Analysis of the Swedish Knee Ligament Register: Concomitant injuries, revision surgery and smoking render worse results.

PURPOSE: To analyse the 52,199 patients in the Swedish Knee Ligament Register (SKLR) preoperatively, and the patients reaching 5- and 10-year follow-ups who underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), revision ACLR and ACLR on the contralateral side (CACLR). The main hypothesis was that patients undergoing revision ACLR would have worse patient-reported outcome measurements (PROMs) than the primary ACLR group at 10 years and that smoking and concomitant injuries would result in poorer outcomes for all groups. METHODS: Data from 2005 to 2021 were extracted from the SKLR. Only patients whose ACLR surgery was registered in the SKLR were included for revision ACLR and CACLR. The PROMs consist of the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and the knee-specific PROM (EQ-5D-3L). PROMs were analysed as a whole and in subgroups based on sex, smoking, graft choice and concomitant injuries. RESULTS: Poorer KOOS were seen for revisions compared with primary ACLRs at both the 5- and 10-year follow-ups (p = 0.003). Smokers had significantly poorer KOOS than nonsmokers (p < 0.001) preoperatively in all groups, however only in the primary ACLR group at 5 and 10 years. At 10 years, patients who had undergone CACLR had lower KOOS than primary ACLRs (p = 0.03). Concomitant injuries resulted in statistically, significantly poorer KOOS for both primary ACLRs and CACLRs preoperatively and at the follow-ups. CONCLUSION: The PROMs for revision ACLRs have worse KOOS scores at 10 years compared with the primary ACLRs. The presence of concomitant meniscal or cartilage injuries at the time of ACLR or CACLR were associated with worse PROMs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

High dose vitamin D supplementation decreases the risk of deficiency in male conscripts, but has no effect on physical performance-A randomized study.

Purpose: Physical load during military training might increase the need for vitamin D; therefore, supplementation could be beneficial for 25(OH)D serum levels and physical performance. Methods: One hundred and twelve male conscripts were randomized into two vitamin D oil capsule supplementation groups: 55 participants in the 600 IU group and 57 in the 4000 IU group with a follow-up period from July 2021 to May 2022. Physical fitness tests were performed in July, October and May. Hand grip strength tests were performed in July, October and January. Blood serum (25(OH)D), parathyroid hormone PTH), calcium and ionized calcium (i-Ca) values were measured in July, October, January and May. Results: The 600 IU group had a lower (p < 0.001) value of 25(OH)D at all time points compared to the 4000 IU group, except at baseline. None of the subjects in the 600 IU group reached sufficient levels of 75 nmol/L of 25(OH)D in January and May. In May, 60% of participants in the 600 IU group and 30% in the 4000 IU group had 25(OH)D levels under 50 nmol/L. No significant differences in PTH or i-Ca values were found between the study groups at any time point. No significant differences at any time point were found in the physical fitness test or hand grip strength test between the groups. Conclusion: A 10-month vitamin D supplementation with 4000 IU decreased the incidence of vitamin D deficiency (<75 nmol/L) in young, male army conscripts during wintertime, but no differences in physical performance were found compared to 600 IU supplementation. Level of Evidence: Level I, Prospective randomized study.

Severe deficiency of vitamin D has no negative effect on physical performance during military training.

BACKGROUND: Decreased physical fitness and inferior physical performance are potentially life-threatening risk factors in a combat situation. To examine the effect of vitamin D on physical performance, a prospective study of young men conscripts in the Estonian Army was designed. The hypothesis of the study was that severe deficiency of vitamin D has a negative effect on physical performance. METHODS: All conscripts (N.=410) entering 10-month military service in July 2015 at the Kuperjanov Battalion were asked to participate. Initially, a total of 98 conscripts volunteered to participate. A prospective longitudinal study with a 10-month follow-up period was performed. The Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) was performed three times, and hand grip strength, and blood serum values of 25(OH)D, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcium (Ca) were measured four times. RESULTS: A significant decrease in the levels of 25(OH)D compared with baseline values were found, with a lowest mean value of 31.9 nmol/L in March 2016 (P<0.001). No significant differences were found in serum Ca levels. In March 2016, PTH was significantly higher in the severe deficiency group (<25 nmol/L of 25(OH)D) (P=0.02). No significant differences were found in terms of the APFT or hand grip strength between conscripts with severe deficiency of 25(OH)D or values >25 nmol/L. The main finding of the present study was that severe 25(OH)D deficiency was common among male conscripts during the winter season but had no negative effect on physical performance in terms of the APFT test and hand grip strength test. CONCLUSIONS: Severe vitamin D deficiency during the winter season is common but has no negative effect on physical performance in young, physically active men in military service.

