Assessment of the Accuracy of the AO Spine-TL Classification for Thoracolumbar Spine Fractures Using the AO Surgery Reference Mobile App.

STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the AO Surgery Reference mobile app in the diagnosis of thoracolumbar fractures of the spine according to the AO TL classification, and to discuss the usefulness of this app in the teaching and training of the resident physicians in orthopedics and traumatology area. METHODS: The 24 residents of Orthopedic and Traumatology program assessed 20 cases of thoracolumbar fractures selected from the hospital database on 2 different occasions, with a 30-day interval, and they classified these cases with and without using the AO Surgery Reference app. A group of spine experts previously established the gold standard and the answers were statistically compared, with the inter- and intraobserver reliability evaluated by the kappa index. RESULTS: The use of the AO Surgery Reference app increased the classification success rate of the fracture morphology (from 53.4% to 72.5%), of the comorbidity modifier (from 61.4% to 77.9%) and of the neurological status modifier (from 55.1% to 72.9%). In addition, the mobile app raised the classification agreement and accuracy. The kappa index increased from 0.30 to 0.53 regarding the morphological classification of fractures. CONCLUSIONS: The residents improved their ability to recognize and classify thoracolumbar spine fractures, which reinforces the importance of this tool in medical education and clinical practice.

Does a subscapularis tear combined with a posterosuperior rotator cuff tear affect postoperative functional outcomes?

BACKGROUND: The subscapularis is biomechanically important for the shoulder. However, few studies have clinically assessed its importance using a comparative design. Our objective was to compare the functional outcomes in patients who underwent isolated repair of posterosuperior rotator cuff tears and those with repair of combined tears involving the subscapularis. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study evaluating patients who underwent arthroscopic full-thickness rotator cuff repair between January 2013 and May 2017. The patients were divided into 2 groups: isolated repair of posterosuperior tears and repair of combined tears involving the subscapularis. The primary outcome was to evaluate the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) scales at 24 months' follow-up. RESULT: A total of 326 patients were evaluated: 194 with isolated posterosuperior repairs and 132 with combined subscapularis repairs. Both groups showed significant improvement with the procedure (P < .001). The ASES score at 24 months showed no significant difference (P = .426) between the group without subscapularis repair (median, 90.0; interquartile range [IQR], 24.8) and the group with subscapularis repair (median, 86.3; IQR, 33.2). Similarly, the UCLA score showed no difference between the groups (median, 33.0 [IQR, 6.0] and 32.5 [IQR, 8.8], respectively; P = .190). The preoperative functional evaluation also showed no significant differences between the groups. CONCLUSION: The functional results did not differ between patients who underwent isolated repair of posterosuperior tears and those with repair of combined tears involving the subscapularis, according to the ASES and UCLA scales at 24 months.

