Samuel A. Taylor

Evaluation and management of elbow tendinopathy.

Context: Elbow tendinopathy is a common cause of pain and disability among patients presenting to orthopaedic surgeons, primary care physicians, physical therapists, and athletic trainers. Prompt and accurate diagnosis of these conditions facilitates a directed treatment regimen. A thorough understanding of the natural history of these injuries and treatment outcomes will enable the appropriate management of patients and their expectations. Evidence Acquisitions: The PubMed database was searched in December 2011 for English-language articles pertaining to elbow tendinopathy. Results: Epidemiologic data as well as multiple subjective and objective outcome measures were investigated to elucidate the incidence of medial epicondylitis, lateral epicondylitis, distal biceps and triceps ruptures, and the efficacy of various treatments. Conclusions: Medial and lateral epicondylitis are overuse injuries that respond well to nonoperative management. Their etiology is degenerative and related to repetitive overuse and underlying tendinopathy. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and localized corticosteroid injections yield moderate symptomatic relief in short term but do not demonstrate benefit on long-term follow-up. Platelet-rich plasma injections may be advantageous in cases of chronic lateral epicondylitis. If 6 to 12 months of nonoperative treatment fails, then surgical intervention can be undertaken. Distal biceps and triceps tendon ruptures, in contrast, have an acute traumatic etiology that may be superimposed on underlying tendinopathy. Prompt diagnosis and treatment improve outcomes. While partial ruptures confirmed with magnetic resonance imaging can be treated nonoperatively with immobilization, complete ruptures should be addressed with primary repair within 3 to 4 weeks of injury.

The effect of femoral and acetabular version on clinical outcomes after arthroscopic femoroacetabular impingement surgery

BACKGROUND The impact of proximal femoral and combined femoral and acetabular version on patient-reported outcomes after arthroscopic surgery for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) remains undefined. The purpose of this study was to identify associations of proximal femoral version as well as combined version (McKibbin index) with disease-specific, validated, patient-reported outcomes following arthroscopic correction of symptomatic FAI. METHODS A prospective hip arthroscopy registry was utilized to evaluate 243 patients who underwent arthroscopic surgery to correct FAI. Femoral version and the McKibbin index were measured prospectively on preoperative computed tomography scans. Disease-specific, patient-reported outcomes included the modified Harris hip score (mHHS) and the Hip Outcome Score (HOS) ADL (Activities of Daily Living) and Sports subscales. Disease impact on quality of life was determined with use of the International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-33). Comparative analyses were used to evaluate the impact of femoral version on changes in patient-reported outcome scores; multiple regression was used to adjust for potential confounders. RESULTS The patient cohort contained 243 patients (123 female and 120 male) with a mean age of 29.2 years and a mean postoperative follow-up of twenty-one months (range, twelve to forty-two months). The cohort experienced significant improvements (p < 0.001) in all patient-reported outcome measures, with most patients improving by at least the minimal clinically important difference for all of these measures. The mean improvement was 20 points for the mHHS, 15 for the HOS ADL, 23 for the HOS Sports, and 23 for the iHOT-33. When stratified by femoral version, the postoperative improvements in patients with relative femoral retroversion (<5° anteversion) were clinically important but of significantly smaller magnitude than those in the other version groups. We did not find any associations between the McKibbin index and any patient-reported outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Although clinically important improvements can be expected after arthroscopic FAI surgery in all femoral version groups, patients with relative femoral retroversion (<5° femoral anteversion) may experience less improvement than those with normal or increased version.

Augmentation techniques for isolated meniscal tears

Meniscal tears are relatively common injuries sustained by athletes and non-athletes alike and have far reaching functional and financial implications. Studies have clearly demonstrated the important biomechanical role played by the meniscus. Long-term follow-up studies of post-menisectomy patients show a predisposition toward the development of degenerative arthritic changes. As such, substantial efforts have been made by researchers and clinicians to understand the cellular and molecular basis of meniscal healing. Proinflammatory cytokines have been shown to have a catabolic effect on meniscal healing. In vitro and some limited in vivo studies have shown a proliferative and anabolic response to various growth factors. Surgical techniques that have been developed to stimulate a healing response include mechanical abrasion, fibrin clot application, growth factor application, and attempts at meniscal neovascularization. This article discusses various augmentation techniques for meniscal repair and reviews the current literature with regard to fibrin clot, platelet rich plasma, proinflammatory cytokines, and application of growth factors.