Seven-month wintertime supplementation of 1200 IU vitamin D has no effect on hand grip strength in young, physically active males: A randomized, controlled study.

Background: There has been a growing interest in the role of vitamin D for the well-being and physical performance of humans under heavy training such as conscripts in military service; however, there is a lack of long-term supplementation studies performed on members of this type of young, physically active, male population. The hypothesis of the study was that vitamin D supplementation during wintertime will decrease the prevalence of critically low vitamin D blood serum levels and increase hand grip strength during the winter season among young male conscripts. Study Design: Longitudinal, triple-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Methods: Fifty-three male conscripts from the Estonian Army were randomized into two groups: 27 to an intervention group and 26 to a placebo group. The groups were comparable in terms of their demographics. The intervention group received 1200 IU (30 µg) capsules of vitamin D3, and the control group received placebo oil capsules once per day. The length of the follow-up was 7 months, from October 2016 until April 2017. Blood serum vitamin D (25(OH)D), parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium (Ca), ionized calcium (Ca-i), testosterone and cortisol values, and hand grip strength were measured four times during the study period. Results: The mean 25(OH)D level decreased significantly in the control group to a critically low level during the study, with the lowest mean value of 22 nmol/l found in March 2017. At that time point, 65% in the control group vs 15% in the intervention group had 25(OH)D values of less than 25 nmol/l (p < 0.001). In the intervention group, the levels of 25(OH)D did not change significantly during the study period. All other blood tests revealed no significant differences at any time point. The corresponding result was found for hand grip strength at all time points. Conclusion: Long-term vitamin D supplementation during wintertime results in fewer conscripts in the Estonian Army with critically low serum vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels during the winter season. However, this did not influence their physical performance in the form of the hand grip strength test.

Editorial Commentary: Corticosteroid Injections and Physical Therapy Are Effective First-Line Treatments for Frozen Shoulder.

Multisite corticosteroid injection therapy is more effective in terms of pain relief, restoration of motion, and functional status than single intra-articular injection for the treatment of primary frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis).

Histological and ultrastructural degenerative findings in the gluteus medius tendon after hip arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Despite gluteus medius (GMED) tendinosis being relatively common, its presence in association with hip osteoarthritis (OA) or total hip arthroplasty (THA) is not well studied. It was hypothesized that more tendon degeneration would be found in patients with OA of the hip and in those that had undergone THA than that in a control group. METHODS: One hundred patients were included between 2016 and 2019 and were included into 4 groups; the patients were undergoing revision surgery in two groups and primary THA in the other two groups; 22 patients had previously undergone primary THA through a direct lateral approach (involving sectioning of the GMED tendon), 24 patients had previously undergone primary THA through a posterior approach (leaving the GMED tendon intact), 29 patients had primary hip OA, and 25 patients who suffered a femoral neck fracture served as controls. Biopsies from the GMED tendon were obtained at the time of the primary THA or the hip revision surgery. The tendon biopsies were examined ultrastructurally and histologically. RESULTS: Ultrastructurally, the direct lateral and posterior revision groups had statistically significantly more collagen fibrils with smaller diameters compared with the fracture and primary THA groups. Moreover, the direct lateral revision group had more collagen fibrils with smaller diameters compared with the posterior revision group. Histologically, the direct lateral revision group had a higher total degeneration score (TDS) compared with the primary hip OA group. CONCLUSIONS: The GMED tendon shows more ultrastructural degeneration in patients who undergo hip revision arthroplasty than in patients with primary OA of the hip and control patients, who had suffered a femoral neck fracture. Furthermore, patients who had previously undergone primary THA through a direct lateral approach revealed more histological GMED tendon degeneration than patients who suffer primary hip OA.

