Clinical Relevance of Classifying Massive Rotator Cuff Tears: Results Based on Functional and Radiological Findings After Arthroscopic Repair

2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyun Soo Ok ◽  
Byung Guk Kim ◽  
Won Chul Choi ◽  
Chul Gie Hong ◽  
Jee Woong Kim ◽  
...  

Background: Studies on the results of arthroscopic repair of massive rotator cuff tears have reported widely varied prognoses. Among other factors, the sizable discrepancy can be attributable to the fact that the current definition of massive rotator cuff tears covers an extensive area of tendons. Hypothesis: Functional and radiological results according to subgroups would show significant inter-subgroup differences preoperatively and postoperatively. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A total of 104 patients who required arthroscopic repair for massive rotator cuff tears were prospectively evaluated. The patients were allocated into 3 groups according to tendon involvement as diagnosed by preoperative magnetic resonance imaging: group 1 (anterosuperior type involving the subscapularis and supraspinatus), group 2 (posterosuperior type involving the infraspinatus and supraspinatus), and group 3 (anteroposterior type involving the subscapularis, supraspinatus, and infraspinatus). We compared functional results (at 2 years postoperatively) and radiological findings (at 1 year postoperatively) for each group. Results: There were 34 patients in group 1, 54 in group 2, and 16 in group 3. In all 3 groups, functional results significantly improved after surgery. There were no statistically significant intergroup differences in functional results among the 3 groups. On the radiological evaluations, each group (groups 1, 2, and 3) showed a significantly different result in the preoperative acromiohumeral distance (AHD) (7.19, 5.44, and 5.22 mm, respectively), tear size (38.8, 39.3, and 46.4 mm, respectively), extent of retraction (33.9, 40.0, and 41.4 mm, respectively), postoperative AHD (8.92, 7.37, and 6.71 mm, respectively), and retear rate (23.5%, 51.9%, and 56.2%, respectively) ( P < .001 for all). Conclusion: Massive rotator cuff tears can be divided into 3 types: anterosuperior (group 1), posterosuperior (group 2), and anteroposterior (group 3). Each group has distinctive characteristics and shows different results in the preoperative AHD, tear size, extent of retraction, postoperative AHD, and retear rate, which provide a reasonable basis for categorization. So far, massive rotator cuff tears have only been broadly defined, consequently being understood as a single category by many. However, to clearly understand and evaluate this injury, we suggest identifying differences within the category through proper subclassification.

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 232596711986960
Author(s):  
Joo Han Oh ◽  
Joo Hyun Park ◽  
Hyeon Jang Jeong ◽  
Sung-Min Rhee

Background: Previous studies on subacromial spacer (SAS) insertion have been limited to case series that did not compare the effectiveness of this technique with other techniques. Hypothesis: Outcomes after SAS insertion for the treatment of irreparable massive rotator cuff tears (IMRCTs) will be similar to those of other techniques. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: This retrospective study was based on data collected from patients who underwent correction of IMRCTs between January 2010 and October 2017. Group 1 patients (n = 17) received SAS insertion with or without partial repair; group 2 patients (n = 36) were treated with other techniques (isolated partial repairs or bridging grafts). Preoperative tear size and global fatty degeneration index values were evaluated. Range of motion, visual analog scale for pain, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, Constant score, Simple Shoulder Test (SST), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score, and acromiohumeral distance (AHD) were assessed preoperatively and at final follow-up at least 2 years after the surgery (range, 24-60 months). In both groups, ultrasonographic examination was performed at 3 and 6 months postoperatively, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed at 1 year. Results: Tear size and preoperative global fatty degeneration index were not significantly different between the groups (all P > .05). There were no differences in functional scores between the groups at final follow-up (all P > .05). AHD was maintained at final follow-up in group 1 (mean ± SD: 6.2 ± 2.1 mm [postoperatively] vs 6.7 ± 2.3 mm [final follow-up]; P = .678), and there was no difference compared with group 2 (7.2 ± 3.2 mm; P = .244). Patients with retears in group 2 (23 of 36, 63.9%) had lower ASES ( P = .041) and SST ( P = .027) scores at final follow-up when compared with patients in group 1. Six patients (35.3%) in group 1 had partial repairs; these patients had better external rotation at 90° ( P = .047), better SST scores ( P = .036), and higher AHDs at final follow-up ( P = .046) than those in group 1 who had no repair. Three patients (50%) showed retears of partially repaired tendons on MRI. Of 13 patients (76.5%) in group 1 with postoperative MRI, 12 (92.3%) showed fibrotic tissue in the subacromial space not seen preoperatively. Conclusion: There was no difference in outcomes between SAS and the other reconstruction methods for treating IMRCTs. However, given the high retear rate associated with other techniques and poor functional outcomes after retear, SAS insertion could be a viable option for treating IMRCTs.


