Guido Marra

Revision rotator cuff repair: Factors influencing results

Background: Revision rotator cuff repair is a surgical challenge, and the results have generally been inferior to those of primary repair. We examined the results of revision rotator cuff repair in a large series of patients and assessed which subgroups of patients had the greatest chance for a satisfactory functional outcome. Methods: A revision rotator cuff repair was performed in eighty patients after the failure of a previous operative repair. The average age of the patients at the time of the revision was fifty-nine years. Prior to revision, the average pain score was 7.4 points (with 0 points indicating no pain and 10 points, severe pain) and the active range of motion of the shoulder averaged 105° of elevation, 39° of external rotation, and internal rotation to the eleventh thoracic vertebra. All patients underwent repeat repair of the rotator cuff tendons to bone. Additional procedures included revision acromioplasty (fifty-three patients; 66%) and distal clavicular excision (twenty-six patients; 33%), among others. Results: After an average duration of follow-up of forty-nine months, the result was rated as satisfactory (excellent, good, or fair) in fifty-five patients (69%) and as unsatisfactory (poor) in twenty-five (31%). At the time of the latest follow-up, the average pain score had improved to 3.0 points and the active range of motion averaged 130° of elevation, 53° of external rotation, and internal rotation to the tenth thoracic vertebra. Improved results were associated with an intact deltoid origin, good-quality rotator cuff tissue, preoperative active elevation of the arm above the horizontal, and only one prior procedure. All seventeen patients who met all four of these criteria had a satisfactory result. Conclusions: The results of revision rotator cuff repair are inferior to those of primary repair. While pain relief can be reliably achieved in most patients, the functional results are improved principally in patients with an intact deltoid origin, good-quality rotator cuff tissue, preoperative elevation above the horizontal, and only one prior procedure.

Transitioning to arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: the pros and cons.

There has been much recent enthusiasm regarding complete arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, and it is becoming apparent that, for many, this newer technique may be a preferable alternative to the more traditional mini-open rotator cuff repair. Several short-term studies have demonstrated that complete arthroscopic repair has excellent results comparable with those of mini-open repair, which is also an excellent technique. The choice of which procedure may be better for an individual patient or surgeon can be based on a variety of considerations, including the patients expectations, the pathoanatomy of the cuff, and the surgical experience of the surgeon. The relative merits and disadvantages of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair are discussed on the basis of those considerations. When a surgeon is deciding which procedure to perform, it is important that the basic principles of rotator cuff repair not be compromised and that he or she perform the procedure that is most reproducible given his or her level of experience; however, for those who are now utilizing miniopen repair, arthroscopic repair may have important advantages and may be worth pursuing in the future. If a surgeon chooses to obtain the skills necessary to perform a complete arthroscopic repair, performance of the mini-open procedure offers an excellent opportunity to make an orderly transition.

The Effect of Corticosteroid on Collagen Expression in Injured Rotator Cuff Tendon

BACKGROUND Subacromial corticosteroid injections are commonly used in the nonoperative management of rotator cuff disease. The effects of corticosteroid injection on injured rotator cuff tendons have not been studied. Our aims were to characterize the acute response of rotator cuff tendons to injury through the analysis of the type-III to type-I collagen expression ratio, a tendon injury marker, and to examine the effects of corticosteroid on this response. METHODS Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups: control, tendon injury, steroid treatment, and tendon injury and steroid treatment. Six rats served as sham controls. Unilateral tendon injuries were created with full-thickness defects across 50% of the total width of the infraspinatus tendon, 5 mm from its humeral insertion. Steroid treatment with a single dose of methylprednisolone (0.6 mg/kg), equivalent to that given to humans, was injected into the subacromial space under direct visualization. Steroid treatment followed the creation of an injury in the rats in the injury and steroid treatment group. At one, three, and five weeks after the injury, the total RNA isolated from tendons was quantified with real-time polymerase chain reaction with use of primers for type-I and type-III collagen and ribosomal 18s RNA. RESULTS The type-III to type-I collagen expression ratio remained at baseline at all time-points in the control and sham groups. At one week, the type-III to type-I collagen expression ratio increased more than fourfold above the control level in the tendon injury group (p = 0.017) and the tendon injury and steroid treatment group (p = 0.003). The ratio remained greater than twofold above the control at three weeks in both groups (p = 0.003 and p = 0.037) and returned to baseline at five weeks. Interestingly, the group that had steroid treatment only showed an increase of >4.5-fold (p = 0.001) in the type-III to type-I collagen expression ratio, without structural injury to the tendon. This ratio returned to baseline levels by three weeks. CONCLUSIONS A single dose of corticosteroid does not alter the acute phase response of an injured rotator cuff tendon in the rat. However, the same steroid dose in uninjured tendons initiates a short-term response equivalent to that of structural injury.

