PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Andrew S Rokito

Publications and source records attributed to Andrew S Rokito.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Glove tears during arthroscopic shoulder surgery using solid-core suture.

PURPOSE: Surgeons have noticed an increased incidence of finger lacerations associated with arthroscopic knot tying with solid-core suture material. This study examines glove perforations and finger lacerations during arthroscopic shoulder surgery. METHODS: We collected 400 surgical gloves from 50 consecutive arthroscopic shoulder repair procedures using No. 2 solid-core sutures. Two surgeons using double gloves were involved in every case, with one being responsible for tying all knots. Powder-free latex gloves were worn in all cases. Knots consisted of a sliding stitch of the surgeon's preference followed by 3 half-hitches via a knot-pusher instrument. All gloves were inspected grossly and then tested for tears with an electroconductivity meter. RESULTS: The knot-tying surgeon had significantly more glove tears than the control (P < .01). Tears were localized to the radial side of the index finger of the glove at the distal interphalangeal joint in all cases. Of the tying surgeon's gloves, 68 (34%) were found to have tears. These included 17 inner gloves (17%) and 51 outer gloves (51%). If an inner glove was torn, the corresponding outer glove was torn in all cases. A mean of 3.96 knots were tied in each case. There was a significantly higher incidence of inner glove tears when more than 3 knots were tied (P < .03). There was no significant difference in glove tears between suture types. Finger lacerations did occur in the absence of glove tears. However, in the presence of an inner glove tear, there was a statistically significant association with a finger laceration at the corresponding level (P < .03). CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative glove tears and subsequent finger lacerations occur with a high frequency when arthroscopic knots are tied with solid-core suture material. Risk can potentially be minimized by frequent glove changes or use of more durable, less penetrable gloves. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study addresses surgeon and patient safety during arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Arthroscopy↗
PubMed2006

The effect of arthroscopic suture passing instruments on rotator cuff damage and repair strength.

There are a variety of arthroscopic devices used to pass sutures through the rotator cuff for its repair. Because they vary in size and shape, it is possible that they could damage the cuff and affect the integrity of the repair. We chose four devices for assessment--SutureLasso (Arthrex, Naples, FL), straight BirdBeak (Arthrex, Naples, FL), Viper (Arthrex, Naples, FL), and a #7 tapered Mayo needle--and performed cuff reattachments in four paired shoulders using suture anchors. These repairs were cycled and tested to failure. The SutureLasso and Mayo needle repairs failed at approximately 285 N whereas the BirdBeak and Viper failed during cycling at 150 N. It appears that the devices, which made the bigger holes in the cuff, can compromise the integrity of the repair.

Arthroscopy↗
PubMed2006

A biodegradable button to augment suture attachment in rotator cuff repair.

Recent experimental studies suggest that the use of suture anchors for rotator cuff tear (RCT) repair transfers the "weak link" to the suture-tendon interface where failure occurs as the sutures cut through the tendon. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of using a suture augmentation button on the fixation strength of rotator cuff tendon repair. A 1.5 cm by 2 cm defect was created in the supraspinatus tendon of seven cadaveric shoulder pairs and two suture anchors inserted in each humerus for suture attachment. For one of each pair, the defect was repaired with sutures placed in a horizontal mattress configuration. The other side was repaired with the sutures being passed through low profile, bioabsorbable buttons placed on the bursal tendon surface prior to knot tying. The supraspinatus tendon was cyclically loaded at a physiologic rate and load (33 mm/sec and 180 N, respectively). The number of loading cycles was recorded when the specimens developed 0.75 cm and 1.5 cm gaps at the repair site. The specimens were then tested to failure. Specimens in the unaugmented group developed 0.75 cm and 1.5 cm gaps at an average of 135 cycles and 362 cycles, respectively. The button augmented group developed these gaps at average of 420 cycles and 708 cycles, respectively. These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The gaps progressively increased in all specimens, which eventually failed by suture cutting through tendon in all specimens. This study demonstrates that in vitro, suture augmentation with a low profile, bioabsorbable button provides significantly enhanced fixation when using suture anchors to repair torn rotator cuff tendon. This device may be a useful adjunct to current methods of rotator cuff repair.

Absorbable Implants↗
PubMed2005

Assessment of clavicular translation after arthroscopic Mumford procedure: direct versus indirect resection--a cadaveric study.

PURPOSE: To compare the horizontal stability of the distal clavicle following arthroscopic resection of its lateral end by direct and indirect techniques. TYPE OF STUDY: Biomechanical test of cadaveric specimens. METHODS: We performed arthroscopic distal clavicle resection on 12 fresh-frozen human cadaveric shoulders using direct (group 1, n = 6) or indirect (group 2, n = 6) approaches. In both groups 5 mm of distal clavicle were resected using an arthroscopic burr. The specimens were mounted on a materials testing device that allowed translation of the clavicle along the anteroposterior axis. The degree of posterior translation was measured from maximum anterior displacement of the clavicle. RESULTS: Mean posterior translation was 19.4 mm (range, 18 to 23 mm; SD, 2.2) and 21.3 mm (range, 18 to 25 mm; SD, 3.1) for groups 1 and 2, respectively. This difference was not statistically significant ( P = .27). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that there is no significant difference in anteroposterior stability of the clavicle following arthroscopic distal clavicle resection with either a direct or indirect approach. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clinically, this study addresses concerns about increased potential instability associated with the indirect technique of distal clavicle resection. From a biomechanical standpoint, based on this study, there is no concern for increased instability with the indirect technique of distal clavicle resection compared to a direct technique.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Chronic exertional compartment syndrome: diagnosis and management.