Joints ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 02 (02) ◽  
pp. 66-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Fossati ◽  
Paolo Arrigoni ◽  
Vincenza Ragone ◽  
Pietro Spennacchio ◽  
Giuseppe Banfi ◽  
...  

Purpose: the aim of this study was to compare clinical outcomes of contracted immobile massive rotator cuff tears mobilised through an arthroscopic interval slide technique versus massive mobile cuff tears directly repaired without any mobilisation. Methods: twenty-five patients who underwent arthroscopic repair for massive rotator cuff tears with a minimum of 18 months follow-up were included. The patients were retrospectively divided into two groups. In group 1, a single or double interval slide was performed to achieve adequate tendon mobilisation. In group 2 (control group), massive rotator cuff tears were arthroscopically repaired without any additional release. Patients were evaluated with validated outcomes scores: subjective and objective Constant score, a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, and single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE). Results: the two groups were comparable in terms of age, gender and involvement of the dominant arm. The mean follow-up duration was 31 months in group 1 and 28 months in group 2 (p = 0.4). The two groups showed no significant differences in SANE and VAS results (group 1: SANE 77%, VAS 1.3; group 2: SANE 88%, VAS 1.6), or in total Constant score (group1: 66.5 ± 11; group 2: 75 ± 14; p = 0.1) and subjective Constant score (Group 1: 31 ± 5; group 2: 30.8 ± 7; p = 0.9). A significant difference was found for the objective Constant score, which was higher in the control group (group 1: 35.5 ± 7; group 2: 44 ± 8; p = 0.009). Conclusions: Subjective clinical outcomes of arthroscopic repair with or without interval slides did not differ and were satisfactory. Objectively, immobile cuff tears showed inferior results.The use of interval slides might be considered a first step or an alternative to more invasive procedures for low demanding patients. Level of evidence: Level III, retrospective comparative study.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 232596712090401
Author(s):  
Jong-Ho Kim ◽  
Dong-Jin Kim ◽  
Hyo-Jin Lee ◽  
Baek-Kyu Kim ◽  
Yang-Soo Kim

Background: Ongoing controversy surrounds the best treatment modality for partial-thickness rotator cuff tears. Purpose: To investigate the effects of atelocollagen injection in patients with small, symptomatic, intratendinous rotator cuff tears. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. Methods: From January 2014 to December 2017, 94 patients who had small, symptomatic, intratendinous rotator cuff tears were enrolled and randomly allocated to 1 of 3 groups: intratendinous injection with 0.5 mL of type I atelocollagen (group 1, n = 32), intratendinous injection with 1 mL of type I atelocollagen (group 2, n = 30), and no injection of type I atelocollagen (group 3, n = 32). American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, Constant Shoulder Score, visual analog scale pain score, and range of motion were evaluated before injection; at 3, 6, and 12 months after injection; and at final follow-up. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed at least 6 months after injection to evaluate rotator cuff integrity. Results: Demographic data did not differ significantly among the 3 groups before injection ( P > .05). The mean follow-up period was 24.7 months. The functional and pain scores in groups 1 and 2 were significantly improved at final follow-up ( P < .05). No significant improvement was seen in functional or pain scores at final follow-up in group 3 ( P > .05). Groups 1 and 2 had significantly better functional scores compared with group 3 at final follow-up ( P < .05). The proportion of patients with a decrease in size of the torn tendon on follow-up MRI at least 6 months after atelocollagen injection was significantly higher in group 1 (28.1%; P = .02) and group 2 (36.7%; P = .003) compared with group 3 (6.3%). Conclusion: Atelocollagen injection can improve the functional outcome and integrity of the tendon in intratendinous rotator cuff tears.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 232596712110607
Author(s):  
Yang-Soo Kim ◽  
Yun-Gyoung Lee ◽  
Min-Tae Kim ◽  
Hyo-Jin Lee

