Lennard Funk

Treatment of glenohumeral instability in rugby players

AbstractRugby is a high-impact collision sport, with impact forces. Shoulder injuries are common and result in the longest time off sport for any joint injury in rugby. The most common injuries are to the glenohumeral joint with varying degrees of instability. The degree of instability can guide management. The three main types of instability presentations are: (1) frank dislocation, (2) subluxations and (3) subclinical instability with pain and clicking. Understanding the exact mechanism of injury can guide diagnosis with classical patterns of structural injuries. The standard clinical examination in a large, muscular athlete may be normal, so specific tests and techniques are needed to unearth signs of pathology. Taking these factors into consideration, along with the imaging, allows a treatment strategy. However, patient and sport factors need to be also considered, particularly the time of the season and stage of sporting career. Surgery to repair the structural damage should include all lesions found. In chronic, recurrent dislocations with major structural lesions, reconstruction procedures such as the Latarjet procedure yields better outcomes. Rehabilitation should be safe, goal-driven and athlete-specific. Return to sport is dependent on a number of factors, driven by the healing process, sport requirements and extrinsic pressures. Level of evidence V.

Reliability of the traditional classification systems for acromioclavicular joint injuries by radiography

Background The present study aimed to examine the reliability of the radiographic classification systems for acromioclavicular (AC) joint injuries. Methods We initially polled 47 orthopaedic surgeons regarding what common technique they used for applying the Rockwood and the Tossy and Allman classification systems. All used a single standard AC joint view (Zanca view). We then presented 24 Zanca view radiographs of patients who had sustained AC joint injuries to 19 specialist shoulder surgeons and asked each of them to classify the injuries using the Rockwood and the Tossy and Allman classification systems. We then altered the order of radiographs and repeated the survey with the same group of surgeons 1 month later. Results The mean inter-observer agreement and the corresponding weighted kappa for the Rockwood and the Tossy and Allman classification system were 64.6% and 0.258; and 68.1% and 0.309, respectively. The mean intra-observer agreement and the corresponding weighted kappa for the systems were 59.4% and 0.150; and 67.4% and 0.113, respectively. Conclusions We conclude that the classification of AC joint injuries using a radiograph alone has limited reliability and consistency in clinical practice.

The glenoid labrum

The glenoid labrum is a critical structure within the gleno-humeral joint and commonly requires treatment by the shoulder surgeon. This review presents a concise summary of the embryology, anatomy, microscopy, biomechanical properties and clinical lesions involving the glenoid labrum. This knowledge will aid the clinician in understanding its function and pathology.

The development and validation of a scoring system for shoulder injuries in rugby players

Background Shoulder injuries are relatively common among professional rugby players and result in a large proportion of days absent from training and competition. No instrument exists that is designed and validated to assess function or outcome following therapeutic interventions in rugby players sustaining shoulder injuries. The objective was to develop and validate an athlete-reported scoring system to assess shoulder function in rugby players following shoulder injuries. Methods Potential items for the scoring system were identified by a literature review of shoulder-specific scoring systems (n=46), and by interviewing professional rugby players (n=38) and medical staff (n=12). Redundant and clinician-assessed items were excluded. A second set of interviews with rugby players (n=8) determined the frequency importance product (FIP) of potential items. The 20 items with the highest FIPs were selected for the provisional Rugby Shoulder Score (RSS) that was tested for internal consistency and reliability by administering to rugby players with stable shoulder injuries (n=11). Results The literature review and interviews identified 575 items, of which 105 items were neither clinician-assessed nor redundant. Twenty items with the highest FIPs were selected for the RSS. The RSS demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbachs α=0.96) and reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient= 0.941, paired student t test p>0.05). Conclusions A reliable athlete-reported scoring system for assessing shoulder injuries in rugby players has been developed that incorporates the most important factors for rugby players recovering from shoulder injuries. Further prospective testing of the instrument is being undertaken to determine its discriminative and evaluative functions and construct validity.

Arthroscopic repair of bony Bankart lesions in collision athletes

Background The present study aimed to report the outcomes of acute and subacute arthroscopic bony Bankart repairs in collision athletes. Methods We reviewed 22 consecutive rugby players with traumatic anterior glenohumeral instability who underwent arthroscopic bony Bankart repair within 4 months of injury over a 2-year period. All lesions were less than 25% of the glenoid bony area. Results A significant improvement was noted at three months and was maintained at 28 months postoperatively. The mean Constant score improved from 61.5 to 84.1, the mean Oxford shoulder score decreased from 26.3 to 13.6 and the mean Oxford instability score decreased from 42.9 to 13.5. The mean satisfaction score was 8.3 out of 10 at final follow-up. All patients returned to their pre-injury sporting level. Twenty patients (91%) remained stable and asymptomatic, although two (9%) had recurrent instability after further traumatic sports injuries. One required a modified Latarjet procedure, whereas the other patient sustained a soft tissue Bankart lesion and had a revision arthroscopic repair. Conclusions Acute and sub-acute bony Bankart lesions in collision athletes can be addressed through arthroscopic repair with a satisfactory outcome and return to pre-injury level of sport

