Jan Ferdinand Henseler

The Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index in Rotator Cuff Disease Patients A Comprehensive Reliability and Responsiveness Validation Study

Background: The Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC) is an increasingly applied condition-specific outcome measure for rotator cuff (RC) conditions. However, in most WORC validation studies, only a limited number of psychometric properties are studied in indistinct patient groups. Purpose: To assess psychometric properties of the WORC according to the Scientific Advisory Committee quality criteria for health questionnaires in 3 patient groups with distinct RC conditions. Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2. Methods: The WORC (range, 0-100; 21 items, 5 domains) was administered twice (T1, T2) in 92 patients (35 RC tears, 35 calcific tendinitis, 22 impingement). Additionally, the Constant score (CS) and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score (DASH) were recorded. Calcific tendinitis patients were reassessed 6 weeks after treatment with needling and lavage or a subacromial injection with corticosteroids (T3). We assessed floor and ceiling effects, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, precision, construct validity, minimally detectable change, and responsiveness in the diagnostic subgroups and the total group. Results: Mean age was 55.0 ± 8.7 years, and 49 of 92 (53%) patients were female. Mean baseline WORC was 46.8 ± 20.4, CS was 63.9 ± 15.4, and DASH was 40.9 ± 18.6. Significant differences were found for the CS and DASH between RC tear patients (severe symptoms) and the other patients, but not for the WORC. There were no floor and ceiling effects. Internal consistency was high: the Cronbach alpha coefficient was .95. The intraclass correlation coefficient of .89 and standard error of measurement of 6.9 indicated high reproducibility. Pearson correlations of the WORC with the CS and DASH were .56 and –.65, respectively (both P < .001). At T3, total WORC improved significantly (mean change, 18.8; 95% confidence interval, 11.3-26.2). Correlations of the WORC change scores with CS and DASH changes were .61 and –.84, respectively (both P < .001). Effect size was 0.96, with a standardized response mean of 0.91, indicating good responsiveness. Conclusion: Applied to a variety of RC patients, the WORC had high internal consistency, moderate to good construct validity, high test-retest reliability, and good responsiveness. These findings support the use of the WORC as a condition-specific self-reported outcome measure in RC patients, but its validity in patients with severe symptoms needs further investigation.

Teres major tendon transfer for patients with massive irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears: Short-term clinical results

Surgical repair of posterosuperior rotator cuff tears has a poorer outcome and a higher rate of failure compared with repairs of supraspinatus tears. In this prospective cohort study 28 consecutive patients with an irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tear after failed conservative or surgical treatment underwent teres major tendon transfer. Their mean age was 60 years (48 to 71) and the mean follow-up was 25 months (12 to 80). The mean active abduction improved from 79° (0° to 150°) pre-operatively to 105° (20° to 180°) post-operatively (p = 0.011). The mean active external rotation in 90° abduction improved from 25° (0° to 70°) pre-operatively to 55° (0° to 90°) post-operatively (p < 0.001). The mean Constant score improved from 43 (18 to 78) pre-operatively to 65 (30 to 86) post-operatively (p < 0.001). The median post-operative VAS (0 to 100) for pain decreased from 63 (0 to 96) pre-operatively to 5 (0 to 56) post-operatively (p < 0.001). In conclusion, teres major transfer effectively restores function and relieves pain in patients with irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears and leads to an overall clinical improvement in a relatively young and active patient group with limited treatment options.

The minimal detectable change of the Constant score in impingement, full-thickness tears, and massive rotator cuff tears

HYPOTHESIS The purpose of this study was to determine the minimal detectable change (MDC) for the Constant score in patients with impingement, a supraspinatus tear, or a massive rotator cuff (RC) tear as observed changes smaller than the MDC might be the result of measurement error. METHODS The Constant score was recorded in a total of 180 patients, including 34 patients with impingement, 105 with supraspinatus tears, and 41 with massive RC tears. We assessed the MDC in the 3 subgroups and total group using the samples standard deviation (SD), internal consistency (Cronbach α), and standard error of the measurement. Floor and ceiling effects were also reported. RESULTS The absolute mean Constant score was 72 (SD, 11.2) in the impingement group, 44 (SD, 14.7) in the supraspinatus tear group, and 46 (SD, 18.9) in the massive RC tear group. There were no floor and ceiling effects for the absolute Constant score. In the total group, the internal consistency was 0.8 and the standard error of the measurement was 8. The MDC was 23 points on the Constant score in the total group and 17, 18, and 23 points on the Constant score for impingement, RC tears, and massive RC tears, respectively. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that the MDCs of the Constant score are different in patients with impingement, supraspinatus tears, and massive RC tears. Studies reporting the Constant score should be interpreted by use of the population-specific MDC and minimal clinical important change.

