Factors Associated With Humeral Avulsion of Glenohumeral Ligament Lesions in Patients With Anterior Shoulder Instability: An Analysis of the MOON Shoulder Instability Cohort.

Background: Humeral avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament (HAGL) lesions are an uncommon cause of anterior glenohumeral instability and may occur in isolation or combination with other pathologies. As HAGL lesions are difficult to detect via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and arthroscopy, they can remain unrecognized and result in continued glenohumeral instability. Purpose: To compare patients with anterior shoulder instability from a large multicenter cohort with and without a diagnosis of a HAGL lesion and identify preoperative physical examination findings, patient-reported outcomes, imaging findings, and surgical management trends associated with HAGL lesions. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Patients with anterior glenohumeral instability who underwent surgical management between 2012 and 2020 at 11 orthopaedic centers were enrolled. Patients with HAGL lesions identified intraoperatively were compared with patients without HAGL lesions. Preoperative characteristics, physical examinations, imaging findings, intraoperative findings, and surgical procedures were collected. The Student t test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, Fisher exact test, and chi-square test were used to compare groups. Results: A total of 21 HAGL lesions were identified in 915 (2.3%) patients; approximately one-third (28.6%) of all lesions were visualized intraoperatively but not identified on preoperative MRI. Baseline characteristics did not differ between study cohorts. Compared with non-HAGL patients, HAGL patients were less likely to have a Hill-Sachs lesion (54.7% vs 28.6%; P = .03) or an anterior labral tear (87.2% vs 66.7%; P = .01) on preoperative MRI and demonstrated increased external rotation when their affected arm was positioned at 90° of abduction (85° vs 90°; P = .03). Additionally, HAGL lesions were independently associated with an increased risk of undergoing an open stabilization surgery (odds ratio, 74.6 [95% CI, 25.2-221.1]; P < .001). Conclusion: Approximately one-third of HAGL lesions were missed on preoperative MRI. HAGL patients were less likely to exhibit preoperative imaging findings associated with anterior shoulder instability, such as Hill-Sachs lesions or anterior labral pathology. These patients underwent open procedures more frequently than patients without HAGL lesions.

Development and Validation of a Short-Form Version of the Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Scale (Short-WOSI).

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) have transitioned from primarily being used as research instruments to becoming increasingly used in the clinical setting to assess recovery and inform shared decision-making. However, there is a need to develop validated short-form PROM instruments to decrease patient burden and ease incorporation into clinical practice. PURPOSE: To assess the validity and responsiveness of a shortened version of the Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (Short-WOSI) when compared with the full WOSI and other shoulder-related PROM instruments. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2. METHODS: This study was a secondary analysis of data collected as part of an institutional review board-approved, multicenter cohort of 1160 patients undergoing surgical stabilization for shoulder instability. The following PROMs were captured preoperatively and 2 years after surgery: WOSI, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE), and 36-Item Health Survey (RAND-36). The cohort was split into 2 data sets: a training set to be used in the development of the Short-WOSI (n = 580) and a test set to be used to assess the validity and responsiveness of the Short-WOSI relative to the full WOSI, ASES, SANE, and RAND-36. RESULTS: The Short-WOSI demonstrated excellent internal consistency before surgery (Cronbach α = .83) and excellent internal consistency at the 2-year follow-up (Cronbach α = .93). The baseline, 2-year, and pre- to postoperative changes in Short-WOSI and WOSI were closely correlated (r > 0.90), with both demonstrating large effect sizes (Short-WOSI = 1.92, WOSI = 1.81). Neither the Short-WOSI nor the WOSI correlated well with the other PROM instruments before (r = 0.21-0.33) or after (r = 0.25-0.38) surgery. The Short-WOSI, WOSI, and SANE scores were more responsive than ASES and RAND-36 scores. CONCLUSION: The 7-item Short-WOSI demonstrated excellent internal consistency and a lack of floor or ceiling effects. The Short-WOSI demonstrated excellent cross-sectional and longitudinal construct validity and was similarly responsive over time as the full WOSI. Neither the Short-WOSI nor WOSI correlated with more general shoulder PROMs, underscoring the advantage of using instability-specific instruments for this population.

