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BackgroundInvestigations in genetics have provided valuable information about the correlation between gene variants and tendinopathy. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of COL5A1 gene are reported to be involved in Achilles tendinopathy, chronic degenerative tendon changes at the elbow, and other tendinopathies. The influence of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of COL5A1 was previously analyzed in rotator cuff disease with confounding results. Moreover, the rs12722 polymorphism in COL5A1 gene has been implicated in the aetiology of musculoskeletal soft tissue injuries in several association studies. This study aims to analyse the possible influence of rs12722 polymorphism in COL5A1 in the outcomes of rotator cuff repair.MethodsSeventy-nine patients were included in the study. DNA was extracted from 1.2 ml of venous blood and genotyped for COL5A1 SNPs rs12722. Rotator cuff muscle strength and range of motion (ROM) in anterior elevation, external and internal rotation of the shoulder were evaluated.ResultsPatients presenting COL5A1 SNP rs12722 CC showed a ROM of passive external rotation statistically significantly higher compared to patients with CT genotype and TT genotype.ConclusionsCOL5A1 SNP rs12722 may influence the functional outcomes of RCRs, even though further studies are required to confirm these preliminary results.

BackgroundSubacromial decompression, that consists of the release of the coracoid-acromial ligament, subacromial bursectomy and anterior-inferior acromioplasty, has traditionally been performed in the management of this pathology. However, the purpose of subacromial decompression procedure is not clearly explained. Our reaserch aimed to analyse the differences among the outcomes of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR) made with suture anchors, with or without the subacromial decompression procedure.Methods116 shoulders of 107 patients affected by rotator cuff (RC) tear were treated with Arthroscopic RCR. In 54 subjectes, the arthroscopic RCR and the subacromial decompression procedure (group A) were executed, whereas 53 took only arthroscopic RCR (group B). Clinical outcomes were evaluated through the use of the modified UCLA shoulder rating system, Wolfgang criteria shoulder score and Oxford shoulder score (OSS). Functional outcomes were assessed utilizing active and passive range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder, and muscle strength. The duration of the follow up and the configuration of the acromion were used to realize the comparison between the two groups.ResultsIn patients with 2 to 5 year follow up, UCLA score resulted greater in group A patients. In subjectes with longer than five years of follow up, group B patients showed considerably greater UCLA score and OSS if related with group A patients. In subjectes that had the type II acromion, group B patients presented a significant greater strength in external rotation.ConclusionThe long term clinical outcomes resulted significantly higher in patients treated only with RCR respect the ones in patients underwent to RCR with subacromial decompression.

This study aimed to estimate the yearly number of RC surgeries in Italy, a country with universal access to healthcare for its population, from 2001 to 2014, based on official information source as hospitalization records. A secondary aim was to explore geographical variation in equity in access to RC surgery between three macroregions of Italy (North, Center and South). A tertiary aim was to perform statistical projections of the number of RC procedure volumes and rates on the basis of data from 2001 to 2014. Finally, we aimed to perform a prediction of charges by 2025 to examine the economic impact of RC surgery. The analysis of the National Hospital Discharge records (SDO) maintained at the Italian Ministry of Health, concerning the 14 years of our survey (2001 through 2014) was performed. These data are anonymous and include the patient’s age (in aggregate for class of age), sex, domicile, region of hospitalization, length of the hospitalization, and type of reimbursement (public or private). During the 14-year study period, 390,001 RC repairs were performed in Italy, which represented an incidence of 62.1 RC procedures for every 100,000 Italian inhabitants over 25 years old. Approximately 65% of RC repair were performed annually in patients ages

Purpose To analyze clinical outcomes, range of motion, rate of recurrence, and complications after procedures to manage shoulder instability in patients with humeral avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament (HAGL) lesions. Methods A systematic review of the literature according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines with a PRISMA checklist and algorithm was performed. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, Cochrane, Embase, and Google Scholar databases using various combinations of the Keywords "shoulder," "HAGL," "treatment," "lesion," "dislocation," "instability," "clinical," "outcome," "Bankart" since inception of databases to 2015 was performed. All the investigators independently extracted the following data: demographics, types of lesions and associated injuries, treatment, outcome measurements, range of motion, recurrent instability, and complications. Results Eleven articles were included in which 42 shoulders with HAGL lesions were evaluated. Patients were assessed at a median follow-up period of 25.5 months, ranging from 12 to 54 months. The overall rate of recurrence was 0% (0 of 25) in case of surgery and 90% (9 of 10) in case of nonoperative treatment. The surgical approach was associated with lower rate of recurrence when compared with nonoperative treatment (odds ratio 0.05, 95% confidence interval 0.01 to 0.42, and P = .006). Only 2 papers reported loss of external rotation after surgery. No complications were reported after surgery. Complications after nonoperative treatment were not discussed. Conclusions Recognizing HAGL lesions is important to manage patients with glenohumeral instability. Patients' complaints are often nonspecific. A high index of suspicion is required in patients with prior failed shoulder surgery. HAGL lesions are often associated with other shoulder lesions. Arthroscopic or open repairs of HAGL lesions are associated with good clinical outcomes and a lower rate of recurrence compared with nonoperative treatment. Level of Evidence Level IV, systematic review of Level IV studies.

Several different factors have been identified as causes of failure of rotator cuff (RC) repair. However, no studies focused on the role of the deltoid muscle. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the deltoid tropism in the outcomes of arthroscopic RC repair procedures. Nine male (45 %) and 11 female (55 %) patients who underwent arthroscopic RC repair were included in the study. The mean age was 63.5 ± 8.1 years (range 50–74 years), and the follow-up averaged 1.9 ± 1.3 years (range 1–5 years) after surgery. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the modified University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder rating scale, Wolfgang criteria shoulder score and Oxford shoulder score (OSS). Functional outcomes were evaluated considering active and passive range of motion of the shoulder and muscle strength. The deltoid tropism was measured pre-operatively and post-operatively using T2-weighted transverse MRI images. No statistically significant correlation was found between the thickness of each portion of the deltoid muscle (vD, lD and dD) and the UCLA shoulder rating scale, Wolfgang shoulder score and OSS. At the same time, no statistically significant relationship was detected between the thickness of each portion of the deltoid muscle (vD, lD and dD) and the functional outcomes. The deltoid tropism does not influence the results of arthroscopic RC repair. Early RC repair may prevent the reduction in the tropism of the deltoid muscle. Nevertheless, further prospective randomized studies with larger samples are necessary to clarify the role of deltoid tropism in the outcomes of arthroscopic RC repair procedures.