No significant histological or ultrastructural tendinosis changes in the hamstring tendon in patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the knee?

PURPOSE: To investigate the periarticular degenerative changes of the knee joint in association with osteoarthritis (OA). More tendinosis was expected to be found in the semitendinosus tendon in patients with knee OA than in patients without knee OA. METHODS: Samples from 41 patients were included between January 2016 and October 2017. Twenty-one patients median age 53 (33-63) years with mild to moderate OA underwent high tibial osteotomy (HTO) and 20 patients median age 38 (31-57) years without OA underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Biopsies from the semitendinosus tendon were obtained at the time of surgery and examined histologically, morphologically and ultrastructurally using light and electron microscope. RESULTS: The histological evaluation of the semitendinosus tendon revealed the presence of more hemosiderin in the ACLR group. No significant morphological or ultrastructural differences were shown between patients in the HTO and ACLR group. CONCLUSION: Patients with mild and moderate medial compartment knee OA displayed no more degenerative changes in their semitendinosus tendon than patients without OA, as seen in both the light and the electron microscope. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Increased levels of inflammatory markers in the subscapularis tendon and joint capsule in patients with subacromial impingement.

PURPOSE: To analyze biopsy samples from the subscapularis tendon and from the joint capsule from male patients with subacromial impingement syndrome and compare them with samples from male patients with post-traumatic recurrent shoulder instability, to detect increased inflammatory activity that might be present inside the humeroscapular joint. METHODS: Twenty male patients scheduled for surgery for either subacromial decompression or Bankart reconstruction were included. Four biopsies from each patient were obtained during surgery from the capsule and the subscapularis tendon. Each specimen was analyzed for TNF-α, IL-6, CD-3 and CD-72. Multiplex fluorescence immunohistochemistry was performed on histological samples from the capsule and tendon to demonstrate the level of inflammatory markers. Fluorescence microscope images were acquired using an automated scanning system. On each slide, the number of pixels was registered and used in the analyses. RESULTS: The subacromial impingement syndrome group comprised eight patients, median age 53 (45-74) years, while the instability group 12, median age 27 (22-48) years (p < 0.00001). The amount of IL-6 and TNF-α was significantly higher in the subscapularis tendon of the patients with subacromial impingement syndrome compared with instability patients (p = 0.0015 and p = 0.0008 respectively). In the capsular samples, significantly higher amount of TNF-α and CD-72 was found in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome compared with instability patients (p < 0.0001 for both). On the other hand, the amount of CD-3 was significantly higher in the instability group (p = 0.0013). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that an extended inflammatory process is present, not only in the subacromial bursa but also in the glenohumeral joint in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: To develop a treatment targeted towards intra-articular inflammatory cytokines appears appealing.

Radiofrequency Microtenotomy or Physical Therapy for Achilles Tendinopathy: Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Achilles tendinopathy is a painful disorder, and various treatment options are available. Bipolar radiofrequency microtenotomy (RFM) has shown promising results in treating tendinosis. PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: The purpose was to compare the results between treatment with bipolar RFM and physical therapy (PT) for patients with midportion Achilles tendinopathy. It was hypothesized that RFM would be equivalent or superior to PT. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. METHODS: A total of 38 patients with midportion Achilles tendinopathy were evaluated for 2 years. The patients were randomized to receive either RFM or PT. There were 20 patients in the RFM group and 18 patients in the PT group. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS). The degree of tendinosis was evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the affected ankle performed before intervention and 2 years after intervention. RESULTS: In both groups, the VAS scores at the 2-year follow-up were significantly improved compared with preintervention: from 7.2 ± 1.5 to 1.0 ± 1.4 for the RFM group and from 5.9 ± 1.3 to 3.1 ± 1.8 for the PT group (P < .01 for both). Compared with the PT group, the RFM group had significantly better VAS scores at both the 1- and 2-year follow-ups (P < .01 for both) and better scores on 4 of the 5 FAOS subscales at the 2-year follow-up (P < .01 for all). MRI revealed an improvement in the tendinosis score in both groups, without any significant difference between the groups. CONCLUSION: In this randomized study, the clinical assessments revealed significant improvements in the VAS, FAOS, and tendinosis score as seen on MRI 2 years after intervention with either RFM or PT in patients with midportion Achilles tendinopathy. The improvement was significantly better in the RFM group with regard to VAS and FAOS, but not in the MRI appearance. REGISTRATION: NCT03274557 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).