Patients With Depression and/or Anxiety Having Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Show Decreased Number of Prescriptions and Number of Psychotherapy Sessions in the Year After Surgery.

PURPOSE: To determine whether the utilization of psychological treatments changes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR) for patients with preoperative depression and/or anxiety. METHODS: The Truven Healthcare Marketscan database was used to identify patients who underwent arthroscopic RCR between January 2009 and December 2016. We included all patients with diagnosis codes associated with either depression or anxiety before RCR. Patients were excluded if they did not have complete insurance coverage for 1 year before or after surgery, or if they had arthroscopic RCR in the year before the index surgical procedure. We compared the proportion of patients with preoperative depression or anxiety who filled a prescription and had psychotherapy procedural codes in the year before and the year after arthroscopic RCR. RESULTS: A total of 170,406 patients who underwent RCR were identified, of which depression and/or anxiety was found in 46,737 patients (43.7% male). Of the 46,737 patients, 19.6% filled a prescription for a depression/anxiety medication at least once in the year before surgery. Of this subset of patients, 41.5% did not fill a prescription for depression or anxiety medication after surgery, whereas 32.6% continued medication use but demonstrated a median 30-day reduction in the number of days' worth of medication. Similarly, 13.1% of patients were attending psychotherapy sessions preoperatively, but 76.6% of those patients either stopped or reduced the amount of psychotherapy sessions in the year following RCR. CONCLUSIONS: The number of prescriptions and psychotherapy sessions decreased in the year after RCR for patients with preoperative diagnoses of depression and/or anxiety. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, case series.

Psychosocial factors play a greater role in preoperative symptoms for patients with atraumatic shoulder instability: data from the MOON-Shoulder Instability group.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated that psychosocial factors and comorbid depression are associated with worse preoperative baseline measures, clinical outcomes, and recovery in patients undergoing shoulder surgery. It is unknown whether this potential link would differ between those with traumatic vs. atraumatic shoulder instability, as symptoms may persist longer in atraumatic instability prior to surgical intervention. The purpose of this study was to determine if psychosocial factors and/or comorbid depression more heavily influence preoperative symptoms for patients with traumatic vs. atraumatic shoulder instability. METHODS: Prospective baseline data from 1552 patients in the Multicenter Orthopaedic Outcomes Network (MOON) Shoulder Instability cohort were analyzed based on mechanism of injury while controlling for age, sex, and direction of instability. Multivariable linear regressions were performed to determine whether psychological factors (RAND 36 Mental Component Score [MCS], depression diagnosis, Personality Assessment Screener-22) were predictive of preoperative American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES) and Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI) scores in the atraumatic group. The same model was repeated for the traumatic instability group, and the model fit was compared between groups, with P < .05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Female sex and lower MCS were significantly associated with worse preoperative ASES and WOSI scores for the group with atraumatic instability (ASES R2 = 0.15, P < .001; WOSI R2 = 0.17, P < .001). The same model performed significantly worse (P < .05) for both ASES and WOSI scores in the group with traumatic instability (ASES R2 = 0.07, WOSI R2 = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Worse preoperative psychosocial factors were found to be more strongly associated with shoulder-related pain and function for patients with atraumatic instability. Across multiple orthopedic conditions, depression and emotional well-being have been associated with worse preoperative symptoms and inferior postoperative patient-reported outcomes. Despite the stronger and significant association in atraumatic patients, worse psychosocial factors did not have as large an impact as has been seen in other, more chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis or rotator cuff tears. In addition to medically optimizing patients prior to surgery, the current findings identify a subset of shoulder instability patients that may benefit from a behavioral health intervention either prior to surgery or early in the postoperative period to potentially improve postoperative outcomes.

Which Risk Factors Are Associated with Pain and Patient-reported Function in Patients with a Rotator Cuff Tear?

