Prognostic Factors Leading to Good or Poor Outcomes Based on Functional and Radiological Findings After a Rotator Cuff Retear.

BACKGROUND: A retear after rotator cuff repair is a common problem; however, there is little information related to the prognosis after a retear. In addition, some patients with retears have satisfactory outcomes, which raises the question of whether a retear leads to a poor prognosis. PURPOSE: To identify radiological factors that influence the prognosis after a retear. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: A total of 51 patients with retears confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging at 1 year after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with a minimum follow-up of 24 months were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether they achieved the minimal clinically important difference for clinical outcome measures. Range of motion and radiological variables, including preoperative and postoperative anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) tear sizes, sagittal extent of the retear, acromiohumeral distance (AHD), and degree of fatty degeneration, were analyzed using magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Overall, 36 patients were allocated to the good prognosis (GP) group and 15 to the poor prognosis (PP) group. The 2 groups had no significant differences in baseline demographics and preoperative radiological parameters. Postoperative range of motion was decreased in the PP group at the last follow-up. The AP and ML retear sizes decreased in both groups after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, but the retear size was significantly larger in the PP group (both P < .05). The AHD increased in the GP group (P < .001) but decreased in the PP group (P = .230) postoperatively. Logistic regression analysis revealed that postoperative AHD (P = .003), fatty degeneration of the infraspinatus tendon (P = .001), posterior (P = .007) and anterior (P = .025) sagittal extent of the retear, and change in the AP tear size (P = .017) were related to poor outcomes after a retear. However, change in the ML tear size (P = .105) and middle sagittal extent of the retear (P = .878) were not related to a poor prognosis. Also, further analysis showed that posterior (P = .006) and anterior (P = .003) sagittal extent of the retear were related to rotator cable involvement. CONCLUSION: An increased AP retear size and decreased AHD were radiological parameters that were associated with poor clinical outcomes after a retear. In particular, patients who had posterior and anterior sagittal extent of the retear, possibly with rotator cable involvement and more severe fatty degeneration of the infraspinatus tendon, showed worse outcomes.

Patch augmentation does not provide better clinical outcomes than arthroscopic rotator cuff repair for large to massive rotator cuff tears.

PURPOSE: Patch augmentation for large and massive rotator cuff tears (LMRCTs) has been suggested as a repair strategy that can mechanically reinforce tendons and biologically enhance healing potential. The purpose of this study was to determine whether patients who underwent patch augmentation would have lower rates of retears and superior functional outcomes. METHODS: Patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) with patch augmentation (group A) were matched by age, sex, degree of retraction, and supraspinatus muscle occupation ratio to those treated with ARCR without using a patch (group B) with a minimum follow-up of 24 months. The retear (Sugaya IV or V) rates were evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging at 3 and 12 months post-surgery. The Constant- Murley Score (CMS), Korean Shoulder Score (KSS), and University of California-Los Angeles Shoulder Rating Scale (UCLA) score were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: This study included 34 patients (group A, n = 17; group B, n = 17). The mean follow-up period was 46.5 ± 17.4 months. At postoperative 1-year follow-up, group B (6 patients, 35.3%) showed higher rates of retears than group A (1 patient, 5.9%), which was statistically significant (P = 0.034). However, the postoperative CMS, KSS, and UCLA scores did not differ between the two groups at 3 months, 12 months, and the final follow-up. Additionally, the clinical outcomes of patients with retear were not significantly different from those of the healed patients in both groups. CONCLUSION: The use of an allodermal patch for LMRCT is effective in preventing retears without complications. However, the clinical outcomes of ARCR using allodermal patch augmentation were not superior to those of only ARCR. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Low serum vitamin B12 levels are associated with degenerative rotator cuff tear.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin B12 (Vit B12) deficiency results in elevated homocysteine levels and interference with collagen cross-linking, which may affect tendon integrity. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether serum Vit B12 levels were correlated with degenerative rotator cuff (RC) tear. METHODS: Eighty-seven consecutive patients with or without degenerative RC tear were enrolled as study participants. Possible risk factors (age, sex, medical history, bone mineral density, and serum chemistries including glucose, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, homocysteine, Vitamin D, Vit B12, homocysteine, and folate) were assessed. Significant variables were selected based on the results of univariate analyses, and a logistic regression model (backward elimination) was constructed to predict the presence of degenerative RC tear. RESULTS: In the univariate analysis, the group of patients with degenerative RC tear had a mean concentration of 528.4 pg/mL Vit B12, which was significantly lower than the healthy control group (627.1 pg/mL). Logistic regression analysis using Vit B12 as an independent variable revealed that Vit B12 concentrations were significantly correlated with degenerative RC tear (p = 0.044). However, Vit B12 levels were not associated with tear size. CONCLUSION: Low serum levels of Vit B12 were independently related to degenerative RC tear. Further investigations are warranted to determine if Vit B12 supplementation can decrease the risk of this condition.