Poor Associations Between Radiographic Tibiofemoral Osteoarthritis and Patient-Reported Outcomes at 16 Years After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Radiographic tibiofemoral (TF) osteoarthritis (OA) is common in patients after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction at long-term follow-up. The association between radiographic OA and patient-reported outcomes has not been thoroughly investigated. PURPOSE: To determine the association between radiographic TF OA and patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) scores at 16 years after ACL reconstruction. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: This study was based on 2 randomized controlled studies comprising 193 patients who underwent unilateral ACL reconstruction. A long-term follow-up was carried out at 16.4 ± 1.7 years after surgery and included a radiographic examination of the knee and recording of PROM scores. Correlation analyses were performed between radiographic OA (Kellgren-Lawrence [K-L], Ahlbäck, and cumulative Fairbank grades) and the PROMs of the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective knee form, Lysholm score, and Tegner activity scale. A linear univariable regression model was used to assess how the IKDC score differed with each grade of radiographic OA. RESULTS: Of 193 patients at baseline, 147 attended the long-term follow-up. At long-term follow-up, 44.2% of the patients had a K-L grade of ≥2 in the injured leg, compared with 6.8% in the uninjured leg. The mean IKDC score at follow-up was 71.2 ± 19.9. Higher grades of radiographic OA were significantly correlated with lower IKDC and Lysholm scores (r = -0.36 to -0.22). Patients with a K-L grade of 3 to 4 had significantly lower IKDC scores compared with patients without radiographic OA (K-L grade 0-1). Adjusted beta values were -15.7 (95% CI, -27.5 to -4.0; P = .0093; R 2 = 0.09) for K-L grade 3 and -25.2 (95% CI, -41.7 to -8.6; P = .0033; R 2 = 0.09) for K-L grade 4. CONCLUSION: There was a poor but significant correlation between radiographic TF OA and more knee-related limitations, as measured by the IKDC form and the Lysholm score. Patients with high grades of radiographic TF OA (K-L grade 3-4) had a statistically significant decrease in IKDC scores compared with patients without radiographic TF OA at 16 years after ACL reconstruction. No associations were found between radiographic TF OA and the Tegner activity level.

Editorial Commentary: The Hospital for Special Surgery Anterior Cruciate Ligament Postoperative Satisfaction Survey-Just Another Scoring System or a Step Forward? "You Can't Always Get What You Want".

An interesting, easy-to-use scoring system to evaluate the results after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction developed at the Hospital for Special Surgery-the Hospital for Special Surgery Anterior Cruciate Ligament Post-operative Satisfaction Survey (HSS ACL-SS) score-is presented in this issue. The score can be used both for a physical follow-up and for a web-based questionnaire. It appears to have the opportunity to replace older scores that are more complicated to complete.

Self-Reported Knee Pain Does Not Impact Physical Training Negatively in Conscripts.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the great number of investigations on the effects of injuries during military service, there is limited information available on the use of self-reported instruments. This study evaluated self-reported knee pain (KP) and its effect on physical performance during military service in the Estonian Defense Forces. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ninety-five male conscripts aged 19-25 years were divided into two study groups based on the occurrence of KP or not. Self-reported KP and function according to the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) were measured. Physical fitness level was scored using the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT). KOOS and APFT were measured in the beginning and at the end of the 6-month period of military service. RESULTS: Significant differences in favor of the group without KP (P < 0.001) were found for all subgroups of the KOOS. In spite of KP, the physical condition improved significantly (P < 0.001) in both study groups as measured with both the APFT test (22.2% increase) and running time (10.3% decrease). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, self-reported KP and limited function according to KOOS did not hinder the improvement of physical condition and running speed as assessed by APFT in Estonian conscripts.

Radiofrequency microtenotomy: a promising method for treatment of rotator cuff tendinopathy.