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported measures guide physicians in clinical decision making and therefore it is critical to determine what clinical factors are associated with these scores. Psychological and physical factors are commonly studied separately in patients with rotator cuff tears to determine their influence on outcomes. It is well established that psychological distress and scapular motion change in the presence of a symptomatic rotator cuff tear. However, these factors have not been studied simultaneously in a clinical setting to determine their association with shoulder outcome scores. QUESTION/PURPOSE: After controlling for relevant confounding variables, what physical and psychological factors are associated with better (1) American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scores for function, (2) ASES pain scores, and (3) total ASES scores? METHODS: Fifty-nine patients with a potential symptomatic rotator cuff tear were recruited and agreed to participate in this cross-sectional study. Of those, 85% (50 of 59) met eligibility criteria for a primary diagnosis of an MRI-confirmed symptomatic partial-thickness or full-thickness rotator cuff tear without a history of shoulder surgery. Demographics, rotator cuff tear size, arm flexion, and clinical scapular motion during active arm flexion were evaluated by experienced examiners using standardized procedures. Patients completed the ASES questionnaire and the Optimal Screening for Prediction of Referral and Outcomes-Yellow Flag assessment form, which measures 11 different pain-related psychological distress symptoms. Three separate stepwise multiple linear regression analyses were performed for ASES pain, function, and total scores, with significance set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: This model found that ASES function scores were associated with four factors: older age, increased arm flexion, increased percentage of scapular external rotation during arm flexion, and increased scores for acceptance of chronic pain (adjusted r2 = 0.67; p = 0.01). Those four factors appear to explain 67% of the observed variance in ASES function scores in patients with rotator cuff tears. Furthermore, increased percentage of scapular external rotation during arm flexion and decreased fear-avoidance beliefs related to physical activity scores (adjusted r2 = 0.36; p < 0.01) were associated with better ASES pain scores. And finally, better ASES total scores were associated with four factors: increased arm flexion, increased percentage of scapular upward rotation, increased scapular external rotation during arm flexion, and decreased fear-avoidance beliefs related to physical activity scores (adjusted r2 = 0.65; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our results favor adopting a comprehensive biopsychological clinical assessment for patients with rotator cuff tears that specifically includes humeral and scapular motion, fear-avoidance behaviors, and pain coping behaviors along with demographics. These particular physical and psychological variables were found to be associated with the ASES and, therefore, should be clinically examined simultaneously and targeted as part of a tailored treatment plan. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, prognostic study.

Increased Health Care Costs and Opioid Use in Patients with Anxiety and Depression Undergoing Rotator Cuff Repair.

PURPOSE: To (1) quantify the prevalence of mood disorders in patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR) by use of a large claims database and (2) compare opioid use and medical costs in the year before and the year after RCR between patients with and without comorbid mood disorders. METHODS: A large claims database was queried to identify patients who underwent arthroscopic RCR (Current Procedural Terminology code 29827) between October 2010 and December 2015. All patients were then screened for insurance claims relating to either anxiety or depression. We compared net costs and opioid use both 1 year preoperatively and 1 year postoperatively between patients with and without mood disorders by use of an analysis of covariance. RESULTS: A total of 170,329 patients (97,427 male patients [57.2%] and 72,902 female patients [42.8%]) undergoing arthroscopic RCR were identified. Of the 170,329 patients, 46,737 (27.4%) had comorbid anxiety or depression, and after adjustment for preoperative cost, sex, age, and both preoperative and postoperative opioid use, the 1-year postoperative cost was 7.05% higher for those with a preoperative mood disorder than for those without a mood disorder. In addition, opioid use both in the 180 days prior to surgery (36.7% vs 26.9%) and more than 90 days after surgery (33.0% vs 27.2%) was substantially greater in the group with comorbid depression or anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with comorbid mood disorders, opioid use and health care costs were increased both preoperatively and postoperatively. The increased cost in this patient population is estimated at $62.3 million annually. In an effort to provide high-quality, value-based care, treatment strategies should be developed to identify these patients preoperatively and provide the appropriate resources needed to improve the probability of a successful surgical outcome. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective, comparative therapeutic study.

