Rotator Cuff Tears are Significantly More Frequent in Recurrent Shoulder Instability Patients With Initial Dislocation at Age 40 or Older.

PURPOSE: To investigate and compare the pathologies and clinical outcomes of patients with traumatic anterior shoulder instability who underwent arthroscopic stabilization at 40 years or older between shoulders with initial dislocation before age 40 years and at 40 years or after. METHODS: Shoulders that underwent arthroscopic stabilization for recurrent traumatic anterior shoulder instability at 40 years or older with a minimum of 2-year follow-up were included. The subjects were divided into 2 groups according to age at initial dislocation after propensity score matching to reduce potential bias: younger than 40 years (group 1) and 40 years or older (group 2). Radiographic findings, pathologies, clinical outcomes, and complications were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Group 1 included 56 shoulders in 56 patients (26 men and 30 women) with a mean age of 51 years (range, 40-77 years). Group 2 included 28 shoulders in 28 patients (13 men and 15 women) with a mean age of 51 years (range, 40-77 years). Glenoid bone loss was greater in group 1 than in group 2 (P = .004). Rotator cuff tears were more frequently observed in group 2 than in group 1 (P < .001). Both groups showed significant improvement in the West Ontario Shoulder Instability Index score (P < .001 for each) and flexion (P < .001 for each). The recurrence rate was 4% in group 1 and 7% in group 2. CONCLUSIONS: Rotator cuff tears are significantly more frequent in recurrent shoulder instability patients with initial dislocation at age 40 or older. Arthroscopic stabilization yielded a low recurrence rate and favorable outcomes with a good return-to-sport rate in patients 40 years or older. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative prognostic trial.

Repair Integrity and Functional Outcomes After Arthroscopic Suture Bridge Subscapularis Tendon Repair.

PURPOSE: This retrospective study aimed to report repair integrity and clinical outcomes after arthroscopic suture bridge subscapularis (SSC) tendon repair. METHODS: The subjects included 101 shoulders subjected to arthroscopic suture bridge repair for full-thickness SSC tear with a minimum of a 2-year follow-up. There were 57 men and 44 women with a mean age of 66 years (range, 32-85 years). The mean follow-up was 30 months (range, 24-71 months). Tenotomy or tenodesis was performed for the long head of the biceps in all cases. All patients were assessed for active range of motion; belly-press and bear-hug tests; University of California, Los Angeles score; and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score preoperatively and at the final follow-up. Repair integrity and fatty degeneration of the SSC muscle were evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging at a mean 14 months (range, 12-58 months) after surgery. RESULTS: Flexion, internal rotation, and both functional scores significantly improved after surgery. Retears were found in 5 shoulders (5%). The shoulders with a retear showed significantly inferior functional scores compared with the intact shoulders. Fatty degeneration was significantly improved in the intact group, whereas there was no significant improvement in the retear group. Both belly-press and bear-hug test scores significantly improved after surgery; however, weakness persisted in shoulders with higher grade preoperative fatty degeneration even after successful repair. CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopic suture bridge repair for SSC tears yielded good clinical outcomes and a very low retear rate, even for larger tears or shoulders with higher grade fatty degeneration. Fatty degeneration of the SSC muscle improved after successful repair, although internal rotation weakness persisted in shoulders with higher grade preoperative fatty degeneration. Arthroscopic suture bridge repair is a promising procedure for treating SSC tears. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, case series study.

Progression of degenerative changes of the biceps tendon after successful rotator cuff repair.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the morphologic changes in the biceps tendon using ultrasonography before and after successful arthroscopic posterosuperior rotator cuff repair. METHODS: Forty-four patients (44 shoulders) underwent arthroscopic posterosuperior rotator cuff repair with 1-year postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) follow-up. The patients comprised 22 men and 22 women with an average age of 61 years. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the biceps tendon in the bicipital groove was measured, and the vascularity in the bicipital groove was graded as 0 to 3, based on the signal density of the anterior circumflex artery, using power Doppler ultrasonography. The preoperative and postoperative CSA and vascularity grades were compared. The pain score on the University of California, Los Angeles Shoulder Rating Scale was used to analyze the correlation between vascularity and postoperative pain. RESULTS: The average preoperative and postoperative CSA of the biceps tendon was 15.4 ± 6.5 and 17.9 ± 7.5 mm2, respectively. The postoperative CSA was significantly larger than the preoperative CSA (P < .01). Although no significant difference in the vascularity of the bicipital groove was observed between preoperative and postoperative grading, a negative correlation was observed between the vascularity and postoperative pain score on the University of California, Los Angeles scale (r = -0.369). CONCLUSIONS: The biceps tendon in the bicipital groove becomes thicker over time, even after successful posterosuperior rotator cuff repair. In addition, an increase in the vascularity around the biceps tendon in the groove is correlated with pain symptoms after successful repair.