Purpose To evaluate clinical outcomes, rate of recurrence, and complications following distal realignment procedures (Elmslie-Trillat, Maquet, Fulkerson, Roux Goldthwait, and other distal realignment procedures) performed alone or in combination with proximal procedures for the management of patellar dislocation. Methods A systematic literature review was performed following the PRISMA guidelines (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). A search in PubMed, Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane, Embase, and Google Scholar databases using various combinations of the keywords "patellar," "dislocation," "tibial transfer," "Elmslie-Trillat," "Roux Goldthwait," "tibial tubercle osteotomy," "Fulkerson," "Maquet," "procedure," "clinical," and "outcome." Results Thirty-eight articles were included in the systematic review. A total of 1,182 knees belonging to 1,023 patients were grouped according to the duration of the follow-up period. The overall rate of recurrence was 7% (83 of 1,182 knees). Approximately 5.3% (28 of 520 knees) of the redislocation occurred in the short-medium term, and 8.3% (55 of 662 knees) occurred in the long-term. Conclusions Distal realignment procedures performed alone or in combination with proximal procedures for the management of patellar dislocation have shown good clinical outcomes and a low rate of recurrence highlighting the efficacy of these procedures. To date no randomized controlled clinical trials are available on the topic. Level of Evidence Level IV, systematic review of Level III and IV studies.

The purpose of this study was to study the clinical and radiographic changes in the knee after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM) at a long-term follow-up compared with the contralateral knee. We assessed 57 patients (38 males and 19 females) with pre- and postoperative weight-bearing radiography with a follow-up ranging from 5.1 to 12.1 years (mean: 8.1) to analyze prevalence and progression of knee osteoarthritis (OA) after APM. We stratified patients according to body mass index (BMI), type of lesion (degenerative vs. traumatic), and side of meniscectomy (medial, lateral, and medial plus lateral). Patients were evaluated both clinically with Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score and radiographically with the Kellgren and Lawrence (K/L) score. Radiographic OA was defined as K/L grade 2 or worse. The prevalence of knee OA was 62.69% in the tibiofemoral compartment. The progression of knee OA was statistically significant, ranging from 17.2% preoperatively to 65.95% postoperatively (p = 0.001) in the medial compartment and from 17.64% preoperatively to 58.82% postoperatively (p = 0.0324) in the lateral compartment. The progression of knee OA in the patellofemoral compartment ranged from 5.26 to 42.10% (p = 0.001). The OA progression regarding BMI was higher into the obese group than the normal-weight group and greater in the degenerative group than the traumatic one. The mean KOOS was 72.01 and the mean WOMAC was 73.84. The Spearman's test showed a statistical significance between clinical and radiographic results. Patients in the obese, overweight, and degenerative tear group had a greater predisposition to OA in the tibiofemoral and patellofemoral compartments after meniscectomy. The level of evidence is III, retrospective study.

Background The incidence of RC tears increases with aging, affecting approximately 30 to 50% of individuals older than 50 years, and more than 50% of individuals older than 80 years. Intrinsic factors (age or gender), extrinsic factors (sports activity or occupation), and biological factors were identified in the onset and progression of RC tears. The attention in the study of aetiology of RC tendinopathy has shifted to the identification of gene variants. Genes encoding for proteins regulating the concentration of pyrophosphate in the extracellular matrix and genes encoding for fibroblastic growth factors, defensin beta 1 and estrogen-related receptor-beta were analyzed. However, only in one study the role of variants of collagen type V alpha 1 (col5a1) gene in RC tears was assessed. The objective of this study was to determine whether a col5a1 DNA sequence variant, rs12722 (C/T) was associated with rotator cuff (RC) tears in a case-control study. Methods The study included 93 Caucasian patients undergoing surgery for RC tears and 206 patients with no history and sign of RC disease as evaluated by MRI. Patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 included patients with RC tear diagnosed on clinical and imaging grounds and confirmed at the time of surgery. Group 2 (control group) included patients without history or clinical symptoms of RC disorders and with a MRI negative for RC disease. DNA was obtained from approximately 1.2 ml of venous blood using the MagCore extractor system H16 with a MagCore Genomic DNA Large Volume Whole Blood Kit (RBC Bioscience Corp., Taiwan). All study participants were genotyped for SNPs rs12722. Results We first estimated that our study had 92% power at p

One-third of patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) has involvement of only one compartment, especially the medial one.We performed a comprehensive search of studies comparing unicompartmental knee arthoplasty (UKA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in the same patient on PubMed, OVID/Medline, Cochrane, CINAHL, Google scholar and Embase databases.UKA is indicated in knee with medial OA, no flexion deformity, no joint instability and no varus deformity.Although high tibial osteotomy, UKA and TKA have been proposed to address medial OA of the knee, the best management is still controversial.Studies investigating surgical management of medial OA of the knee are increasingly frequent.Large, multicentre, powered, randomized trials comparing UKA and TKA are needed to identify the best management for medial OA of the knee. Moreover, new score systems for satisfaction of the patient should be formulated.