The anatomy and histology of the bicipital tunnel of the shoulder

BACKGROUND The bicipital tunnel is the extra-articular, fibro-osseous structure that encloses the long head of the biceps tendon. METHODS Twelve cadaveric shoulder specimens underwent in situ casting of the bicipital tunnel with methyl methacrylate cement to demonstrate structural competence (n = 6) and en bloc harvest with gross and histologic evaluation (n = 6). The percentage of empty tunnel was calculated histologically by subtracting the proportion of cross-sectional area of the long head of the biceps tendon from that of the bicipital tunnel for each zone. RESULTS Cement casting demonstrated that the bicipital tunnel was a closed space. Zone 1 extended from the articular margin to the distal margin of the subscapularis tendon. Zone 2 extended from the distal margin of the subscapularis tendon to the proximal margin of the pectoralis major tendon. Zone 3 was the subpectoral region. Zones 1 and 2 were both enclosed by a dense connective tissue sheath and demonstrated the presence of synovium. Zone 3 had significantly greater percentage of empty tunnel than zones 1 and 2 did (P < .01). CONCLUSION The bicipital tunnel is a closed space with 3 distinct zones. Zones 1 and 2 have similar features, including the presence of synovium, but differ from zone 3. A significant bottleneck occurs between zone 2 and zone 3, most likely at the proximal margin of the pectoralis major tendon. The bicipital tunnel is a closed space where space-occupying lesions may produce a bicipital tunnel syndrome. Careful consideration should be given to surgical techniques that decompress both zones 1 and 2 of the bicipital tunnel.

Does the Quality, Accuracy, and Readability of Information about Lateral Epicondylitis on the Internet Vary with the Search Term Used?

BackgroundConcern exists over the quality, accuracy, and accessibility of online information about health care conditions. The goal of this study is to evaluate the quality, accuracy, and readability of information available on the internet about lateral epicondylitis.MethodsWe used three different search terms (“tennis elbow,” “lateral epicondylitis,” and “elbow pain”) in three search engines (Google, Bing, and Yahoo) to generate a list of 75 unique websites. Three orthopedic surgeons reviewed the content of each website and assessed the quality and accuracy of information. We assessed each website’s readability using the Flesch–Kincaid method. Statistical comparisons were made using ANOVA with post hoc pairwise comparisons.ResultsThe mean reading grade level was 11.1. None of the sites were under the recommended sixth grade reading level for the general public. Higher quality information was found when using the terms “tennis elbow” and “lateral epicondylitis” compared to “elbow pain” (p < 0.001). Specialty society websites had higher quality than all other websites (p < 0.001). The information was more accurate if the website was authored by a health care provider when compared to non-health care providers (p = 0.003). Websites seeking commercial gain and those found after the first five search results had lower quality information.ConclusionsReliable information about lateral epicondylitis is available online, especially from specialty societies. However, the quality and accuracy of information vary significantly with the search term, website author, and order of search results. This leaves less educated patients at a disadvantage, particularly because the information we encountered is above the reading level recommended for the general public.