Recurrence After Arthroscopic Labral Repair for Traumatic Anterior Instability in Adolescent Rugby and Contact Athletes

Background: Traumatic glenohumeral dislocation of the shoulder is one of the most common shoulder injuries, especially among adolescent athletes. The treatment of instability for young athletes continues to be controversial owing to high recurrence rates. Purpose: To investigate the recurrence rate of shoulder instability after arthroscopic capsulolabral repair for adolescent contact and collision athletes. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Sixty-seven patients aged <18 years underwent an arthroscopic labral repair over a 5-year period. The mean ± SD age of the cohort was 16.3 ± 0.9 years (range, 14-17 years) and consisted of 1 female and 66 males. All patients were contact athletes, with 62 of 67 playing rugby. Demographic, clinical, and intraoperative data for all patients with shoulder instability were recorded in our database. Recurrence rates were recorded and relative risks calculated. Results: At a follow-up of 33 ± 20 months, 34 of 67 patients had recurrent instability for an overall recurrence rate of 51% among adolescent contact athletes after arthroscopic labral repair surgery. The mean time to recurrence was 68.1 ± 45.3 weeks. All recurrences occurred as a result of a further sporting injury. Relative risk analysis demonstrated that athletes aged <16 years had 2.2 (95% CI, 1.2-2.1) times the risk of developing a further instability episode as compared with athletes aged ≥16 years at the time of index surgery (P = .0002). The recurrence rate among adolescent athletes after bony Bankart repairs was 57.9% versus 47.9% for soft tissue labral repairs (P = .4698). The incidence of Hill-Sachs lesions (P = .0002) and bony Bankart lesions (P = .009) among adolescent athletes was significantly higher than among adult controls (P = .002). The presence of bone loss did not lead to a significant increase in recurrence rate over and above the effect of age. Conclusion: Adolescent contact athletes undergoing arthroscopic labral repair have an overall recurrence rate of 51%. Rugby players who undergo primary arthroscopic shoulder stabilization aged <16 years have 2.2 times the risk of developing a further instability episode when compared with athletes aged ≥16 years at the time of index surgery, with a recurrence rate of 93%.

The combined shoulder assessment: a convenient method for obtaining equivalent outcome scores

Background Outcome scores are useful tools with respect to quantifying how pain and limitations in strength and movement affect the patient’s functionality and lifestyle. Three shoulder outcome methods [Oxford, Constant and QuickDASH (Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand)] are commonly used in practice but collectively consist of 34 questions, taking approximately 7 min to complete. We have developed a concise shoulder assessment to derive three equivalent outcome scores in a 12-item patient-reporting questionnaire. Methods Outcome scores from 1285 outpatients of an upper limb clinic were collected. The patient cohort consisted of 462 females and 823 males with a mean (SD) age of 47.2 (16.79) years (range 13 years to 90 years). Using a correlation matrix, a 12-item questionnaire was drafted. The combined shoulder assessment was validated by 227 patients; consisting of 101 females and 126 males with a mean (SD) age of 47.91 (16.63) years (range 13 years to 88 years). Results Agreement was achieved between the two methods, with an equivalent Oxford Shoulder Score intraclass correlation (ICC) of 0.930, equivalent Constant Shoulder Score ICC of 0.942 and equivalent QuickDASH ICC of 0.869. Bland–Altman analyses showed no systematic differences. Large effect sizes highlighted the responsiveness to change. Conclusions The new combined shoulder assessment is a more convenient and patient-friendly method to obtain equivalent Oxford, Constant and QuickDASH shoulder outcome scores.

Posterior Shoulder Instability

Posterior shoulder instability has been shown more recently to be more common than previously thought [1, 2]. It can be challenging to diagnose and even more challenging to treat. Patients typically present with a variety of symptoms. The signs of instability are often nonspecific, and complete dislocation does not always occur. Classification and terminology are difficult as we have to distinct between unidirectional and multidirectional instability, instability and laxity, subluxation, or luxation caused by involuntary and voluntary muscle control. Recently, pathomechanics of shoulder instability is much better understood. Many structural abnormalities are recognized and can be properly addressed with surgical treatment. When conservative treatment fails, surgical treatment is valuable option if proper mechanical factors are modified with surgical procedure.

Shoulder Pathology in Sports

Sports injuries are on the increase, with the increasing interest and involvement in sports around the world. In Europe there is a large diversity of sports, with many sports being more prominent in certain countries. Although injury pathology is similar (e.g. a labral tear), the injury mechanisms are often unique to that sport and the rehabilitation and demands are also unique to the sport. In this Instructional Course chapter, we hope to show you some examples of this and highlight some unique and important current issues in the sports shoulder in 2014.