Background We undertook a cross-sectional study to evaluate the pennation angle and muscle thickness of the vastus lateralis muscle in patients undergoing unilateral anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with bone–patellar tendon–bone autograft, and compared these values with the contralateral non-operated limb. Methods Twenty three consecutive athletic males who underwent ACL reconstruction using the central third of the patellar ligament were evaluated at 25.9 ± 1.5 months. The International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score was administered, and angles of pennation and muscle thickness were measured by ultrasonography. Results There was no significant difference in the pennation angle of the operated leg comparing to the contralateral leg (12.5° ± 1.81° in the operated leg; 13.25° ± 2.40° after the test; p = 0.117). Quadriceps thickness in the operated leg was significantly decreased in all subjects compared to the contralateral leg (28.4 ± 5.3 mm in the operated leg; 32.7 ± 4.85 mm in the contralateral leg; p = 0.007). Conclusions Two years after surgery, there is no difference in pennation angle of the vastus lateralis when compared to the contralateral side in patients undergoing unilateral ACL reconstruction with bone–patellar tendon–bone autograft. There is a significant difference in quadriceps muscle thickness, which was less in the operated side on the operated side in all patients. Further studies are required to study the influence of muscle architecture on clinical outcome after ACL reconstruction surgery, and whether there are differences associated with the use of different grafts. Level of evidence Case–control study; level IV.

Background and objectives: To compare the long term clinical outcomes, range of motion (ROM) and strength of two different postoperative rehabilitation protocols after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR) for full-thickness rotator cuff (RC) tears. Materials and Methods: Patients undergoing RCR were divided into two groups. In 51 patients (56 shoulders), rehabilitation was performed without passive external rotation, anterior elevation ROM, and active pendulum exercises in the first 2 weeks after surgery (Group A). In 49 patients (50 shoulders) aggressive rehabilitation was implemented, with early free passive external rotation, anterior elevation ROM, and active pendulum exercises were allowed from the day after surgery (Group A). Results: No statistically significant differences were found in clinical scores, muscle strength, passive forward flexion, passive and active internal/external rotation between the two groups. However, the mean active forward flexion was 167.3&deg, &plusmn, 26&deg, (range 90&ndash, 180&deg, ) in group A and 156.5&deg, 30.5&deg, ) in group B (p = 0.04). Conclusions: A statistically significant difference between the 2 groups was found in active forward flexion ROM, which was better in patients of group A.

Several artificial biomaterials are available as ligament grafts. No ideal prosthesis mimicking natural human tissue have been found to date. The emerging field of tissue engineering holds the promise to use artificial ligaments as a viable alternative to the patellar or hamstring tendon autografts. Preliminary studies support the idea that these biomaterials have the ability to provide an alternative for autogenous grafts. However, no definitive conclusions have been found. Additionally, the incidence of postoperative complications varies within different studies. Prospective investigations are required to better understand the potential of artificial biomaterials as ligament grafts.

Tissue engineering and cell therapies are currently being leveraged to find improved treatment strategies in orthopaedics. Adipose stem cells have been considered for their potential to differentiate into different cell lineages. The potential of adipose stem cells to restore chondral, bone and tendon tissue has been demonstrated in vivo and in vitro studies. Recently their capacity to restore cells and extracellular matrix of the intervetebral disc has been also investigated. Treatment of several orthopedic diseases could benefit from the application of adipose stem cells. However, there is still lack of knowledge about their clinical use and further studies are needed to better clarify their potential.

The emerging field of tissue engineering holds the promise to use bio-materials for meniscus injury repair, namely scaffold or meniscus implant. Many implants have been studied and several studies have been conducted to verify the safety and quality of scaffolds. Preliminary data support the idea that synthetic implants can provide an alternative to menyscectomy helping to preserve the cartilage and preventing arthritis in patient with menisci injuries. However, the prevalence of postoperative complications varies within studies. Further investigations are required to evaluate the role of these materials in the clinical practice.

Suprascapular nerve compression is a rare cause of shoulder pain. We report the clinical features, radiological findings, arthroscopic management and outcome of three patients with suprascapular nerve compression caused by labral ganglion cyst associated with SLAP lesion. We performed simultaneous suture anchor SLAP repair and cyst decompression with a blunt probe. Upon a two-year follow-up, patients recovered full shoulder function without pain or limitations in activities of daily living.

Introduction The management of Type III acromioclavicular (AC) dislocations is still controversial. We wished to compare the rate of recurrence and outcome scores of operative versus non-operative treatment of patients with Type III AC dislocations. Source of data A systematic review of the literature was performed by applying the PRISMA guidelines according to the PRISMA checklist and algorithm. A search in Medline, PubMed, Cochrane and CINAHL was performed using combinations of the following keywords: 'dislocation', 'Rockwood', 'type three', 'treatment', 'acromioclavicular' and 'joint'. Areas of agreement Fourteen studies were included, evaluating 646 shoulders. The rate of recurrence in the surgical group was 14%. No statistical significant differences were found between conservative and surgical approaches in terms of postoperative osteoarthritis and persistence of pain, although persistence of pain seemed to occur less frequently in patients undergoing a surgical treatment. Areas of controversy Persistence of pain seemed to occur less frequently in patients undergoing surgery. Growing points Persistence of pain seems to occur less frequently in patients treated surgically for a Type III AC dislocation. Areas timely for developing research There is insufficient evidence to establish the effects of surgical versus conservative treatment on functional outcome of patients with AC dislocation. High-quality randomized controlled clinical trials are needed to establish whether there is a difference in functional outcome.

Numerous classification systems of non-union have been proposed based on: presence or absence of infection, radiographic features, clinical findings, biologic activity, location and shape. The management of pseudarthrosis is strongly related to the type of non-union (infected versus uninfected, atrophic versus hypertrophic). Surgical management of pseudarthrosis is generally effective with a success rate ranging from 75 to 100%. Nevertheless, in a relatively high number of instances several combined treatments are required for the fracture healing. The current gold standard to stimulate the bone regeneration is represented by the revision surgery with the application of autologous bone grafts. However, several approaches have been described to promote and enhance the bone tissue regeneration, including extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), ultrasound, electromagnetic, bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs) and platelet-rich-plasma (PRP).The aim of the present study was to perform a systematic review of the literature evaluating the current therapies to promote and enhance the bone tissue healing. The systematic review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines with a PRISMA checklist and algorithm.Limitations of the present systematic review are mainly related to the scanty quality of the studies available in the literature. Although the therapies previously described for the management of patients with non-unions seems to be effective, the limitations of the included studies, especially the extensive clinical heterogeneity, make not possible to provide clear recommendations regarding the application of these approaches. The problems remain the need to better understand the most effective treatment options, subject to surgical stabilization as a first step.