Patterns of Age-Associated Degeneration Differ in Shoulder Muscles

Shoulder complaints are common in the elderly and hamper daily functioning. These complaints are often caused by tears in the muscle-tendon units of the rotator cuff (RC). The four RC muscles stabilize the shoulder joint. While some RC muscles are frequently torn in shoulder complaints others remain intact. The pathological changes in RC muscles are poorly understood. We investigated changes in RC muscle pathology combining radiological and histological procedures. We measured cross sectional area (CSA) and fatty infiltration from Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Arthrography (MRA) in subjects without (N = 294) and with (N = 109) RC-tears. Normalized muscle CSA of the four RC muscles and the deltoid shoulder muscle were compared and age-associated patterns of muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration were constructed. We identified two distinct age-associated patterns: in the supraspinatus and subscapularis RC muscles CSAs continuously declined throughout adulthood, whereas in the infraspinatus and deltoid reduced CSA was prominent from midlife onwards. In the teres minor, CSA was unchanged with age. Most importantly, age-associated patterns were highly similar between subjects without RC tear and those with RC-tears. This suggests that extensive RC muscle atrophy during aging could contribute to RC pathology. We compared muscle pathology between torn infraspinatus and non-torn teres minor and the deltoid in two patients with a massive RC-tear. In the torn infraspinatus we found pronounced fatty droplets, an increase in extracellular collagen-1, a loss of myosin heavy chain-1 expression in myofibers and an increase in Pax7-positive cells. However, the adjacent intact teres minor and deltoid exhibited healthy muscle features. This suggests that satellite cells and the extracellular matrix may contribute to extensive muscle fibrosis in torn RC. We suggest that torn RC muscles display hallmarks of muscle aging whereas the teres minor could represent an aging-resilient muscle.

Three-dimensional shoulder kinematics normalize after rotator cuff repair

BACKGROUND Patients with a rotator cuff (RC) tear often exhibit scapular dyskinesia with increased scapular lateral rotation and decreased glenohumeral elevation with arm abduction. We hypothesized that in patients with an RC tear, scapular lateral rotation, and thus glenohumeral elevation, will be restored to normal after RC repair. METHODS Shoulder kinematics were quantitatively analyzed in 26 patients with an electromagnetic tracking device (Flock of Birds) before and 1 year after RC repair in this observational case series. We focused on humeral range of motion and scapular kinematics during abduction. The asymptomatic contralateral shoulder was used as the control. Changes in scapular kinematics were associated with the gain in range of motion. Shoulder kinematics were analyzed using a linear mixed model. RESULTS Mean arm abduction and forward flexion improved after surgery by 20° (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.7°-36.5°; P = .025) and 13° (95% CI, 1.2°-36.5°; P = .044), respectively. Kinematic analyses showed decreases in mean scapular protraction (ie, internal rotation) and lateral rotation (ie, upward rotation) during abduction by 3° (95% CI, 0.0°-5.2°; P = .046) and 4° (95% CI, 1.6°-8.4°; P = .042), respectively. Glenohumeral elevation increased by 5° (95% CI, 0.6°-9.7°; P = .028) at 80°. Humeral range of motion increased when scapular lateral rotation decreased and posterior tilt increased. CONCLUSIONS Scapular kinematics normalize after RC repair toward a symmetrical scapular motion pattern as observed in the asymptomatic contralateral shoulder. The observed changes in scapular kinematics are associated with an increased overall range of motion and suggest restored function of shoulder muscles.

Multivariate analyses of rotator cuff pathologies in shoulder disability.

Background Disability of the shoulder joint is often caused by a tear in the rotator cuff (RC) muscles. Four RC muscles coordinate shoulder movement and stability, among them the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscle which are predominantly torn. The contribution of each RC muscle to tear pathology is not fully understood. We hypothesized that muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration, features of RC muscle degeneration, are predictive of superior humeral head translation and shoulder functional disability. Methods Shoulder features, including RC muscle surface area and fatty infiltration, superior humeral translation and RC tear size were obtained from a consecutive series of Magnetic Resonance Imaging with arthrography (MRA). We investigated patients with superior (supraspinatus, n = 39) and posterosuperior (supraspinatus and infraspinatus, n = 30) RC tears, and patients with an intact RC (n = 52) as controls. The individual or combinatorial contribution of RC measures to superior humeral translation, as a sign of RC dysfunction, was investigated with univariate or multivariate models, respectively. Results Using the univariate model the infraspinatus surface area and fatty infiltration in both the supraspinatus and infraspinatus had a significant contribution to RC dysfunction. With the multivariate model, however, the infraspinatus surface area only affected superior humeral translation (p<0.001) and discriminated between superior and posterosuperior tears. In contrast neither tear size nor fatty infiltration of the supraspinatus or infraspinatus contributed to superior humeral translation. Conclusion Our study reveals that infraspinatus atrophy has the strongest contribution to RC tear pathologies. This suggests a pivotal role for the infraspinatus in preventing shoulder disability.

