MicroRNA-29a Mitigates Subacromial Bursa Fibrosis in Rotator Cuff Lesion with Shoulder Stiffness

Rotator cuff lesion with shoulder stiffness is a major cause of shoulder pain and motionlessness. Subacromial bursa fibrosis is a prominent pathological feature of the shoulder disorder. MicroRNA-29a (miR-29a) regulates fibrosis in various tissues; however, the miR-29a action to subacromial bursa fibrosis remains elusive. Here, we reveal that subacromial synovium in patients with rotator cuff tear with shoulder stiffness showed severe fibrosis, hypertrophy, and hyperangiogenesis histopathology along with significant increases in fibrotic matrices collagen (COL) 1A1, 3A1, and 4A1 and inflammatory cytokines, whereas miR-29a expression was downregulated. Supraspinatus and infraspinatus tenotomy-injured shoulders in transgenic mice overexpressing miR-29a showed mild swelling, vascularization, fibrosis, and regular gait profiles as compared to severe rotator cuff damage in wild-type mice. Treatment with miR-29a precursor compromised COL3A1 production and hypervascularization in injured shoulders. In vitro, gain of miR-29a function attenuated COL3A1 expression through binding to the 3’-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of COL3A1 in inflamed tenocytes, whereas silencing miR-29a increased the matrix expression. Taken together, miR-29a loss is correlated with subacromial bursa inflammation and fibrosis in rotator cuff tear with shoulder stiffness. miR-29a repressed subacromial bursa fibrosis through directly targeting COL3A1 mRNA, improving rotator cuff integrity and shoulder function. Collective analysis offers a new insight into the molecular mechanism underlying rotator cuff tear with shoulder stiffness. This study also highlights the remedial potential of miR-29a precursor for alleviating the shoulder disorder.

Interest of Ultrasound in the Exploration of Rotator Cuff Lesions - Confrontation of Clinical Examination and Ultrasound Finding

Introduction: The aim of our study was to evaluate the interest of ultrasound in the exploration of painful shoulders evoking rotator cuff lesions and to determine the diagnostic value of the different tendon tests through a confrontation physical examination versus shoulder ultrasound. Materials and methods: A prospective study was conducted including patients consulting for shoulder pain that suggests a rotator cuff lesion. All patients underwent a clinical examination, an x ray and shoulder ultrasound.Results: The confrontation physical examination versus shoulder ultrasound showed that Jobe's test is very sensitive (100%) but less specific (27%), the Patte test, has a high sensitivity (100%) but an average specificity (51%), the Palm-Up test was fairly sensitive (91%) but not very specific (43%) and the Gerber test was more specific (95.7%) and less sensitive (38%). The comparison between x ray and ultrasound showed that ultrasound of shoulder is more efficient in the detection of calcifications and erosions of humeral head.Conclusion: Ultrasound of shoulder is more performant than physical examination and x ray in exploring the rotator cuff lesions.

Clinical Outcomes after Subpectoral Biceps Tenodesis with an Interference Screw

Background Subpectoral biceps tenodesis with an interference screw has been shown to be an effective procedure from both an anatomic and biomechanical perspective. There have been no clinical outcome data on this procedure to date. Hypothesis Subpectoral biceps tenodesis is an effective procedure in eliminating biceps tendinosis symptoms. Study Design Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods Patients who underwent subpectoral biceps tenodesis with a minimum follow-up of 1 year were evaluated using a battery of clinical outcome measures, biceps apex difference, and pain scores. A diagnosis of biceps tendinosis was made using a specific diagnostic protocol coupled with observation of biceps tendon fraying and increased erythema on dry arthroscopy. Results Between November 2002 and August 2005, 50 patients underwent subpectoral biceps tenodesis. Complete follow-up examinations were performed in 41 of 50 (82%). There were 16 women and 25 men (mean age, 50 years). Follow-up averaged 29 months (range, 12–49 months). The mean scores were 86, Rowe; 81, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES); 9, Simple Shoulder Test (SST); 87, Constant Murley; and 84, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE). There was 1 failure as demonstrated by pull-out of the tendon from the bone tunnel resulting in a “Popeye” deformity on physical examination. The mean value for biceps apex distance was 0.15 cm, with 35 of 41 patients demonstrating no difference on physical examination. Twenty-three of 41 patients had complete preoperative and postoperative examinations. All clinical outcome measures demonstrated a statistically significant improvement at follow-up when compared with the preoperative scores. Thirty-one patients had identified lesions of the rotator cuff at time of arthroscopy. The mean ASES score in patients without rotator cuff lesion (89.2 ± 10.3) was significantly greater than the mean ASES for those with rotator cuff lesion (78.0 ± 21.0) ( P = .0324). The mean SST score in patients without rotator cuff lesion (10.6 ± 1.5) was significantly greater than the mean ASES score for those with rotator cuff lesion (8.8 ± 2.7) ( P = .0132). Conclusion Subpectoral biceps tenodesis with an interference screw is a viable treatment option for patients with symptomatic biceps tendinosis. Anterior shoulder pain and biceps symptoms were resolved with this technique. Patients with coexistent rotator cuff lesion had less favorable outcomes.