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is fundamental for the knee joint stability. ACL tears are frequent, especially during sport activities, occurring mainly in young and active patients. Nowadays, the gold standard for the management of ACL tears remains the surgical reconstruction with autografts or allografts. New strategies are being developed to resolve the problems of ligament grafting and promote a physiological healing process of ligamentous tissue without requiring surgical reconstruction. Moreover, these strategies can be applicable in association surgical reconstruction and may be useful to promote and accelerate the healing process. The use of growth factors and stem cells seems to offer a new and fascinating solution for the management of ACL tears. The injection of stem cell and/or growth factors in the site of ligamentous injury can potentially enhance the repair process of the physiological tissue. These procedures are still at their infancy, and morein vivoandin vitrostudies are required to clarify the molecular pathways and effectiveness of growth factors and stem cells therapy for the management of ACL tears. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge in the field of growth factors and stem cells for the management of ACL tears.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most frequent and symptomatic health problem in the middle-aged and elderly population, with over one-half of all people over the age of 65 showing radiographic changes in painful knees. The aim of the present study was to perform an overview on the available animal models used in the research field on the OA. Discrepancies between the animal models and the human disease are present. As regards human ‘idiopathic’ OA, with late onset and slow progression, it is perhaps wise not to be overly enthusiastic about animal models that show severe chondrodysplasia and very early OA. Advantage by using genetically engineered mouse models, in comparison with other surgically induced models, is that molecular etiology is known. Find potential molecular markers for the onset of the disease and pay attention to the role of gender and environmental factors should be very helpful in the study of mice that acquire premature OA. Surgically induced destabilization of joint is the most widely used induction method. These models allow the temporal control of disease induction and follow predictable progression of the disease. In animals, ACL transection and meniscectomy show a speed of onset and severity of disease higher than in humans after same injury.

Purpose To analyze outcomes of surgical and conservative treatment options for multidirectional instability (MDI). Methods A systematic review of the literature according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was performed. A comprehensive search of the PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases using various combinations of the keywords "shoulder," "multidirectional instability," "dislocation," "inferior instability," "capsulorrhaphy," "capsular plication," "capsular shift," "glenoid," "humeral head," "surgery," and "glenohumeral," over the years 1966 to 2014 was performed. Results Twenty-four articles describing patients with open capsular shift, arthroscopic treatment, and conservative or combined management in the setting of atraumatic MDI of the shoulder were included. A total of 861 shoulders in 790 patients was included. The median age was 24.3 years, ranging from 9 to 56 years. The dominant side was involved in 269 (58%) of 468 shoulders, whereas the nondominant side was involved in 199 (42%) shoulders. Patients were assessed at a median follow-up period of 4.2 years (ranging from 9 months to 16 years). Fifty-two of 253 (21%) patients undergoing physiotherapy required surgical intervention for MDI management, whereas the overall occurrence of redislocation was seen in 61 of 608 (10%) shoulders undergoing surgical procedures. The redislocation event occurred in 17 of 226 (7.5%) shoulders with open capsular shift management, in 21 of 268 (7.8%) shoulders with arthroscopic plication management, in 12 of 49 (24.5%) shoulders undergoing arthroscopic thermal shrinkage, and in 11 of 55 (22%) shoulders undergoing arthroscopic laser-assisted capsulorrhaphy. Conclusions Arthroscopic capsular plication and open capsular shift are the best surgical procedures for treatment of MDI after failure of rehabilitative management. Arthroscopic capsular plication shows results comparable to open capsular shift. Level of Evidence Level IV, systematic review of Level I to IV studies.

The aim of this study was to determine whether or not detaching the biceps tendon from the glenoid after tenodesis performed with the inclusion of the biceps in the rotator cuff suture results in an improved outcome. From 1999 to 2001, 22 patients had an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and associated biceps tendon lesions that were repaired with two new arthroscopic techniques of tenodesis incorporating the biceps tendon in the rotator cuff suture. Patients were randomised into one of two groups: tenodesis without tenotomy (group 1) and tenodesis with tenotomy (group 2). Preoperative and postoperative functions were assessed by means of a modified UCLA rating scale and shoulder ROM. The mean follow-up period was 47.2 months (range 36– 59). In group 1 (tenodesis without tenotomy), eight patients had an excellent postoperative score and three a good postoperative score. The UCLA rating system used for evaluation showed a statistically significant improvement from the preoperative average rating of 10.5 (5–15) to the postoperative average score of 33 (29–35) (P

Osteoid osteoma represents approximately 10% to 11% of all the benign bone tumors. The localization at the articular and juxta-articular level of the knee is an atypical picture that causes both diagnostic and therapeutic problems. We present the case of an osteoid osteoma of the lateral tibial plateau just beneath the joint level. The lesion was removed by a rear-entry computed tomography (CT)-guided drill under arthroscopic control and the bony defect filled with bone graft harvested from the proximal tibial metaphysis. Postoperative CT scans at 3 months, and 1 and 2 years were performed. The result of the kneeling test to evaluate donor-site morbidity 1 year after the surgery was negative. There were no immediate or delayed complications. Currently (2 years postoperatively), the patient has no pain and has gone back to his normal active daily lifestyle and routines. The follow-up CT scan 2 years after surgery showed complete excision of the lesion and perfect positioning of the bone graft. This new approach/technique enabled us to avoid damaging the proximal structures, to examine the lesion, and to fill the bony defect. Moreover, as shown by CT scan at follow-up, iatrogenic lesions to the cartilage of the tibial plateau were not reported.