Differences in fatty degeneration of rotator cuff muscles at different sites, as quantified by T2 mapping.

BACKGROUND: Fatty degeneration of the cuff muscles is usually evaluated at the Y-view in oblique sagittal images. It was recently proposed that muscle shift after repair may influence the fatty degeneration values, and the evaluation of the muscles at a more medial site was recommended. However, the differences in muscle quality in accord with measurement sites have been unclear. Here we evaluated differences in fatty degeneration of the rotator cuff muscles measured quantitatively at different sites, using T2 mapping. METHODS: We assessed 702 shoulders of 675 patients (335 males, 340 females; mean age, 62 years) who underwent MRI including T2 mapping. There were 345 shoulders without rotator cuff tears and 357 shoulders with tears: partial tear = 103 shoulders; small = 63; medium = 94; large = 71; massive = 26. T2 values of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles were measured on the Y-view and on the image that was 15 mm medial to the Y-view. RESULTS: The T2 values at the medial site increased with the tear extent, as did those on the Y-view. There were no significant differences in supraspinatus T2 values between those on the Y-view and at the medial site in all tear size groups except medium and large tears (p = 0.008 and p < 0.001, respectively). There were also no significant differences in infraspinatus T2 values between the two sites in all tear size groups except large tears (p = 0.002). However, the differences were relatively small (2.4-5.6 ms), which were within the standard deviations of the measurements. CONCLUSIONS: The T2 values of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles on the Y-view and at 15 mm medial to it were almost identical, with the exception of small differences in the case of larger tears.

Prevalence and Site of Rotator Cuff Lesions in Shoulders With Recurrent Anterior Instability in a Young Population.

BACKGROUND: Partial articular supraspinatus tendon avulsion (PASTA) lesions are often seen in shoulders of throwing athletes. PASTA lesions in anterior instability are also found in recurrent anterior glenohumeral instability. PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence and location of rotator cuff tears (RCTs), including PASTA lesions, in shoulders with recurrent anterior instability. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: A total of 842 shoulders in 801 patients with recurrent anterior instability (647 men, 154 women; mean age, 24 years; age range, 13-40 years) who underwent arthroscopic surgery at the age of 40 years or younger were enrolled. During surgery, the thickness and the sites of RCTs as well as patient factors associated with RCTs were examined. RESULTS: RCTs were found in 57 shoulders (7%) in 56 patients. There were 4 shoulders with full-thickness RCTs and 54 shoulders with PASTA lesions. All lesions but 1 involved the anterior border of the supraspinatus (SSP). Participation in high-level athletics and older age at injury were associated with RCTs. CONCLUSION: The incidence of RCTs was 7% in shoulders with recurrent anterior instability at age 40 years or younger. Most RCTs were PASTA lesions that involved the anterior border of the SSP.

Arthroscopic Fragment Resection for Capitellar Osteochondritis Dissecans in Adolescent Athletes: 5- to 12-Year Follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Capitellar osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) in skeletally immature athletes has often been seen in baseball players and gymnasts. The choice of surgical procedure for unstable lesions in skeletally immature athletes remains controversial. PURPOSE: To investigate functional outcomes and radiographic changes in the midterm to long-term postoperative period after arthroscopic (AS) resection for small to large capitellar OCD lesions in skeletally immature athletes. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: A total of 38 elbows in 38 patients (33 boys, 5 girls; mean age, 14 years [range, 13-15 years]) with skeletally immature elbows underwent AS resection for capitellar OCD. Patients were observed for at least 5 years (mean, 8 years [range, 5-12 years]). Elbows with a lesion width that did not exceed one-half of the radial head diameter were assigned to group 1 (n = 17 elbows), and larger lesions were assigned to group 2 (n = 21 elbows). Functional scores, patient satisfaction, range of motion (ROM), and osteoarthritis (OA) grades were evaluated between the groups. RESULTS: All patients returned to sports activity. Functional scores at the final follow-up were not significantly different between the groups. Patient satisfaction scores were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2. There was significant improvement in flexion ROM at the final follow-up compared with preoperative values in group 1 (P = .017), and there was a significant between-group difference (group 1: 141°; group 2: 133°; P = .002). Extension ROM showed significant improvement in both groups (group 1: from -8° to 3°; group 2: from -17° to -1°; P < .001 for both). Group 1 tended to have better extension than group 2, but the difference was not significant. There were no elbows with severe OA in either group, but the OA grade progressed in 5 elbows (29%) in group 1 and 9 elbows (43%) in group 2, and this rate of OA progression was statistically significant between groups (P = .005). CONCLUSION: Both functional outcomes and radiological findings after AS fragment resection were excellent in elbows with small lesions. Although overall outcomes were acceptable in elbows with larger lesions, flexion ROM and patient satisfaction scores were significantly inferior to those in elbows with smaller lesions.