Superior Capsule Reconstruction for Irreparable Massive Rotator Cuff Tears: Does It Make Sense? A Systematic Review of Early Clinical Evidence.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of irreparable massive rotator cuff tears (MRCTs) in patients without advanced glenohumeral osteoarthritis remains a challenge. Arthroscopic superior capsule reconstruction (SCR) represents a newer method for treatment with increasing popularity and acceptance. PURPOSE: To analyze the clinical evidence surrounding SCR and determine the current clinical outcomes postoperatively. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Electronic databases of PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Google Scholar were used for the literature search. The study quality was evaluated according to the Modified Coleman Methodology Score. Studies in English evaluating SCR outcomes were included. RESULTS: Seven studies were reviewed, including 352 patients (358 shoulders) treated with arthroscopic SCR with the mean duration of follow-up ranging from 15 to 48 months (range, 12-88 months). Fourteen patients were lost to follow-up, leaving 338 patients (344 shoulders) with clinical outcome data. Graft types included dermal allografts (n = 3 studies), fascia lata autografts (n = 3), or both (n = 1). Most commonly, a double-row technique was utilized for humeral graft fixation. The most common complication included graft tears in 13% of patients, resulting in 15 SCR revisions and 7 reverse shoulder arthroplasties. Postoperatively, improvements in visual analog scale (2.5 to 5.9), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (20 to 56), Japanese Orthopaedic Association (38.0), Subjective Shoulder Value (37.0 to 41.3), and Constant (11.6 to 47.4) scores were observed. Three studies reported respective satisfaction rates of 72.9%, 85.7% and 90%. Increases in external rotation, internal rotation, and abduction with improved strength in external rotation were observed postoperatively. Improvement of pseudoparalysis was also observed in 3 studies. One study reported return to sports in 100% of patients (2 competitively, 24 recreationally) with no adverse outcomes. CONCLUSION: SCR showed good to excellent short-term clinical outcomes with adequate pain relief and functional improvement. The current evidence suggests that the procedure is an alternative for symptomatic patients with irreparable MRCT; however, the included studies were fair to poor in quality, and there were some notable complications. Long-term follow-up will determine the longevity and ultimate role of this new method in the treatment of irreparable MRCT.

Complications Associated With Arthroscopic Labral Repair Implants: A Case Series.

Arthroscopic labral repair in the shoulder has become commonplace in recent years. A variety of implants have evolved in parallel with arthroscopic techniques. Any orthopedic implant that is placed in close proximity to the joint has the potential to cause subsequent damage to the articular surface if it is left prominent or dislodges secondary to improper surgical technique. This article focuses on a series of implant-related complications of labral surgery and their subsequent management. Additionally, correct patient selection and surgical technique are discussed.

Surgical pearls and pitfalls for effective and reproducible arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is a common orthopedic procedure. This can be a technically challenging and frustrating procedure without adherence to basic principles and guidelines. The authors aim to present a concise treatment strategy for preoperative evaluation, surgical intervention, and postoperative care to achieve secure, anatomic, and reproducible repairs.

Arthroscopic suture fixation of tibial eminence fractures.

Tibial eminence avulsion fractures are relatively rare injuries, most frequently occurring in skeletally immature patients. Screws or suture fixation can be used, with each offering different potential advantages. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of a suture fixation technique for displaced tibial eminence avulsion fractures using the Rotator Cuff Guide (RCG; Acufex Microsurgical, Mansfield, Massachusetts). In a 12-year period from 1998 to 2010, a total of 17 tibial avulsion fractures were treated using the RCG for suture fixation. Outcomes evaluated included pain at final assessment and findings from Lachman, drawer, pivot shift, flexion, extension, and varus/valgus stress tests. Demographic data, fracture type, mechanism of injury, and postoperative activity were obtained for 17 patients (16 males and 1 female) who underwent surgery during the study period. Average patient age was 16.8 years (range, 13-37 years). Average follow-up was 25 months (range, 2 months to 13 years). Postoperatively, all fractures in all patients were radiographically healed, and all patients had stable Lachman and negative pivot shift tests. Two patients had 3° of extension loss, and 1 patient lost greater than 10° of knee flexion. The length of follow-up was broad. Further limitations include a small sample size and suture versus T-Fix (Acufex Microsurgical, Mansfield, Massachusetts) fixation methods. This technique offers a simplified, reliable method of suture fixation that provides few long-term complications and predictable results. Patients can expect to return to preinjury levels of activity, with the majority of patients achieving full range of motion.