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical outcome, rate of recurrence, complications, and rate of postoperative osteoarthritis in patients with anterior shoulder instability managed with Latarjet, Bristow, or Eden-Hybinette procedures. Methods A systematic review of the literature on management of anterior dislocation of the shoulder with glenoid bony procedures was performed. A comprehensive search of PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases using various combinations of the keywords "shoulder," "dislocation," "treatment," "Latarjet," "Bristow," "bone loss," "Eden-Hybinette," "iliac," "bone," "block," "clinical," "outcome," and "Bankart." The following data were extracted: demographics, bone defects and other lesions, type of surgery, outcome measurement, range of motion (ROM), recurrence of instability, complications, and osteoarthritis. A quantitative synthesis of all comparative studies was performed to compare bone block procedures and Bankart repair in terms of postoperative recurrence of instability and osteoarthritis. Results Forty-six studies were included and 3,211 shoulders were evaluated. The mean value of the Coleman Methodology Score (CMS) was 65 points. Preoperatively, the injuries detected most were glenoid bone loss and Bankart lesions. The Eden-Hybinette procedure had the highest rate of postoperative osteoarthritis and recurrence. Pooled results from comparative studies showed that the bone block procedures were associated with a lower rate of recurrence when compared with Bankart repair (odds ratio [OR], 0.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.28 to 0.74; P = .002), whereas there was no significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of postoperative osteoarthritis ( P = .79). Conclusions The open Bristow-Latarjet procedure continues to be a valid surgical option to treat patients with anterior shoulder instability. Bone block procedures were associated with a lower rate of recurrence when compared with the Bankart repair. The Eden-Hybinette procedure has clinical outcomes very similar to the Bristow-Latarjet technique but has a higher rate of postoperative osteoarthritis and recurrence. An arthroscopic Bristow-Latarjet procedure seems to be better in terms of prevention of recurrence and rehabilitation, but randomized studies are needed to reach definitive conclusions. Level of Evidence Level IV, systematic review of Level II, III, and IV studies.

Upper extremity injuries usually occur in the shoulder, elbow, or wrist of the athletic population, especially in overhead disciplines. Traumas, biomechanical imbalance due to improper technique, and overuse cover the majority of the epidemiological factors in this population. Common types of injury include tendon problems, bone fractures, sprains, and dislocations.

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical outcomes, rate of recurrence, complications, and range of movement after remplissage, Weber osteotomy, humeral allograft reconstruction, shoulder arthroplasty, and hemiarthroplasty in patients with anterior or posterior shoulder instability associated with humeral bone loss. Methods A systematic review of published studies on the management of dislocation of the shoulder with humeral bony procedures was performed. A comprehensive search of the PubMed, Medline, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Cochrane, Embase, and Google Scholar databases was performed using various combinations of the keywords "shoulder," "dislocation," "treatment," "remplissage," "hemiarthroplasty," "arthroplasty," "allograft," "osteotomy," "bone," "loss," "clinical," "outcome," and "Hill Sachs" since inception of the databases to 2014. The following data were extracted: demographic characteristics, bone defects and other lesions, type of surgery, outcome measurement, range of motion, recurrence of instability, and complications. Results Twenty-six studies were included, in which 769 shoulders were evaluated. The mean value of the Coleman Methodology Score was 69.2 points. Preoperatively, the most detected injuries were Hill-Sachs and Bankart lesions. Shoulder arthroplasty procedures had the highest rate of postoperative recurrence and the lowest scores for postoperative clinical outcomes. The combination of remplissage and Bankart procedures was associated with a lower rate of recurrence when compared with Bankart repair alone (odds ratio, 0.05; 95% confidence interval, 0.01 to 0.25; P = .0002). A high heterogeneity (I 2 = 85%) across the study results was found. Conclusions Arthroscopic remplissage is the safest technique for the management of patients with shoulder instability with humeral bone loss. Remplissage-Bankart procedures are associated with a lower rate of recurrence when compared with Bankart repair alone. Weber osteotomy, humeral allograft reconstruction, shoulder arthroplasty, and hemiarthroplasty are characterized by a high rate of recurrence, complications, and poor outcome scores. Level of Evidence Level IV, systematic review of Level II, III, and IV studies.

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcome of surgical versus conservative treatment of primary acute anterior dislocation of the shoulder.A systematic review of published studies on the treatment of primary acute anterior dislocation of the shoulder was performed. Three investigators independently conducted the research. A comprehensive search of PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases using various combinations of the keywords "shoulder," "dislocation," "treatment," "acute," and "primary" over the years 1994 to 2013 was performed. The following data were extracted: demographics, soft tissue lesions and bone defects, outcome measurements, type of management, recurrence of instability, and complications. A quantitative synthesis of the literature was performed to compare surgery and conservative management and immobilization by internal and external in patients undergoing conservative treatment.Thirty-one studies were included in which 2,813 shoulders were evaluated. All patients sustained primary acute anterior shoulder dislocation. The mean Coleman Methodology Score (CMS) was 67 points (range, 19 to 84). Pooled results from comparative studies showed that the rate of recurrence was statistically significantly lower in the surgical group than in the conservative group (odds ratio, 12.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.88 to 33.10; P.00001). External rotation immobilization provided better results than internal rotation, being associated with a lower rate of recurrence (odds ratio, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.34 to 3.87; P = .002).Although limited, the available evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTS) supports primary surgery in young adults engaged in highly demanding sports or job activities. There is lack of evidence to determine whether surgical or nonsurgical treatment is better for other categories of injury.Level IV, systematic review of Level I to IV studies.

Selective electrophysiological involvement of median motor fibers is rare in carpal tunnel syndrome. We report a patient with compression neuropathy of the median nerve who presented with isolated motor signs and symptoms without macroscopic evidence of compressive pathologies.