Three-dimensional shoulder motion after teres major or latissimus dorsi tendon transfer for posterosuperior rotator cuff tears

BACKGROUND Teres major (TM) transfer and latissimus dorsi (LD) transfer are essential treatment options in patients with posterosuperior rotator cuff (RC) tears. The purpose of this study was to quantify shoulder kinematics before and after TM transfer and LD transfer in posterosuperior RC tear patients. METHODS In this prospective cohort study, we quantitatively measured shoulder movements using an electromagnetic tracking device (Flock of Birds) preoperatively and 1 year after either TM (n = 13) or LD (n = 9) tendon transfer. Additional outcome measures included the Constant score (CS), patient-reported pain, and quantitative range of motion. Scapular kinematics were evaluated during arm abduction. RESULTS By use of a quantitative assessment, forward flexion (from 87° to 106°, P = .007), abduction (from 86° to 106°, P = .010), and external rotation in abduction (from 52° to 70°, P = .019) improved. Both transfers reduced pain (from 50 to 10 mm, P < .001), and the CS improved (from 37 to 62 points, P < .001). No significant differences in postoperative improvement in pain and function were found between TM and LD tendon transfers. The TM transfer group showed increased scapular lateral rotation compared with the LD transfer group (13°; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.8° to 21.7°; P = .003). We were unable to detect differences between TM transfer and LD transfer in the change in protraction (3.2°; 95% CI, -6.3° to 12.8°; P = .489) and posterior tilt (3.5°; 95% CI, -3.5° to 10.5°; P = .313). CONCLUSION Tendon transfer surgery resulted in an overall improvement in CS, pain relief, and quantitative range of motion in the treatment of an irreparable posterosuperior RC tear. Scapular lateral rotation gradually increased after TM transfer, reminiscent of RC function, whereas such an increase was not observed after LD transfer.

Molecular signatures of age-associated chronic degeneration of shoulder muscles

Chronic muscle diseases are highly prevalent in the elderly causing severe mobility limitations, pain and frailty. The intrinsic molecular mechanisms are poorly understood due to multifactorial causes, slow progression with age and variations between individuals. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms could lead to new treatment options which are currently limited. Shoulder complaints are highly common in the elderly, and therefore, muscles of the shoulders rotator cuff could be considered as a model for chronic age-associated muscle degeneration. Diseased shoulder muscles were characterized by muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration compared with unaffected shoulder muscles. We confirmed fatty infiltration using histochemical analysis. Additionally, fibrosis and loss of contractile myosin expression were found in diseased muscles. Most cellular features, including proliferation rate, apoptosis and cell senescence, remained unchanged and genome-wide molecular signatures were predominantly similar between diseased and intact muscles. However, we found down-regulation of a small subset of muscle function genes, and up-regulation of extracellular region genes. Myogenesis was defected in muscle cell culture from diseased muscles but was restored by elevating MyoD levels. We suggest that impaired muscle functionality in a specific environment of thickened extra-cellular matrix is crucial for the development of chronic age-associated muscle degeneration.

The effect of a rotator cuff tear and its size on three-dimensional shoulder motion

Background: Rotator cuff‐disease is associated with changes in kinematics, but the effect of a rotator cuff‐tear and its size on shoulder kinematics is still unknown in‐vivo. Methods: In this cross‐sectional study, glenohumeral and scapulothoracic kinematics of the affected shoulder were evaluated using electromagnetic motion analysis in 109 patients with 1) subacromial pain syndrome (n = 34), 2) an isolated supraspinatus tear (n = 21), and 3) a massive rotator cuff tear involving the supraspinatus and infraspinatus (n = 54). Mixed models were applied for the comparisons of shoulder kinematics between the three groups during abduction and forward flexion. Findings: In the massive rotator cuff‐tear group, we found reduced glenohumeral elevation compared to the subacromial pain syndrome (16°, 95% CI [10.5, 21.2], p < 0.001) and the isolated supraspinatus tear group (10°, 95% CI [4.0, 16.7], p = 0.002) at 110° abduction. Reduced glenohumeral elevation in massive rotator cuff tears coincides with an increase in scapulothoracic lateral rotation compared to subacromial pain syndrome (11°, 95% CI [6.5, 15.2], p < 0.001) and supraspinatus tears (7°, 95% CI [1.8, 12.1], p = 0.012). Comparable differences were observed for forward flexion. No differences in glenohumeral elevation were found between the subacromial pain syndrome and isolated supraspinatus tear group during arm elevation. Interpretation: The massive posterosuperior rotator cuff‐tear group had substantially less glenohumeral elevation and more scapulothoracic lateral rotation compared to the other groups. These observations suggest that the infraspinatus is essential to preserve glenohumeral elevation in the presence of a supraspinatus tear. Shoulder kinematics are associated with rotator cuff‐tear size and may have diagnostic potential. HighlightsShoulder kinematics are associated with the size of a rotator cuff tear.A massive posterosuperior rotator cuff tear is associated with reduced glenohumeral elevation.Loss of glenohumeral elevation at equal arm position reflects redistribution of muscle moments.

Use of sutures as Kirschner wire and tension-band wire for olecranon fractures: a technical note.

Open reduction and internal fixation using tension-band wires for displaced olecranon fractures enables restoration of extensor function. We report on 3 elderly patients with a displaced olecranon fracture who underwent open reduction and internal fixation using sutures as the Kirschner wire and tension-band wire and achieved good outcome.