Background: Apoptosis and autophagy are known to be correlated with the extent of damage in torn rotator cuffs, and there is no biological evidence for self-recovery or healing of the rotator cuff tear. Purpose: To establish in a rat model of partial- and full-thickness rotator cuff tears how a glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) inhibitor affects the expression of apoptotic and autophagic markers. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Twelve-week-old Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups (n = 16 per group). Group 1 acted as the control, with no treatment; group 2 received partial-thickness (right side) and full-thickness (left side) rotator cuff tears only; and group 3 received the same rotator cuff injuries, with GSK-3β inhibitor injected afterward. The tendons from each group were harvested 42 days after surgery. Evaluation of gene expression, immunohistochemistry, and TUNEL staining (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase–mediated dUTP nick end labeling) were performed for the following markers: caspases 3, 8, and 9 as well as Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma 2); BAX (Bcl-2-associated X protein); beclin 1; p53; and GSK-3β; which represented apoptotic and autophagic reactions. Statistical analysis was performed using 1-way analysis of variance. Results: In the group 2 rats with partial- and full-thickness tears, there were significant increases in the mRNA levels (fold changes) of all 8 markers as compared with group 1 (control). All these increased markers showed significant downregulation by the GSK-3β inhibitor in partial-thickness tears. However, the response to the GSK-3β inhibitor in full-thickness tears was not as prominent as in partial-thickness tears. The number of TUNEL-positive cells in group 2 (partial, 35.08% ± 1.625% [mean ± SE]; full, 46.92% ± 1.319%) was significantly higher than in group 1 (18.02% ± 1.036%; P < .01) and group 3 (partial, 28.04% ± 2.607% [ P < .01]; full, 38.97% ± 2.772% [ P < .01]), and immunohistochemistry revealed increased expression of all the markers in group 2 as compared with control. Conclusion: The apoptotic and autophagic activity induced in a rat model of an acute rotator cuff tear was downregulated after treatment with a GSK-3β inhibitor, particularly with partial-thickness rotator cuff tears. Clinical Relevance: A GSK-3β inhibitor may be able to modulate deterioration in a torn rotator cuff.


2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 450-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Björn P. Roßbach ◽  
Mehmet F. Gülecyüz ◽  
Lena Kempfert ◽  
Matthias F. Pietschmann ◽  
Tina Ullamann ◽  
...  