Geometric Analysis of the Proximal Humerus in Elderly Japanese Patients: Implications for Implant Selection in Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty.

The implants used in reverse shoulder arthroplasty were originally designed for white patients; thus, they might not be optimal for smaller Asian patients. The selection of reverse shoulder arthroplasty systems is limited in Japan. The purpose of this study was to measure the geometry of the proximal humerus in elderly Japanese patients to inform implant selection according to humerus size. This study included 155 shoulders from 148 patients 50 years or older who underwent computed tomography for shoulder disorders other than arthritis and trauma. There were 67 male and 81 female patients with mean ages of 68 and 66 years, respectively. The humeral head diameter, head height, neck-shaft angle, neck diameters, and osteotomy diameters for 155° inclination implants were measured using surface models created from computed tomography scans. The mean diameter of head curvature, humeral head height, and neck-shaft angle were 48.2 mm, 19.8 mm, and 136° for male patients and 42.4 mm, 17.1 mm, and 136° for female patients, respectively. The mean mediolateral and anteroposterior neck diameters were 46.9 mm and 43.7 mm for men and 41.6 mm and 38.4 mm for women, respectively. The mean mediolateral and anteroposterior osteotomy diameters were 42.2 mm and 41.2 mm for male patients and 38.6 mm and 36.7 mm for female patients, respectively. There were significant differences between the sexes in all measurements except neck-shaft angle. Humeral implants with 155° inclination will not fit the humerus of smaller Japanese women. Thus, implants with anatomical inclination and an onlay humeral tray may be a better choice for smaller patients. [Orthopedics. 2017; 40(3):e485-e490.].

Rotator Cuff Lesions in Patients with Stiff Shoulders: A Prospective Analysis of 379 Shoulders.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic adhesive capsulitis is defined as a frozen shoulder with severe and global range-of-motion loss of unknown etiology. The purpose of our study was to clarify the prevalence of rotator cuff lesions according to patterns and severity of range-of-motion loss in a large cohort of patients with stiff shoulders. METHODS: Rotator cuff pathology was prospectively investigated with use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ultrasonography in a series of 379 stiff shoulders; patients with traumatic etiology, diabetes, or radiographic abnormalities were excluded. Eighty-nine shoulders demonstrated severe and global loss of passive motion (≤100° of forward flexion, ≤10° of external rotation with the arm at the side, and internal rotation not more cephalad than the L5 level) and were classified as having severe and global loss of motion (Group 1). The remaining 290 shoulders were divided into two groups: those with severe but not global loss (Group 2; 111 shoulders) and mild to moderate limitation (Group 3; 179 shoulders). RESULTS: Among all shoulders, imaging demonstrated an intact rotator cuff in 51%, a full-thickness tear in 35%, and a partial-thickness tear in 15%. In Group 1, 91% had an intact rotator cuff and 9% had a partial-thickness rotator cuff tear. No patient in this group demonstrated a full-thickness tear. In Group 2 and Group 3, respectively, 44% and 35% of the shoulders were intact, 17% and 16% had a partial-thickness tear, and 39% and 50% had a full-thickness tear. CONCLUSIONS: Shoulder stiffness with severe and global loss of passive range of motion is not associated with full-thickness rotator cuff tears, although some patients may have a partial-thickness tear. Shoulders with severe and global loss of range of motion at a first visit are likely to be cases of idiopathic adhesive capsulitis and may not require further imaging studies.