Patient Activity Levels After Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty What Are Patients Doing

Objectives: Indications for reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) are expanding, resulting in younger patients who wish to remain active following the procedure. Little information, however, is available to help manage expectations of both physicians and patients for return to sporting activities. The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of return of sports activities, assess average time to return to sports for patients having undergone RTSA. Methods: A prospectively collected registry was queried for consecutive patients who underwent RTSA at our institution between 2007 and 2013. Patients with a minimum of 1-year follow-up were included. Patients without preoperative sporting activity were excluded. All patients were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding their physical fitness, sporting activities. The questionnaire was designed in accordance with previously published activity assessments for total joint arthroplasty. Each patient also completed an ASES and VAS assessment. Results: 76 patients played a sport preoperatively and met inclusion/exclusion criteria. The average follow-up was 31.6 months (12-65 mons) and average age was 74.84 years (49.9 - 92.6 yrs). Preoperative diagnoses were cuff tear arthropathy (55.2%), osteoarthritis (30.9%), proximal humerus fracture (17.1%), and rheumatoid arthritis (5.2%). 73% of the cohort had undergone prior ipsilateral shoulder surgery. Average VAS pain scores improved from 6.57 to 0.63 (p<0.001). Average ASES scores improved from 34.30 to 81.45 (p<0.001). 85.5% of patients who participated in sports preoperatively returned to at least one sport following RTSA. Average time to full return to sport was 5.3 months. Walking had the highest direct rate of return (85.7%), followed by fitness sports (81.5%), swimming (66.7%), running (57.1%), cycling (50.0%) and golf (50%). Age less than 70 years had significant improvement in rate of return to sports (p<0.002). 41.1% reported improved physical fitness following RTSA. 88.2% felt their sports outcome was good to excellent and 93.4% felt their surgical outcome was good to excellent. The two most commonly reported reasons for not returning to a sport were pain (13.1%) and lack of interest (9.2%). For all types of sports and rates of return see fig 1. Conclusion: Patients undergoing RTSA had an 85% rate of return to one or more sporting activities at an average of 5.3 months following surgery. Non-contact high demand activities (swimming, skiing, golf, and tennis) had lower return rates than lower demand activities. Age greater than 70 years old was a significant predictor of decreased return to activities. This is the only study to document both preoperative and postoperative sports and activities of daily living following RTSA. The present study offers valuable information to help manage patient and surgeon expectations.

A Review of Synthetic Playing Surfaces, the Shoe-Surface Interface, and Lower Extremity Injuries in Athletes

Abstract The evolution of synthetic playing surfaces began in the 1960s and has had an impact on field use, shoe-surface dynamics, and the incidence of sports-related injuries. Modern third-generation turfs are being installed in recreational facilities and professional stadiums worldwide. Currently, > two-thirds of National Football League teams,> 100 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I football teams, and > 1000 high schools in the United States have installed synthetic playing surfaces. Those in favor of such playing surfaces note their unique combination of versatility and durability; they can be used in both ideal and inclement weather conditions. However, the more widespread installation and use of these surfaces have raised questions and concerns regarding the impact of artificial turf on the type and severity of sports-related injuries. There appears to be no question that the shoe-surface interface has a significant impact on such injuries. Independent variables such as weather conditions, contact versus noncontact sport, shoe design, and field wear complicate many of the results reported in the literature, thereby preventing an accurate assessment of the true risk(s) associated with certain shoe-surface combinations. Historically, studies suggest that artificial turf is associated with a higher incidence of injury. Furthermore, reliable biomechanical data suggest that both the torque and strain experienced by lower extremity joints generated by artificial surfaces may be more than those generated by natural grass fields. Recent data from the National Football League support this theory and suggest that elite athletes may sustain more injuries, even when playing on the newer artificial surfaces. By contrast, some reports based on data collected from lower-level athletes suggest that artificial turf may protect against injury. This review discusses the history of artificial surfaces, the biomechanics of the shoe-surface interface, and some common turf-related lower extremity injuries.