Background: Large rotator cuff tears still represent a challenging problem in orthopaedics. The use of tenocytes on biomaterials/scaffolds for the repair of large rotator cuff defects might be a promising approach in the field of tendon regeneration. Hypothesis: Cultivated autologous tenocytes seeded on a collagen scaffold lead to enhanced histological and biomechanical results after rotator cuff repair in a sheep model as compared with unseeded scaffolds in an acute setting. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: At the tendon-bone junction of the infraspinatus tendon of the right foreleg of 24 sheep, a 3.5 × 1.5–cm tendon defect was created. Sheep were randomly allocated to group 1, a defect; group 2, where an unseeded collagen scaffold was implanted; or group 3, which received the implantation of a collagen scaffold seeded with autologous tenocytes. Twelve weeks postoperatively, tendon regeneration was examined histologically and biomechanically. Results: The histology of the neotendons of group 3 showed better fiber patterns, a higher production of proteoglycans, and an increased genesis of collagen III in contrast to groups 1 and 2. Immunostaining revealed less tissue dedifferentiation, a more structured cartilage layer, and homogeneous cartilage-bone transition in group 3 in comparison with groups 1 and 2. Biomechanically, the tensile strength of the reconstructed tendons in group 3 (mean load to failure, 2516 N; SD, 407.5 N) was approximately 84% that of the native tendons (mean load to failure, 2995 N; SD, 223.1 N) without statistical significance. A significant difference ( P = .0095) was registered between group 1 (66.9% with a mean load to failure of 2004 N; SD, 273.8 N) and the native tendons, as well as between group 2 (69.7% with a mean load to failure of 2088 N; SD, 675.4 N) and the native tendons for mean ultimate tensile strength. In breaking stress, a significant difference ( P = .0095) was seen between group 1 (mean breaking stress, 1335 N/mm2; SD, 182.7 N/mm2) and the native tendons, as well as between group 2 (breaking stress, 1392 N/mm2; SD, 450.2 N/mm2) and the native tendons (mean breaking stress, 1996 N/mm2; SD, 148.7 N/mm2). Again, there was no significant difference between group 3 (mean breaking stress, 1677 N/mm2; SD, 271.7 N/mm2) and the native tendons. Conclusion: Autologous tenocytes seeded on collagen scaffolds yield enhanced biomechanical results after tendon-bone reconstruction as compared with unseeded scaffolds in an acute setting. Biomechanical results and histological outcomes were promising, showing that the use of autologous tenocytes with specific carrier matrices could be a novel approach for repairing rotator cuff tears. Clinical Relevance: This study supports the use of tenocytes and scaffolds for improving the quality of tendon-bone regeneration.


2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (10) ◽  
pp. 2064-2070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce S. Miller ◽  
Brian K. Downie ◽  
Robert B. Kohen ◽  
Theresa Kijek ◽  
Bryson Lesniak ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 230949901877089 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cen Tao Liu ◽  
Heng an Ge ◽  
Rui Hu ◽  
Jing Biao Huang ◽  
Yi Chao Cheng ◽  
...  

Background: The comparison of clinical outcomes of arthroscopic footprint-preserving knotless single-row repair with the tear completion repair technique for articular-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tears (PTRCTs) remains unclear. Methods: A total of 68 patients diagnosed with articular-sided PTRCTs who underwent rotator cuff repair between December 2014 and June 2015 were included. Of the 68 patients, 30 received footprint-preserving knotless single-row repair (group 1) and 38 received the tear completion repair technique (group 2). Preoperative and postoperative assessments were compared. Results: Both groups had significantly improved American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scores (group 1: 48.2 preoperatively to 81.9 postoperatively, p < 0.001; group 2: 47.1 preoperatively to 84.9 postoperatively, p < 0.001) and visual analog scale (VAS) pain score (group 1: 6.0 preoperatively to 0.93 postoperatively, p < 0.001; group 2: 6.1 preoperatively to 1.1 postoperatively, p < 0.001), showing that the two procedures significantly improved postoperative shoulder function. No significant differences were shown in ASES score or VAS pain score between the two groups ( p > 0.05). The mean operation time was significantly shorter in group 1 with an average of 48.1 min than in group 2 with an average of 60.4 min ( p < 0.001). Conclusions: Footprint-preserving knotless single-row repair obtains similar clinical results compared to tear completion repair in the treatment of articular-sided PTRCTs. Footprint-preserving knotless single-row repair may be a convenient choice for the treatment of articular-sided PTRCTs. Randomized controlled studies are needed to investigate whether the footprint-preserving knotless single-row repair yields better long-term outcomes through the protection of the bursal cuff and restoration of the healthy footprint.


2007 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 53-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Girl Rhee ◽  
Thimurayan Vishvanathan ◽  
Bal Kishan Bhagat Ram Thailoo ◽  
Theera Rojpornpradit ◽  
Chan Teak Lim

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