Glenohumeral instability and glenoid bone loss in a throwing athlete.

UNLABELLED: This case presents the challenges of management associated with a young throwing athlete presenting with a history of bilateral anterior shoulder instability. This athlete had multiple surgical interventions over a three-year period. The imaging modalities provided partial elucidation (at best) of the true picture of the pathology. This case report outlines the decision making process utilized to provide individualized care to a young throwing athlete with bilateral glenohumeral joint instability, recurrent dislocations, and resultant glenoid bone loss. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5 (Single Case report).

Electromyographical comparison of four common shoulder exercises in unstable and stable shoulders.

This study examines if electromyographic (EMG) amplitude differences exist between patients with shoulder instability and healthy controls performing scaption, prone horizontal abduction, prone external rotation, and push-up plus shoulder rehabilitation exercises. Thirty nine subjects were categorized by a single orthopedic surgeon as having multidirectional instability (n = 10), anterior instability (n = 9), generalized laxity (n = 10), or a healthy shoulder (n = 10). Indwelling and surface electrodes were utilized to measure EMG activity (reported as a % of maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC)) in various shoulder muscles during 4 common shoulder exercises. The exercises studied effectively activated the primary musculature targeted in each exercise equally among all groups. The serratus anterior generated high activity (50-80% MVIC) during a push-up plus, while the infraspinatus and teres major generated moderate-to-high activity (30-80% MVIC) during both the prone horizontal and prone external rotation exercises. Scaption exercise generated moderate activity (20-50% MVIC) in both rotator cuff and scapular musculature. Clinicians should feel confident in prescribing these shoulder-strengthening exercises in patients with shoulder instability as the activation levels are comparable to previous findings regarding EMG amplitudes and should improve the dynamic stabilization capability of both rotator cuff and scapular muscles using exercises designed to address glenohumeral joint instability.

Tendinopathy of the long head of the biceps.

Tendinopathy of the long head of the biceps is a common cause of anterior shoulder pain. As such, the anatomy and function of the tendon as well as its pathophysiology and different treatment methods have been studied extensively. The pathophysiology is a spectrum beginning with inflammation and leading to tendon degeneration. Different clinical tests and imaging modalities may all be employed to help aid in diagnosis. Conservative management is the first-line treatment, but surgical intervention may be warranted. In general, tenotomy or tenodesis is performed depending, among other things, on the age and activity level of the patient. There are several different methods for tenodesis, each with certain advantages and disadvantages. Patient factors must be considered when choosing the optimal treatment.

Treatment options for chronic retracted degenerative rotator cuff tears.

Degenerative, retracted, massive rotator cuff tears present surgeons with distinct challenges. Patient selection is key to a successful outcome. Treatment strategies range from non-operative to progressively more complex surgical options, including debridement, partial repair, complete repair utilizing margin convergence and interval slides, tendon transfers, arthrodesis, and arthroplasty. The rationale behind each of these options and more are discussed along with guidance for selecting the appropriate treatment strategy for individual patients. Outcomes of various treatment approaches are discussed as well to facilitate surgeons to successfully manage patients with retracted and degenerative tears of the rotator cuff.

Rotator cuff injury as a complication of portal placement for superior labrum anterior-posterior repair.

BACKGROUND: An accessory trans-rotator cuff portal is commonly used in shoulder arthroscopy, primarily in the repair of SLAP (superior labrum anterior-posterior) lesions. Improper placement of the trans-rotator cuff portal can result in damage to the rotator cuff near its attachment site. METHODS: Six patients were studied, having been referred to our clinic after previous shoulder arthroscopy with SLAP repair. Review of operative notes showed that the rotator cuff had been described as normal in 5 patients and having a mild partial-thickness tear of the supraspinatus in 1 patient at the time of the first surgery. All patients underwent repeat shoulder arthroscopy within 10 to 22 months. RESULTS: All 6 patients were found to have full-thickness rotator cuff tears at the time of the second surgery. The rotator cuff injuries appeared to be associated with portal placement from the previous SLAP repair. All patients underwent rotator cuff repair, and 3 had concomitant revision SLAP repair. All patients had clinical improvement, with a mean preoperative American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score of 45.3 and mean postoperative score of 90.5. Mean follow-up was 58.3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Proper placement of a trans-rotator cuff portal should be performed cautiously, traversing the rotator cuff medial to the muscle-tendon junction. This report highlights the potential for injury to the rotator cuff tendons with improper placement of this portal. In patients with persistent pain after previous SLAP repair with a trans-rotator cuff portal technique, rotator cuff injury may be the source of symptoms. Revision surgery with rotator cuff repair can provide improvement.