Effect of corticosteroids on the biomechanical strength of rat rotator cuff tendon.

BACKGROUND The effect of corticosteroids on tendon properties is poorly understood, and current data are contradictory and diverse. The biomechanical effect of steroids on rotator cuff tendon has not been studied, to our knowledge. The current study was undertaken to characterize the biomechanical effects of corticosteroid exposure on both uninjured and injured rat rotator cuff tendon. METHODS One hundred and twenty-three male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups: control (C), tendon injury (I), steroid exposure (S), and tendon injury plus steroid exposure (I+S). Unilateral tendon injuries consisting of a full-thickness defect across 50% of the total width of the infraspinatus tendon were created. Steroid treatment consisted of a single dose of methylprednisolone placed into the subacromial space. At one, three, and five weeks postoperatively, the shoulders were harvested and the infraspinatus tendon was subjected to biomechanical testing. Two specimens from each group were used for histological analysis. RESULTS At one week, maximum load, maximum stress, and stiffness were all significantly decreased in Group S compared with the values in Group C. Mean maximum load decreased from 37.9 N in Group C to 27.5 N in Group S (p < 0.0005). Mean maximum stress decreased from 18.1 MPa in Group C to 13.6 MPa in Group S (p < 0.0005). Mean stiffness decreased from 26.3 N/mm in Group C to 17.8 N/mm in Group S (p < 0.0005). At one week, mean maximum stress in Group I+S (17.0 MPa) was significantly decreased compared with the value in Group I (19.5 MPa) (p < 0.0005). At both the three-week and the five-week time point, there were no significant differences between Group C and Group S or between Group I and Group I+S with regard to mean maximum load, maximum stress, or stiffness. Histological analysis showed fat cells and collagen attenuation in Groups S and I+S. These changes appeared to be transient. CONCLUSIONS A single dose of corticosteroids significantly weakens both intact and injured rat rotator cuff tendons at one week. This effect is transient as the biomechanical properties of the steroid-exposed groups returned to control levels by three weeks.

HEMIARTHROPLASTY FOR GLENOHUMERAL ARTHRITIS WITH MASSIVE ROTATOR CUFF TEARS

Rotator cuff deficiency with associated glenohumeral arthritis poses a formidable clinical challenge. Humeral head replacement with maintenance of the coracoacromial arch is the current treatment of choice. Properly performed arthroplasty can provide pain relief and modest gains in motion.

Portal-Extension Approach for the Repair of Small and Medium Rotator Cuff Tears

One hundred ten consecutive cases (110 patients) of arthroscopically assisted rotator cuff repair through a limited, portal-extension approach were retrospectively reviewed. The average age of our patients was 58 years (range, 30 to 79). There were 35 women and 75 men. The dominant shoulder was affected in 67 patients (61%). All patients underwent a standard arthroscopic decompression. Acromioclavicular resections were performed in 15% of patients. The anterolateral portal was extended in the direction of Langers lines to a total length of no more than 3 cm. The torn tendon was accessed through a small deltoid muscle split and repaired with nonabsorbable sutures. At an average follow-up of 35 months (range, 24 to 86), 106 patients (96%) had achieved excellent or satisfactory results. The average American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons pain score improved from 7 preoperatively to 2 postoperatively. All but four patients were satisfied with the clinical result and reported significant improvement in active elevation and strength and a significant lessening of pain. Late acromioclavicular joint pain contributed to failure in three of the four patients with unsatisfactory results in this series. The results of this study suggest that, in selected patients with small to medium rotator cuff tears, arthroscopically assisted repair through an anterolateral portal-extension approach can produce excellent results.

Cerebral desaturation events during shoulder arthroscopy in the beach chair position: patient risk factors and neurocognitive effects.