The aim of this systematic review was to analyse outcomes of surgical procedures for glenoid and/or humeral bony defects, performed singularly or in combination, in patients with posterior gleno-humeral instability. A secondary aim was to establish in clinical settings which percentage of glenoid or humeral bone loss should be treated with a bony procedure to avoid recurrence of dislocation. A systematic review of the literature according to the PRISMA guidelines was performed. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, Cochrane, Embase, Ovid, and Google Scholar databases was performed using various combinations of the keywords “shoulder”, “posterior instability”, “dislocation”, “bone loss”, “reversed bony Bankart”, “osseous glenoid defects”, “glenoid bone grafting”, “glenoid”, “humeral head”, “surgery”, “gleno-humeral”, “reversed Hill–Sachs”, over the years 1966–2014. Data were independently extracted by all the investigators: demographics, previous surgery, imaging assessment, bone defect measurement, diagnosis, surgical management, return to sport, complications, and outcome measurements. The outcome parameters were recurrence of dislocation and clinical scores. Nineteen articles, describing patients with glenoid bony defects, humeral bony defects, or both in the setting of posterior gleno-humeral instability were included. A total of 328 shoulders in 321 patients were included, with a median age at surgery of 33.4 years, ranging from 14 to 79 years. Patients were assessed at a median follow-up period of 3.6 years (ranging from 8 months to 22 years). A redislocation event occurred in 32 (10 %) shoulders. The redislocation event occurred in 2 (10 %) of 20 shoulders with glenoid bony defect and in 12 (11 %) of 114 shoulders with humeral bony defect. Even though the general principle of treating recognized glenoid and humeral bone defects in patients with posterior gleno-humeral instability is widely accepted, to date few studies in the literature accurately establish which bone defects should be treated with bony procedures and the exact correlation between percentage of bone loss and higher risk of redislocation in clinical settings. A limitation to the present systematic review is the small number of included patients, due to the rare entity of posterior bone defects/reversed Hill–Sachs. The clinical relevance is that the results of this systematic review can be helpful to guide clinicians in the management of patients with posterior gleno-humeral instability and glenoid and/or humeral bony defects. This manuscript also highlights the need for accurate description of results in further investigations. The main drawback of the available articles in the topic is that they rarely clarify the percentage of bone loss in patients undergoing a redislocation event. IV.

Lateral epicondylosis is a common pathology of the upper extremity. The origin of the ECRB is the most commonly cited anatomic location of lateral epicondylosis pathology. Histologic examination shows the features of a failed healing response, with absence of acute inflammatory cells. The typical patient with lateral epicondylosis is an adult in the fourth or fifth decade of life, with no difference about the sex. Diagnosis is based on history and physical examination. The role of imaging is to confirm the diagnosis. The most consistent symptom of lateral epicondylosis is pain over the lateral aspect of the elbow. Therapeutic modalities for lateral epicondylosis vary widely and lack definitive evidence. Open, percutaneous or arthroscopic surgery is recommended when functional disability and pain persist after 6 to 12 months of nonoperative management. Future studies using validated clinical measures and imaging are needed to determine the best management for patients with lateral epicondylosis.

Rotator cuff tear causes a high rate of morbidity. After surgical repair, the presence of a scar tissue reduces tendon biomechanical properties. Emerging strategies for enhancing tendon healing are growth factors, cytokines, gene therapy and tissue engineering. However their efficacy has to be proved. Growth factors help the process of tendon healing by aiding cells chemotaxis, differentiation and proliferation. Numerous growth factors, including the bone morphogenetic proteins and platelet-derived growth factor can be found during the early healing process of a rotator cuff repair. Growth factors are delivered to the repair site using tissue-engineered scaffolding, coated sutures, or dissolved in a fibrin sealant. Platelet-rich plasma is an autologous concentration of platelets and contains an high density of growth factors. There is some evidence that platelet-rich plasma may improve pain and recovery of function in a short time period, but it does not improve healing rates in rotator cuff. Thus the routine use of platelet-rich plasma in rotator cuff repair is not recommended. The addition of mesenchymal stem cells to scaffolds can lead to the production of a better quality healing tissue. Gene therapy is a gene transfer from a cell into another, in order to over-express the gene required. In this way, cultures of stem cells can over-express growth factors. Better understanding of the mechanisms of physiological tendon healing can promote the correct use of these new biological therapies for a better healing tissue.

Background: An engaging Hill-Sachs lesion is a defect of the humeral head, large enough to cause locking of the humeral head against the anterior corner of the glenoid rim when the arm is at 90° of abduction and more than 30° of external rotation. Hypothesis: When Bankart lesions are associated with engaging Hill-Sachs defects, simultaneous Bankart repair and remplissage provide lower recurrence rates than does Bankart repair alone. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Fifty patients (36 men, 14 women) with combined engaging Hill-Sachs and Bankart lesions were evaluated, before and after arthroscopic management, at a minimum follow-up of 2 years. After imaging and arthroscopic assessment, 25 patients underwent remplissage and Bankart repair, and 25 patients received Bankart repair alone. Patients were evaluated using the UCLA, Constant, and Rowe scores, and range of motion was measured using a goniometer. Postoperatively, all patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging to assess the status of healing of the anterior labrum and whether the tenodesis of the infraspinatus covered the Hill-Sachs defect. Results: At the last appointment, active forward elevation, external rotation beside the body, internal rotation, and all administered scores were significantly improved compared with baseline assessment, with no statistically significant intergroup differences. A new posttraumatic dislocation occurred in 5 patients, all from the Bankart-only group (20%). Conclusion: Remplissage is a safe, relatively short procedure that allows the surgeon to address large humeral defects with a low postoperative recurrence rate. Humeral head large defects predispose to recurrent instability of the shoulder and deserve surgical management.