Reliability of video motion-analysis systems to measure amplitude and velocity of shoulder elevation.

CONTEXT: Dynamic shoulder motion can be captured using video capture systems, but reliability has not yet been established. OBJECTIVE: To compare the reliability of 2 systems in measuring dynamic shoulder kinematics during forward-elevation movements and to determine differences in these kinematics between healthy and injured subjects. DESIGN: Reliability and cohort. SETTING: Research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: 11 healthy subjects and 10 post-superior labrum anteroposterior lesion patients (SLAP). INTERVENTION: Contrasting markers were placed at the hip, elbow, and shoulder to represent shoulder elevation and were videotaped in 2 dimensions. Subjects performed 6 repetitions of active elevation (AE) and active assisted elevation of the shoulder, and 3 trials were analyzed using Datapac (comprehensive system) and Dartfish (basic system). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Amplitudes and velocities of the shoulder angle were calculated. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and levels of agreement (LOA) were used to determine intersystem and intertrial reliability. RESULTS: For AE, the amplitude maximum (ICC = .98-.99, SEM = 2-3°, LOA = -9° to 5°) and average velocity (ICC = .94-.97, SEM = 1°/s, LOA = -4° to 1°/s) indicated excellent intersystem reliability between systems. Intratrial reliability for minimum velocity was moderate for Datapac (ICC = .64, SEM = 4°/s, LOA = 7°/s) and poor for Dartfish (ICC = .52, SEM = 20°/s, LOA = 37°/s). Cohort results demonstrated for AE a greater amplitude for healthy v SLAP (139° ± 11° v 113° ± 13°; P = .001) and interaction for an average velocity increase of 2°/s in healthy and decrease of 2°/s in SLAP patients over the 3 trials (P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Reliability ranges provide the means to assess the clinical meaningfulness of results. The cohort differences are supported when the values exceed the ranges of the SEM; hence the amplitude results are meaningful. For dynamic shoulder elevation measured using video, the assessment of velocity was found to produce moderate to good reliability. The results suggest that with these measures subtle changes in both measures may be possible with further investigations.

Excision of symptomatic nonunions of proximal fifth metatarsal avulsion fractures in elite athletes.

BACKGROUND: An avulsion fracture of the proximal fifth metatarsal may result in a symptomatic nonunion and hinder athletic performance. Nonoperative management is often successful in alleviating symptoms. When symptoms persist, surgery can be undertaken to repair the nonunion or excise the avulsed fragment. PURPOSE: The excision of the avulsed bone fragment is evaluated in the management of symptomatic nonunions. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Excision of the avulsed fifth metatarsal fragment was performed in 6 male high-performance athletes with symptomatic nonunions. The remaining edge of bone was contoured and smoothed. RESULTS: All 6 patients experienced an uneventful operation and recovery, returning to competitive play at a mean of 11.7 weeks. Activity-related pain and discomfort abated after the excision and rehabilitation. No surgical complications were noted. CONCLUSION: Surgical excision of the avulsed fragment from the proximal fifth metatarsal is a safe and effective alternative intervention when nonoperative methods fail.

Arthroscopic technique for the evaluation and treatment of posterior shoulder instability.

Posterior instability is becoming an increasingly recognized problem with today's contact athletes. Although not as common as anterior Bankart lesions, posterior capsulolabral pathology can lead to significant instability and pain. Open posterior repair is difficult and results in the literature have been inconsistent. However, there is recent evidence to support arthroscopic repair with capsular placation as a promising solution. Our technique for arthroscopic posterior capsulolabral repair will be reviewed with emphasis on the key aspects for a successful outcome.