EFFECT OF SUBSCAPULARIS TEARS ON FUNCTIONAL SCORES OF PATIENTS UNDERGOING ROTATOR CUFF REPAIR.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of partial- and full-thickness upper third subscapularis tendon tears on the functional scores of patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. METHODS: Patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were divided into three groups according to the subscapularis tendon condition: intact, partial-thickness tear, or full-thickness upper third tear. Functional scores were compared among groups. Second, the influence of biceps and infraspinatus tears on the scores was tested using multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: We evaluated 307 shoulders in 297 patients. Full-thickness upper third subscapularis tears presented significantly worse scores than intact tendons. Partial-thickness tears had scores that did not differ significantly from those of the other groups. Patients with full-thickness upper third tears presented a greater rate of injured and unstable biceps tendons. The multivariate analysis showed that biceps and infraspinatus tendon tears did not influence the scores or the intergroup comparison. CONCLUSION: Full-thickness upper third subscapularis tendon tears presented worse functional scores than intact subscapularis tendons among patients undergoing posterosuperior rotator cuff repair. Patients with full-thickness subscapularis tears were more likely to suffer biceps tears, but this fact did not influence functional scores. Level of Evidence I; Clinical randomized trial.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a influência das lesões do terço superior do tendão subescapular nos escores funcionais de pacientes submetidos ao reparo artroscópico do manguito. MÉTODOS: Divisão em três grupos, conforme condição do tendão subescapular: intacto; ruptura de espessura parcial ou ruptura do terço superior de espessura total. Comparamos escores funcionais. Em seguida, a influência das lesões do bíceps e do infraespinhal nos escores foi testada através de análise de regressão multivariada. RESULTADOS: Avaliamos 307 ombros em 297 pacientes. Rupturas subescapulares no terço superior de espessura total apresentaram escores significativamente piores aos pacientes com tendão intacto. Rupturas de espessura parcial apresentaram escore sem diferença significativa em relação aos demais. Pacientes com rupturas do terço superior de espessura total apresentaram maior taxa de lesão e instabilidade tendínea do bíceps. Análise multivariada mostrou que as rupturas tendíneas do bíceps e infraespinal não influenciaram os escores. CONCLUSÃO: Pacientes com lesão do terço superior de espessura total do tendão do subescapular apresentaram escores funcionais piores do que pacientes com tendão intacto submetidos ao reparo artroscópico posterossuperior do manguito. Pacientes com rupturas do subescapular com espessura total foram mais propensos a apresentar rupturas do bíceps, sem influenciar escores funcionais. Nível de Evidência I, Estudo clínico randomizado.

Effect of subscapularis tears on functional scores of patients undergoing rotator cuff repair / Influência da lesão do subescapular nos escores funcionais de pacientes submetidos a reparo do manguito rotador

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the influence of partial- and full-thickness upper third subscapularis tendon tears on the functional scores of patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Methods: Patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were divided into three groups according to the subscapularis tendon condition: intact, partial-thickness tear, or full-thickness upper third tear. Functional scores were compared among groups. Second, the influence of biceps and infraspinatus tears on the scores was tested using multivariate regression analysis. Results: We evaluated 307 shoulders in 297 patients. Full-thickness upper third subscapularis tears presented significantly worse scores than intact tendons. Partial-thickness tears had scores that did not differ significantly from those of the other groups. Patients with full-thickness upper third tears presented a greater rate of injured and unstable biceps tendons. The multivariate analysis showed that biceps and infraspinatus tendon tears did not influence the scores or the intergroup comparison. Conclusion: Full-thickness upper third subscapularis tendon tears presented worse functional scores than intact subscapularis tendons among patients undergoing posterosuperior rotator cuff repair. Patients with full-thickness subscapularis tears were more likely to suffer biceps tears, but this fact did not influence functional scores. Level of Evidence I; Clinical randomized trial

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a influência das lesões do terço superior do tendão subescapular nos escores funcionais de pacientes submetidos ao reparo artroscópico do manguito. Métodos: Divisão em três grupos, conforme condição do tendão subescapular: intacto; ruptura de espessura parcial ou ruptura do terço superior de espessura total. Comparamos escores funcionais. Em seguida, a influência das lesões do bíceps e do infraespinhal nos escores foi testada através de análise de regressão multivariada. Resultados: Avaliamos 307 ombros em 297 pacientes. Rupturas subescapulares no terço superior de espessura total apresentaram escores significativamente piores aos pacientes com tendão intacto. Rupturas de espessura parcial apresentaram escore sem diferença significativa em relação aos demais. Pacientes com rupturas do terço superior de espessura total apresentaram maior taxa de lesão e instabilidade tendínea do bíceps. Análise multivariada mostrou que as rupturas tendíneas do bíceps e infraespinal não influenciaram os escores. Conclusão: Pacientes com lesão do terço superior de espessura total do tendão do subescapular apresentaram escores funcionais piores do que pacientes com tendão intacto submetidos ao reparo artroscópico posterossuperior do manguito. Pacientes com rupturas do subescapular com espessura total foram mais propensos a apresentar rupturas do bíceps, sem influenciar escores funcionais. Nível de Evidência I, Estudo clínico randomizado.