Purpose This study aimed to undertake a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data comparing, at a minimum follow-up of 5 years (78.1 ± 5.3 months v 75.6 ± 4.8 months), the clinical, functional, and radiographic outcomes of 2 homogeneous groups of athletes who had undergone arthroscopic single-bundle autologous hamstring reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) using a transtibial (TT) or an anteromedial portal (AMP) approach to drill the femoral tunnel. Methods Ninety-four patients were operated on in 2005 and 2006, and 88 (93.6%) (73 men, 15 women) were evaluated subjectively and objectively, using the Lysholm and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores, manual maximum displacement test with a KT-1000 arthrometer (MEDmetric, San Diego, CA) and the Lachman test, and rotational instability with the pivot shift test. Degenerative changes were assessed on radiographs according to the Fairbank classification. Results The median age at operation was 29 years (20 to 43 years; SD, 5.4) in the TT group 1 and 28 years (19 to 45 years; SD, 6.1) in the AMP group 2. At the last appointment, the 2 groups had similar results for the Lysholm and IKDC scores (primary outcome). Patients who underwent the AMP approach had less glide pivot shift ( P = .42) and Lachman ( P = .47) phenomena, with no statistically significant intergroup difference. Radiography showed fewer, but not significantly different, degenerative changes in the AMP ACL reconstruction group at final follow-up ( P = .47). Conclusions In our series, ACL reconstruction using a femoral tunnel drilled through an AMP provided better rotational stability and anterior translation than drilling the femoral tunnel using the TT technique. This difference likely is not relevant from a clinical and functional viewpoint. The 2 groups of patients were not significantly different in terms of development of degenerative changes seen radiographically at a minimum follow-up of 5 years. Level of Evidence Level III, retrospective comparative study.

The aim of this systematic review is to analyze outcomes of surgical procedures for glenoid and/or humeral bony defects, performed singularly or in combination, in patients with traumatic anterior glenohumeral instability. A secondary aim is to establish in clinical settings which percentage of glenoid or humeral bone loss needs to be treated with a bony procedure to avoid recurrence of dislocation. A systematic review of the literature according to the PRISMA guidelines was performed. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, Cochrane, Embase and Google Scholar databases using various combinations of the keywords “shoulder”, “instability”, “dislocation”, “bone loss”, “bony bankart”, “osseous glenoid defects”, “glenoid bone grafting”, “Latarjet”, “glenoid”, “humeral head”, “surgery”, “glenohumeral”, “Hill Sachs”, “Remplissage”, over the years 1966–2012 was performed. Twenty-seven articles, describing patients with glenoid bony defect, humeral bony defect or both in the setting of traumatic anterior glenohumeral instability, were included. A total of 1,816 shoulders in 1,801 patients were included, with a median age at surgery of 27.1 years, ranging from 12 to 75 years. Patients were assessed at a median follow-up period of 2.8 years (ranging from 6 months to 28.2 years). The overall recurrence of redislocation occurred in 117 (6.5 %) shoulders. The redislocation event occurred in 40 of 553 (7.2 %) shoulders with glenoid bony defect, in 30 of 225 (13.3 %) shoulders with humeral bony defect and in 63 of 1,009 (6.3 %) shoulders with both glenoid and humeral involvement. Even though the general principle of recognizing and treating glenoid and humeral bone defects in patients with traumatic anterior glenohumeral instability is widely accepted, few studies are available to date to accurately establish which bone defects should be treated with bone procedures and the exact percentage of bone loss leading to higher risk of redislocation in clinical settings. IV.

Massive rotator cuff tears represent a great challenge in orthopaedic. They are associated with persistent defects, weakness, and poor outcomes and can cause an uncoupling of forces across the glenohumeral joint, with unstable shoulder kinematics. In the last few years, a notable interest has emerged to develop new treatment strategies that provide effective mechanical reinforcement of rotator cuff repair and stimulate and enhance the patient's intrinsic healing potential. Tissue engineering techniques using novel scaffold materials offer potential alternatives for managing massive irreparable rotator cuff tears. Synthetic scaffolds, manufactured from chemical compounds, have gained much interest to bridge massive rotator cuff tears. Preliminary studies support the idea that synthetic scaffolds can provide an alternative for rotator cuff augmentation with an enormous therapeutic potential. Despite the growing clinical use of synthetic scaffold devices for rotator cuff repair, there are numerous questions related to their indication, surgical application, safety, mechanism of action, and efficacy that remain to be clarified or addressed. We review the current basic science and clinical understanding of synthetic scaffolds for massive rotator cuff repair, reporting the preclinical and clinical studies carried out to date in this field. We underline the benefits and limitations of the available synthetic scaffolds for augmentation of rotator cuff tears, and discuss the implications of these literature data on the future directions for the use of these scaffolds in tendon repair procedures.

Massive rotator cuff tears represent a great challenge in orthopaedic. They are associated with persistent defects, weakness, and poor outcomes and can cause an uncoupling of forces across the glenohumeral joint, with unstable shoulder kinematics. In the last few years, a notable interest has emerged to develop new treatment strategies that provide effective mechanical reinforcement of rotator cuff repair and stimulate and enhance the patient’s intrinsic healing potential. Tissue engineering techniques using novel scaffold materials offer potential alternatives for managing massive irreparable rotator cuff tears. Synthetic scaffolds, manufactured from chemical compounds, have gained much interest to bridge massive rotator cuff tears. Preliminary studies support the idea that synthetic scaffolds can provide an alternative for rotator cuff augmentation with an enormous therapeutic potential. Despite the growing clinical use of synthetic scaffold devices for rotator cuff repair, there are numerous questions related to their indication, surgical application, safety, mechanism of action, and efficacy that remain to be clarified or addressed. We review the current basic science and clinical understanding of synthetic scaffolds for massive rotator cuff repair, reporting the preclinical and clinical studies carried out to date in this field. We underline the benefits and limitations of the available synthetic scaffolds for augmentation of rotator cuff tears, and discuss the implications of these literature data on the future directions for the use of these scaffolds in tendon repair procedures.

Repair of rotator cuff tears is technically challenging. Full thickness rotator cuff tears have no potential for spontaneous healing, no reliable tendons substitutes are available, and their management is only partially understood. Many factors seem to contribute to the final outcome, and considerable variations in the decision-making process exist. For these reasons, decisions are often taken on the basis of surgeon's clinical experience. Accurate and prompt diagnosis is fundamental to guide correct management, and the tear pattern should be carefully evaluated to planning the most appropriate repair.