Muscle mass measurements in hip fracture patients and control general population depending on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry device used: The General Electric Lunar and Hologic systems.

OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of sarcopenia, an independent risk factor for fragility fractures, is high in geriatric hip fracture patients. We aim to compare patients with hip fractures to the general population using different dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) devices - General Electric (GE) Lunar and Hologic. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data of patients diagnosed with osteoporotic hip fractures. At our institute, 252 patients with hip fractures were measured with the GE Lunar DXA. The control group included 252 matched individuals from a general population dataset whose data were measured with the Hologic DXA; controls were selected using nearest-neighbor propensity score matching. Measurements included appendicular lean mass (ALM), bone mineral density, and subsequent rates of sarcopenia and osteoporosis. RESULTS: The BMD T-score was significantly lower in patients with hip fractures than in matched controls (-2.7 vs. -2.1, respectively; P < 0.001). However, mean lean body mass of the arm was significantly greater in the hip fractures group compared to the matched control groups (4.092 kg vs. 3.869 kg, respectively; P = 0.024). Additionally, mean lean body mass of the leg was similar between groups (11.565 kg vs. 11.986 kg, respectively; P = 0.084). ALM/height2 and subsequent sarcopenia rates were not different between groups (hip fractures and 6.257 kg/m2 and 38.5%; matched controls, 6.198 kg/m2 and 33.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Despite experiencing hip fractures, muscle mass measurements and sarcopenia prevalence were similar between the groups. Muscle mass measurements for evaluating sarcopenia present significant discrepancies according to the DXA used.

Kienböck's disease with non-negative ulnar variance : Treatment with combined radial wedge and shortening osteotomy.

PURPOSE: There are only few studies that focused on Kienböck's disease with non-negative ulnar variance, even though many surgical procedures have been introduced. A combined radial wedge and shortening osteotomy was carried out for Kienböck's disease with non-negative ulnar variance. The purpose of this article is to report the results of this procedure by analyzing the clinical and radiological data. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The data for patients with Kienböck's disease who were treated by combined radial wedge and shortening osteotomy between 2007 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 18 patients (8 males, 10 females), average age 37 years, were included in this study and the mean follow-up period was 22.3 months. Radiological analysis included Lichtman stage, ulnar variance, radial inclination, carpal height ratio, radioscaphoid angle and Stahl's index. Clinical analysis included range of motion (ROM), visual analog scale (VAS) score, grip power, modified Mayo wrist score (MMWS), and disabilities of arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) score. RESULTS: Preoperative radiological analysis showed 16 cases of Lichtman stage IIIA and 2 cases of stage IIIB. Preoperative ulnar variance was +0.51 mm, radial inclination was 27.7o, carpal height ratio was 0.49, radioscaphoid angle was 52.8o and Stahl's index was 0.42. All patients had solid union at the osteotomy site. At the final follow-up the average ulnar variance was +1.9 mm, radial inclination was 16.5o, carpal height ratio was 0.48, radioscaphoid angle was 58.2o and Stahl's index was 0.36. Clinical analysis showed that the average dorsiflexion of the wrist was increased by 8.4o and palmar flexion of the wrist was increased by 29.6o. Grip power was increased by an average of 9.9 kg. Average VAS at the final follow-up was 1.0, DASH score was 4.3, and modified Mayo wrist score was 78.1. CONCLUSION: Radial wedge and shortening osteotomy can be recommended as an option for Kienböck's disease with non-negative ulnar variance, based on acceptable results from this study.

Comparison of Bone Mineral Density and Appendicular Lean Body Mass between Osteoporotic Distal Radius Fracture and Degenerative Rotator Cuff Tear in Women Patients.

BACKGROUND: Authors assessed lean body mass (fat free tissue), upper and lower, and bone mineral density (BMD) in patients of osteoporotic bone distal radius fracture (DRF) and degenerative rotator cuff tear (RCT) patients of shoulder. We predict inferior muscle mass and osteoporosis are more frequent in DRF group than RCT group. METHODS: Between January 2016 and June 2017, overall 38 of DRF and 30 of RCT were eligible for this retrospective comparison study after excluding of patients with compounding factors. BMD and other body composition, fat and lean body mass, were assessed with a single dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in one hospital. RESULTS: T-score of spine were -2.2 and -1.6 in DRF and RCT patients with significant difference (P=0.040). Final BMD score, lower score of patient between spine and femoral score, of both group also presented difference with significance, -2.4 of DRF and -1.9 of RCT patients (P=0.047). Diagnosis of osteoporosis was confirmed in 19 patients (50%) from DRF compared with 9 patients (30%) from RCT. The mean lean soft tissue mass of the arm was 3.7 kg and 3.8 kg in the DRF and RCT, respectively, without significant difference (P=0.882). The mean lean body mass of the leg was 11.0 kg and 10.5 kg in the DRF and RCT, respectively, without significant difference (P=0.189). The relative overall appendicular lean mass was not significantly different between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Even though BMD difference, we did not find muscle mass difference between DRF and RCT patients.