PURPOSE: Subacromial pain syndrome is a common disorder. Arthroscopic subacromial decompression is currently the preferred treatment method. Bipolar radiofrequency microtenotomy has shown promising results in treating tendinosis. In this study, the authors compare the results after arthroscopic acromioplasty with bipolar radiofrequency microtenotomy for patients with subacromial pain syndrome. METHODS: A total of 27 patients, with subacromial pain syndrome, were followed for 2 years. There were 14 patients in the arthroscopic acromioplasty group and 13 patients in the radiofrequency microtenotomy group. Clinical outcome data included pain reported using a visual analog scale, Constant score, and strength. Magnetic resonance imaging of the affected shoulder was performed before and 2 years after intervention for an evaluation of the tendinosis grade. RESULTS: All patients attended the final follow-up 2 years after intervention. No significant differences were found at baseline between the groups. Pain measured by the visual analog scale revealed a significant reduction in both groups at 12 weeks, 6 months and 2 years compared with baseline. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of visual analog scale, Constant score, or strength. The magnetic resonance imaging revealed a significant improvement in the tendinosis score in both groups, without any significant difference between the groups. CONCLUSION: In this prospective randomized study, the clinical assessments revealed a significant improvement in terms of the visual analog scale, strength, Constant score, and tendinosis score 2 years after intervention with either arthroscopic acromioplasty or radiofrequency microtenotomy in patients with subacromial pain syndrome. However, no significant differences were found between the groups. This study reveals that there are surgical options other than acromioplasty in patients with SAPS. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Hill-Sachs Remplissage Procedure Based on Posterosuperior Capsulomuscular Anatomy.

The remplissage technique is a procedure designed to fill a posterosuperior humeral head defect with the infraspinatus tendon and posterior-superior capsule in patients with engaging Hill-Sachs lesions. We describe a remplissage technique using 2 posterior working portals that respects the anatomy of the posterior-superior area of the glenohumeral joint without compromising the vascularization.

More tendon degeneration in patients with shoulder osteoarthritis.

PURPOSE: Tendon disorders are a major problem in the general population. It is known that rotator cuff tendinopathy contributes to osteoarthritis (OA) of the shoulder. The aim of the study was to analyse the presence of tendinopathy in patients with shoulder OA and an intact rotator cuff, using a multimodal approach. METHODS: Thirteen consecutive patients median age 67 (52-84) years, with OA of the shoulder, and 13 consecutive control patients, with a fracture of the proximal humerus, median age 70 (51-84) years, underwent an open biopsy procedure from the biceps and subscapularis tendon in conjunction with shoulder arthroplasty. In addition to a macroscopic evaluation, the samples underwent histologic, morphologic and ultrastructural analyses in light and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: Macroscopic degeneration was found in 15 of 26 specimen in the OA group but in seven of 25 in the control group (p = 0.048). The histologic analysis revealed a non-significant difference for the total degeneration score (TDS) between the study groups. The morphologic evaluation of the samples revealed that the OA group had significantly more samples with non-homogeneous extracellular matrix (ECM), (p = 0.048). Ultrastructurally, the OA group revealed a significantly larger fibril diameter in the biceps tendon (p < 0.0001) but not in the subscapularis tendon compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: A significantly worse macroscopic appearance and significantly more morphologically inhomogeneous ECM, indicating more tendon degeneration, were found in the OA group compared with the control group. This indicates that it could be beneficial to treat the tendinosis in an early stage to decrease symptoms from the OA. STUDY DESIGN: Level of evidence, III.

Correction to: More tendon degeneration in patients with shoulder osteoarthritis.

Unfortunately, the given name and the family name of the authors were incorrectly identified in the original article. The author names are corrected here by this correction paper. The original article has been corrected.

Preoperative and Intraoperative Predictors of Long-Term Acceptable Knee Function and Osteoarthritis After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: An Analysis Based on 2 Randomized Controlled Trials.

