stage 1 and 2 according to the Outerbridge scale for cartilage lesions were found appropriate for investigation. Patients were assessed using the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) score, and a visual analog scale (VAS) score before surgery and at the final follow-up. The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) shoulder score was used to evaluate the final outcomes and compare the UCLA shoulder scores. RESULTS: The UCLA scores increased from the preoperative value of 19.1 ± 3.2 to 29.8 ± 4.8 at the last follow-up and increased by an average of 10.7 ± 6.0 (p < 0.001). The median VAS score decreased from the preoperative value of 3.0 to 1.0 (p < 0.001). Besides, the mean ASES score was found as 80.2 ± 10.6. An excellent positive correlation was found between postoperative UCLA scores and ASES scores (r = 0.887; p < 0.001). DISCUSSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the first arthroscopic comparative studies about the effect of early glenohumeral osteoarthritis on clinical outcomes after rotator cuff tear treatment. Finding good and excellent results up to 71% after RCR repair in patients with early-stage osteoarthritis was an indication that arthroscopic repair could be planned as the first-line treatment option for RCR pathologies in patients with early-stage degenerative arthritis without considering the rerupture rate.

Comparison of balance and function in the long term after all arthroscopic ATFL repair surgery.

INTRODUCTION: We compared the balance, ROM, clinical scores, kinesiophobia and functional outcomes of patients after all-arthroscopic ATFL repair surgery with the non-operated side and healthy control group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients with follow up time 37.32 ± 12.51 months and twenty-five healthy controls participated in the study. Postural stability was evaluated with the Biodex® balance system by measuring overall (OSI), anterior-posterior (API), and mediolateral (MLI) stability index. Dynamic balance and function were measured using the Y-balance test (YBT) and single-leg hop test (SLH). Limb symmetry index for SLH and contralateral comparisons (YBT, OSI, API, MLI) was performed. The AOFAS score and the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) were applied. Two subgroups were created (with OLT and without OLT). RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between subgroups. There was no statistically significant difference between bilateral OSI, API, MLI values and YBT anterior reach distances of all groups. Single leg OSI (0.78 ± 0.27/0.55 ± 0.12), API (0.55 ± 0.22/0.41 ± 0.10), and MLI (0.40 ± 0.16/ 0.26 ± 0.08) values were significantly worse and YBT posteromedial (73.88 ± 15.70/89.62 ± 12.25), posterolateral reach (78.03 ± 14.08/92.62 ± 8.25) and the SLH distance (117.14 ± 27.84/165.90 ± 20.91) were significantly lower on the patients than controls (p < 0.05), respectively. In contralateral comparisons, all reach distances on YBT were similar and SLH limb symmetry index of the operated side was 98.25%. AOFAS scores of the patients were 92.62 ± 11.13, TSK scores were 46.45 ± 11.32, and 21 patients (84%) had kinesiophobia. CONCLUSION: AOFAS score, limb symmetry index, and bilateral balance of the patients were successful; however, there is single-leg postural stability insufficiency and kinesiophobia. Although the extremity symmetry index of the operated side of the patients was 98.25, the fact that these values are lower than those of the healthy control may have been caused by kinesiophobia. During the long-term rehabilitation, kinesiophobia should be considered and single-leg balance exercises should be monitored during the rehabilitation period. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Is lesser tuberosity morphology related to subscapularis tears and anterior shoulder instability?

PURPOSE: Although the morphological relationship of the scapula and the humeral head has been claimed to be related to shoulder pathologies, few studies examined the relationship between subscapularis (Ssc) tears and lesser tuberosity (LT)-humeral head (HH) and between Ssc tears and HH-glenoid. This study aims to evaluate the relationship of LT with HH and glenoid in patients with Ssc tears and anterior shoulder instability (ASI). We hypothesized that the glenoid, HH, and their combined relationship with LT may impact Ssc tears and ASI. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 34 patients with ASI, 28 patients with isolated Ssc tears, and 40 patients as the control group. The radius of HH (Hr), the distance between the center of HH and LT (LTr), and the glenoid radius (Gr) were measured in shoulder magnetic resonance (MR) images. The LTr to Hr (LTr/Hr) ratio was defined as the lesser tuberosity-humeral head index (LTHHI), whereas the LTr to Gr (LTr/Gr) ratio was defined as the lesser tuberosity-glenoid index (LTGI). The three groups were compared regarding LTHHI, LTGI, LTr, Hr, and Gr. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between each group concerning LTGI (p < 0.001). LTGI values below 1.99 showed 93.1% sensitivity and 93.3% specificity for Ssc tears, while values above 2.24 showed 86.7% sensitivity and 86.2% specificity for ASI. Also, there was a significant difference when the groups were compared for LTHHI (p < 0.001). This rate was lowest for Ssc tears, and LTHHI values below 1.17 showed 82.8% sensitivity and 80.1% specificity. CONCLUSION: LTGI may be a new predictive factor showing 93.1% sensitivity and 93.3% specificity for Ssc tears and 86.7% sensitivity and 86.2% specificity for ASI. In addition, LTHHI may be a new predictive factor showing 82.8% sensitivity and 80.1% specificity for Ssc tears. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III retrospective comparative study.

Can subcoracoid effusion be a more specific finding for subscapularis tear among rotator cuff pathologies on magnetic resonance imaging?

HYPOTHESIS AND BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a well-known, noninvasive diagnostic method for rotator cuff tendon pathologies that are not very sensitive for subscapularis tendon tears. Subcoracoid effusion (SE) is an easily recognizable radiologic sign on MRI. In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship of SE with rotator cuff tear and to investigate whether SE could be a supportive finding in the diagnosis of subscapularis tear in preoperative MRI. Our hypothesis was that SE was a more specific finding of subscapularis tear than other rotator cuff tears. METHODS: The data of patients who underwent shoulder arthroscopy in our clinic between 2017 and 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. Four groups were included in the study: patients with a rotator cuff tear accompanied by a subscapularis tear (group 1, n = 273), patients with isolated subscapularis tear (group 2, n = 57), patients with rotator cuff tear with intact subscapularis tendon (group 3, n = 190), and patients without any rotator cuff pathology (group 4, n = 263). Arthroscopic video records and MRIs of all patients were evaluated retrospectively. Subscapularis tendon tears were classified according to the Lafosse classification. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of the presence of SE on MRI (P = .001). The presence of SE in group 1 and group 2 was statistically significantly higher than that in both group 3 and group 4 (P = .001), and there was no significant difference between group 3 and group 4 (P > .05). A significant relationship was found between Lafosse classification and SE (P = .001). When the diagnostic powers of the detection of SSC tear and the presence of SE on MRI for SSC tear were compared, Kappa values were 0.615 (P = .001) and 0.701 (P = .001), and overall diagnostic accuracy rates were 80.3% and 85.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: We conclude that SE is a more specific finding for subscapularis tears than other rotator cuff pathologies. We suggest that SE on MRI should also be considered in patients with a rotator cuff tear in whom a subscapularis tear was not detected in preoperative MRI and that the subscapularis tendon should be carefully evaluated during surgery in cases where the effusion is positive.