Compartment Syndrome: Diagnosis, Management, and Unique Concerns in the Twenty-First Century

BackgroundCompartment syndrome is an elevation of intracompartmental pressure to a level that impairs circulation. While the most common etiology is trauma, other less common etiologies such as burns, emboli, and iatrogenic injuries can be equally troublesome and challenging to diagnose. The sequelae of a delayed diagnosis of compartment syndrome may be devastating. All care providers must understand the etiologies, high-risk situation, and the urgency of intervention.Questions/PurposesThis study was conducted to perform a comprehensive review of compartment syndrome discussing etiologies, risk stratification, clinical progression, noninvasive and invasive monitoring, documentation, medical-legal implication, and our step-by-step approach to compartment syndrome prevention, detection, and early intervention.MethodsA literature search was performed using the PubMed Database and the following search terms: “Compartment syndrome AND Extremity,” “Compartment syndrome AND Gluteal,” and Compartment syndrome AND Paraspinal.” A total of 2,068 articles were identified. Filters allowed for the exclusion of studies not printed in English (359) and those focusing on exertional compartment syndrome (84), leaving a total of 1,625 articles available for review.ResultsThe literature provides details regarding the etiologies, risk stratification, clinical progression, noninvasive and invasive monitoring, documentation, medical-legal implication, and our step-by-step approach to compartment syndrome prevention, detection, and early intervention. The development and progression of compartment syndrome is multifactorial, and as complexity of care increases, the opportunity for the syndrome to be missed is increased. Recent changes in the structure of in-hospital medical care including resident work hour restrictions and the incorporation of midlevel providers have increased the frequency of “signouts” or “patient handoffs” which present opportunities for the syndrome to be mismanaged.ConclusionThe changing dynamics of the health care team have prompted the need for a more explicit algorithm for managing patients at risk for compartment syndrome to ensure appropriate conveyance of information among team members.

Synthetic Playing Surfaces and Athlete Health

&NA; Synthetic playing surfaces have evolved considerably since their introduction in the 1960s. Today, third‐generation turf is routinely installed in professional, collegiate, and community settings. Proponents of artificial surfaces tout their versatility and durability in a variety of climates. However, the health and injury ramifications have yet to be clearly defined. Musculoskeletal injury is largely affected by the shoe‐playing surface interface. However, conclusive statements cannot be made regarding the risk of certain shoe‐playing surface combinations because of the variety of additional factors, such as weather conditions, shoe wear, and field wear. Historically, clinical studies have indicated that higher injury rates occur on artificial turf than on natural surfaces. This conclusion is backed by robust biomechanical data that suggest that torque and strain may be greater on artificial surfaces than on natural grass. Recent data on professional athletes suggest that elite athletes may sustain injuries at increased rates on the newer surfaces. However, these surfaces remain attractive to athletes and administrators alike because of their durability, relative ease of maintenance, and multiuse potential.

Digital Artery Pseudoaneurysm Following Percutaneous Trigger Thumb Release

Stenosing flexor tenosynovitis, or trigger finger, is among the most commonly encountered clinical problems treated by hand surgeons. Corticosteroid injection is the most accepted first-line therapy, with successful resolution of symptoms occurring in 61% of patients1-5. Traditionally, trigger fingers unsuccessfully treated with corticosteroid injections have been managed with open surgical release of the A1 pulley2,3,6,7. Some surgeons have recommended percutaneous release of the A1 pulley1,8-10. Two randomized controlled trials comparing open surgical release with percutaneous release showed equivalent clinical outcomes, but the percutaneous release group had reduced recovery time, fewer wound complications, and lower costs7,11. To our knowledge, no neurovascular complications with the percutaneous release technique have been previously reported in the literature; we report the case of a patient with an iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm of the digital artery during percutaneous trigger finger release (PTFR) surgery. The patient was informed that data concerning his case would be submitted for publication. A sixty-year-old right-hand-dominant man presented with a persistent right thenar mass; this mass had been present for two months following PTFR of the right thumb. The patient, who was on chronic anticoagulation therapy with Coumadin (warfarin) because of a mechanical St. Jude aortic valve replacement, underwent a percutaneous release of the A1 pulley of the right thumb. During the first week following the PTFR, the patient noted substantial ecchymosis and minimal swelling on the dorsal part of the hand (Fig. 1-A). Over the next four weeks, he reported progressive thenar swelling (Fig. 1-B) as well as the onset of hypesthesia in the radial digital nerve distribution of the thumb. A hematoma or pseudoaneurysm was suspected on the basis of clinical examination. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a round lesion …