BACKGROUND Patients undergoing shoulder surgery in the beach chair position may be at increased risk for serious neurocognitive complications due to cerebral ischemia. We sought to define the incidence, patient risk factors, and clinical sequelae of intraoperative cerebral desaturation events. METHODS Regional cerebral tissue oxygen saturation (rSO2) was monitored intra-operatively using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) on 50 consecutive patients. The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) was administered to each patient pre- and postoperatively. Intra-operative decreases in rSO2 of 20% or greater were defined as cerebral desaturation events (CDE). The association between intraoperative CDE and postoperative cognitive decline was assessed. RESULTS The incidence of intraoperative CDE in our series was 18% (9/50). Increased body mass index (BMI) was found to have a statistically significant association with intraoperative CDE (mean BMI 37.32 vs 28.59, P < .0001). There was no statistical significance in pre- vs postoperative RBANS either in composite scores or any of the sub-indices in either group. CONCLUSION The degree and duration of cerebral ischemia required to produce neurocognitive dysfunction in this patient population remains undefined; however, cerebral oximetry with NIRS allows prompt identification and treatment of decreased cerebral perfusion decreasing the risk of this event. Increased BMI was found to be a statistically significant patient risk factor for the development of intra-operative CDE. The transient intra-operative CDEs were not associated with postoperative cognitive dysfunction in our patient series. We believe protocols aimed at detecting and reversing CDE minimize the risk of neurocognitive dysfunction and improve patient safety.

Cerebral Desaturation During Shoulder Arthroscopy: A Prospective Observational Study

BackgroundPatients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery in the beach chair position may be at increased risk for serious neurocognitive complications as a result of cerebral ischemia.Questions/purposesWe sought to define the (1) incidence; (2) timing; and (3) magnitude of intraoperative cerebral desaturation events (CDEs) in subjects undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery in the beach chair position, as well as whether (4) the length of surgery was an independent risk factor for intraoperative CDEs.MethodsRegional cerebral tissue oxygen saturation (rSO2) was monitored intraoperatively using near-infrared spectroscopy on 51 consecutive patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery in the beach chair position. Intraoperative decreases in rSO2 of 20% or greater were defined as CDEs.ResultsThe incidence of intraoperative CDEs in our series was 18% (nine of 51). Among the patients demonstrating CDE (n = 9), the mean time to onset of initial CDE was 18 minutes 38 seconds postinduction. Of those experiencing CDEs, the mean maximal decrease in rSO2 was 32% from preoperative baseline per patient. Additionally, the mean number of separate CDE instances was 1.89 in this patient population with an average duration of 3 minutes 3 seconds per instance. There was no statistically significant difference (p = 0.202) between patients demonstrating CDEs and those without in regard to length of surgery (95 versus 88 minutes).ConclusionsThe degree and duration of cerebral ischemia required to produce neurocognitive dysfunction in this patient population remains undefined; however, cerebral oximetry with near-infrared spectroscopy allows prompt identification and treatment of decreased cerebral perfusion. We believe protocols aimed at detecting and reversing CDE may improve patient safety.Level of EvidenceLevel III, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Latarjet Fixation A Cadaveric Biomechanical Study Evaluating Cortical and Cannulated Screw Fixation

Background: Attritional bone loss in patients with recurrent anterior instability has successfully been treated with a bone block procedure such as the Latarjet. It has not been previously demonstrated whether cortical or cancellous screws are superior when used for this procedure. Purpose: To assess the strength of stainless steel cortical screws versus stainless steel cannulated cancellous screws in the Latarjet procedure. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Ten fresh-frozen matched-pair shoulder specimens were randomized into 2 separate fixation groups: (1) 3.5-mm stainless steel cortical screws and (2) 4.0-mm stainless steel partially threaded cannulated cancellous screws. Shoulder specimens were dissected free of all soft tissue and a 25% glenoid defect was created. The coracoid process was osteomized, placed at the site of the glenoid defect, and fixed in place with 2 parallel screws. Results: All 10 specimens failed by screw cutout. Nine of 10 specimens failed by progressive displacement with an increased number of cycles. One specimen in the 4.0-mm screw group failed by catastrophic failure on initiation of the testing protocol. The 3.5-mm screws had a mean of 274 cycles (SD, ±171 cycles; range, 10-443 cycles) to failure. The 4.0-mm screws had a mean of 135 cycles (SD, ±141 cycles; range, 0-284 cycles) to failure. There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 types of screws for cycles required to cause failure (P = .144). Conclusion: There was no statistically significant difference in energy or cycles to failure when comparing the stainless steel cortical screws versus partially threaded cannulated cancellous screws. Clinical Relevance: Latarjet may be performed using cortical or cancellous screws without a clear advantage of either option.

Fractures of the shoulder girdle

Classification of Proximal Humeral fractures percutaneous pinning of PH fractures ORIF greater tub/lesser tub fractures ORIF surgical neck fractures ORIF 3 pt fractures ORIF 4 pt fractures HHR 4 pt fractures arthroscopic assisted ORIF prox hum/clavicle nonunion ORIF PH malunion locked fx-dislocation classification/ORIF scapula glenoid fx classification/ORIF AC/clavicle fx classification/ORIF SC fx humeral shaft fx-surgical approaches.