PURPOSE: To determine preoperative predictors of long-term acceptable knee function and the development of osteoarthritis (OA) in long-term follow-up after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. METHODS: This study is a long-term follow-up of 2 previous randomized controlled trials that included 193 patients who underwent unilateral ACL reconstruction with ipsilateral hamstring tendon or patellar tendon autografts. Patients who suffered multiligament injuries, major meniscal injuries, chondral lesions requiring surgical treatment, or had a previous ACL reconstruction were excluded. Patient demographics, preoperative clinical assessments, and intraoperative findings were used to create stepwise multivariable regression models to determine the patient-acceptable symptom state (PASS) in the International Knee Documentation Committee and the development of OA defined as a Kellgren-Lawrence grade ≥2. Knee laxity measurements, hop performance, patient-reported outcome, and concomitant injuries were determined as variables. RESULTS: A total of 147 patients (63.7% men) were eligible for inclusion, with a mean follow-up of 16.4 ± 1.3 years. The patients were an average age of 27.9 ± 8.3 years at the time of ACL reconstruction. One-half of the cohort reported an International Knee Documentation Committee evaluation system score above the PASS cutoff. The presence of a concomitant injury at operation (odds ratio [OR], 2.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10-6.21; P = .030) and greater preoperative anteroposterior laxity (OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.05-3.35; P = .034) increased the likelihood of achieving a PASS. A longer period between ACL injury and reconstruction (OR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.02-5.00; P = .046) and older age at reconstruction (OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.34-3.86; P = .0023) increased the odds of developing OA at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who were older at the time of ACL reconstruction and had waited >1 year between the injury and reconstruction ran an increased risk of having OA 16 years after reconstruction. One in 2 patients reported acceptable long-term knee function, but no risk factor for poorer subjective knee function was identified. Patients who had a minor concomitant injury and increased preoperative anteroposterior knee laxity had increased odds of reporting an acceptable long-term knee function. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II; prospective comparative study.

Editorial Commentary: Fresh Evidence That There Is Still No Reliable Evidence on How to Best Treat Knee Degenerative Meniscus Tears.

Treatment of the degenerative meniscus has been discussed for the past several decades, and proponents of both surgical and conservative treatment have made their points in this ongoing discussion. Unfortunately, there still is no evidence to suggest either treatment algorithm.

Editorial Commentary: Start Medializing More! An Option to Treat Chronic Retracted Rotator Cuff Tears.

The results after repair of chronic retracted rotator cuff tears are similar whether or not the repair is medialized. Medializing appears to be a valid alternative to neglect and superior capsular reconstruction in the toolbox of the shoulder surgeon.

Do Articular-Sided Partial-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears After a First-Time Traumatic Anterior Shoulder Dislocation in Young Athletes Influence the Outcome of Surgical Stabilization?

BACKGROUND: Because of the high risk for redislocations after a first-time traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation with conservative treatment, recent publications have recommended early arthroscopic intervention, especially for young athletes. Concomitant rotator cuff tendon damage may occur when the shoulder dislocates; however, its presence and influence on clinical results have not been well described in this patient category. HYPOTHESIS: In opposition to current opinion, a substantial number of articular-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tears (APTRCTs) would be found at surgery after a first-time traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation in young athletes. However, the impact of these injuries on 2-year postoperative results would be negligible. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: Sixteen male patients (mean age, 21 years [range, 16-25 years]) with a first-time traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation without bony Bankart lesions were included in this study. The indications for surgical treatment were age less than 25 years and being active in collision or contact sports at a competitive level. Arthroscopic surgery was performed at a mean 7.8 days (range, 2-14 days) after injury. Rowe and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scores as well as range of motion were evaluated at a minimum 2 years after an arthroscopic Bankart procedure, and a comparison of the clinical results between patients with and without APTRCTs was conducted. RESULTS: An anterior-inferior capsulolabral injury was found in all patients. There were no bony Bankart lesions. An APTRCT was found in 9 of the 16 patients. At 2 years after surgical treatment, there were no significant differences between the patients with and without APTRCTs in terms of the Rowe score (90.0 and 87.1, respectively; P = .69) and ASES score (94.6 and 90.4, respectively; P = .67). CONCLUSION: APTRCTs were found in the superior part of the shoulder joint after a first-time traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation in a majority of young male athletes treated with surgical stabilization. There were no significant differences found between patients with and without APTRCTs in terms of the Rowe and ASES scores at 2 years after surgical treatment.