Results of arthroscopic management of chronic, recalcitrant calcific tendinopathy of the shoulder in 28 patients were evaluated. Twenty-six patients (average age, 44 years) were ultimately enrolled in the study. Postoperative radiographs were performed to determine the amount of calcium deposit removal. Radiographic examination 2 months after surgery was performed to evaluate further deposit changes. The Constant score showed a statistically significant improvement in all patients. Better results were obtained when complete removal of the calcifications was achieved. On radiographic examination, performed two months after surgery, no calcification deposit increased in size and no translucent deposit changed into a dense deposit. Most of the dense deposits, partially removed, changed into translucent deposits. In this series, we found arthroscopic management was effective in treating calcific tendinopathy.

Intraarticular osteoid osteomas can simulate several other traumatic or degenerative pathologies of the joint with delay in diagnosis. We report the clinical features, radiographic and histopathological findings, the technical aspects of arthroscopic excision, and results of surgery in a 28-year-old woman who had an intraarticular osteoid osteoma of her left ankle, in whom the initial diagnosis was erroneous and delayed 1 year. Arthroscopy allowed minimally invasive complete excision of the osteoid osteoma, with a short postoperative rehabilitation and excellent functional results.

Background Rotator cuff tears are frequently associated with pathologies of the long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT). Tenotomy and tenodesis of the LHBT are commonly used to manage disorders of the LHBT. Methods We present an arthroscopic soft tissue LHBT tenodesis associated with a Roman Bridge (double pulley – suture bridges) repair Results Two medial row 5.5-mm Bio-Corkscrew suture anchors (Arthrex, Naples, FL), double-loaded with No. 2 FiberWire sutures (Arthrex, Naples, FL), are placed in the medial aspect of the footprint. A shuttle is passed through an anterior point of the rotator cuff and through the LHBT by means of a Penetrator or a BirdBeak suture passer (Arthrex, Naples, FL). A tenotomy of the LHBT is performed. All the sutures from the anteromedial anchor are passed through a single anterior point in the rotator cuff using a shuttle technique. All the sutures from the posteromedial anchor are passed through a single posterior point in the rotator cuff. The sutures in the medial row are tied using the double pulley technique. A suture limb is retrieved from each of the medial anchors and manually tied as a six-throw surgeon's knot over a metal rod. The two free suture limbs are pulled to transport the knot over the top of the tendon bridge. The two free suture limbs are then used to produce suture bridges over the tendon, using a Pushlock (Arthrex, Naples, FL), placed 1 cm distal to the lateral edge of the footprint. The same double pulley – suture bridges technique is repeated for the other two suture limbs from the two medial anchors. Conclusion This technique allows to perform a double pulley – suture bridges repair for a rotator cuff tear, associated with a soft tissue tenodesis for the management of LHBT pathology. The tenodesis of the LHBT is performed just with the passage of a shuttle inside the LHBT, after passing it through the anterior portion of the rotator cuff, with successive detachment of the LHBT from the glenoid. It is a technically easy procedure which can be performed relatively quickly, and does not require additional fixation.

Background Data on arthroscopic salvage of failed arthroscopic Bankart repair are lacking. Purpose To prospectively evaluate the surgical outcome of arthroscopic salvage of failed arthroscopic Bankart repair. Study Design Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods Operations were performed on 10 patients (8 male and 2 female; mean age at revision, 25.6 years; range, 18-41 years). The mean interval from the time of the revision surgery to the final follow-up was 68 months (range, 46-83 months). Objective testing included preoperative and postoperative range of motion. Outcome measures included the rating system of the University of California at Los Angeles. The surgical procedure was performed in a consistent manner: capsular plications, suture anchor repair of the displaced labrum, and, when indicated, rotator interval closure. Results The University of California at Los Angeles rating system showed a statistically significant improvement from a preoperative mean rating of 11.7 (range, 6-14) to a mean of 31.7 (range, 29-35) postoperatively ( P < .05). All patients had a full and equal postoperative range of motion compared with the preoperative range of motion. One patient experienced recurrent dislocations after the salvage procedure. None of the other 9 patients experienced a recurrent dislocation, with all returning to their previous sports levels. Conclusion Arthroscopic Bankart revision surgery is a reliable procedure with respect to recurrence rate, range of motion, and shoulder function in carefully selected patients.

Background With advances in arthroscopic surgery, many techniques have been developed to increase the tendon-bone contact area, reconstituting a more anatomic configuration of the rotator cuff footprint and providing a better environment for tendon healing. Methods We present an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair technique which uses suture bridges to optimize rotator cuff tendon-footprint contact area and mean pressure. Results Two medial row 5.5-mm Bio-Corkscrew suture anchors (Arthrex, Naples, FL), which are double-loaded with No. 2 FiberWire sutures (Arthrex, Naples, FL), are placed in the medial aspect of the footprint. Two suture limbs from a single suture are both passed through a single point in the rotator cuff. This is performed for both anchors. The medial row sutures are tied using the double pulley technique. A suture limb is retrieved from each of the medial anchors through the lateral portal, and manually tied as a six-throw surgeon's knot over a metal rod. The two free suture limbs are pulled to transport the knot over the top of the tendon bridge. Then the two free suture limbs that were used to pull the knot down are tied. The end of the sutures are cut. The same double pulley technique is repeated for the other two suture limbs from the two medial anchors, but the two free suture limbs are used to produce suture bridges over the tendon, by means of a Pushlock (Arthrex, Naples, FL), placed 1 cm distal to the lateral edge of the footprint. Conclusion This technique maximizes the advantages of two techniques. On the one hand, the double pulley technique provides an extremely secure fixation in the medial aspect of the footprint. On the other hand, the suture bridges allow to improve pressurized contact area and mean footprint pressure. In this way, the bony footprint in not compromised by the distal-lateral fixation, and it is thus possible to share the load between fixation points. This maximizes the strength of the repair and provides a barrier preventing penetration of synovial fluid into the healing area of tendon and bone.