During exercise, muscular expansion and swelling occur. Chronic exertional compartment syndrome represents abnormally increased compartment pressures and pain in the involved extremity secondary to a noncompliant musculofascial compartment. Most commonly, it occurs in the lower leg, but has been reported in the thigh, foot, upper extremity, and erector spinae musculature. The diagnosis is obtained through a careful history and physical exam, reproduction of symptoms with exertion, and pre- and post-exercise muscle tissue compartment pressure recordings. It has been postulated that increased compartment pressures lead to transient ischemia and pain in the involved extremity. However; this is not universally accepted. Other than complete cessation of causative activities, nonoperative management of CECS is usually unsuccessful. Surgical release of the involved compartments is recommended for patients who wish to continue to exercise.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed2005

Anterior capsulolabral reconstruction for traumatic recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation.

The anterior capsulolabral reconstruction (ACLR) has been shown to yield satisfactory results predominantly in overhead athletes with atraumatic anterior shoulder instability. The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical results of patients who underwent ACLR for recurrent traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation. A retrospective review of 41 patients, mean age 29 (range: 16 to 55 years) who underwent ACLR for traumatic recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation was performed. All patients reported a traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation with subsequent recurrent instability. Seven patients had undergone previous shoulder stabilization surgery which had failed. The mean number of previous dislocations was 4.5 (range: 1 to 15). There were 31 males and 10 females, and the dominant arm was involved in 24 patients. In all cases, the capsulolabral complex was detached from the glenoid rim. The mean follow-up was 3.6 years (range: 15 to 80 months). All patients were evaluated by physical examination. The mean modified Rowe score was 93.6 (range: 65 to 100). There were 32 excellent, 5 good, 1 fair, and 2 poor results. Instability was eliminated in 38 patients (93%). Of 25 patients who engaged in recreational sports, all were able to return to their previous level of participation. One patient sustained a traumatic redislocation and underwent revision surgery. Two patients reported atraumatic recurrent subluxation with one requiring revision surgery due to persistent symptoms of instability. There was no loss of range of motion in comparison to preoperative values. Of the seven shoulders that had undergone previous surgery, all remain stable. These results indicate that a glenoid-sided capsulolabral reconstruction can restore shoulder stability in patients with recurrent traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation. Success rates comparable to those of other open anterior shoulder repair procedures can be achieved.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Posterior capsulorrhaphy for treatment of recurrent posterior glenohumeral instability.

The surgical treatment of recurrent posterior shoulder instability via a posterior approach has had a variable degree of success reported in the literature with recurrence rates ranging between 8% and 45%. The purpose of this study was to review the results of posterior capsulorrhaphy in a consecutive series of patients with recurrent posterior instability. Seventeen consecutive patients underwent operative management for posterior glenohumeral instability. The dominant shoulder was involved in ten patients. All patients were male with an average age of 28.1 years (range: 16 to 54 years). Ten patients had sustained a specific injury which precipitated the instability. Six patients reported dislocations requiring formal closed reduction maneuvers; the remainder described episodes of recurrent subluxation with spontaneous reduction. All patients underwent a posterior capsulorrhaphy using an infraspinatus splitting approach. Eight shoulders required repair of a posterior capsulolabral detachment. In addition, one patient required augmentation with a posterior bone block for significant glenoid rim deficiency. Outcome was assessed by personal interview, clinical assessment, and standardized radiographs. At an average follow-up of 3.9 years (range: 1.8 to 10.8 years) patients estimated their overall shoulder function to be 81% of the contralateral unaffected shoulder. The subjective result was excellent for eight patients, good for five patients, fair in two patients, and poor in two patients. One of the poor outcomes was in a patient with glenohumeral degenerative changes at the index procedure which progressed and eventually required a total shoulder arthroplasty. The other poor result was in a patient found to have a full-thickness rotator cuff tear 10.6 years after the index procedure. Two patients (12%) had recurrence of their instability. Both of these patients sustained a significant re-injury which precipitated their symptoms. Five patients complained of occasional night pain at the time of their last follow-up examination. Only one patient (who was re-injured) had to change professions as a result of shoulder symptoms. Posterior capsulorrhaphy for treatment of isolated posterior glenohumeral instability yields satisfactory clinical results. Recurrent instability in this series was associated with a specific re-injury and did not appear to increase with longer follow-up.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

The role of the acromioclavicular joint in impingement syndrome.

Although AC pathology usually represents a late manifestation of outlet impingement, it typically presents as a cause of pain that is resistant to nonoperative and operative measures designed to treat purely anterior acromial pathology. The bursitis that occurs with AC joint impingement may be indistinguishable from anterior acromial impingement on clinical presentation; however, physical examination, diagnostic injection, and radiographic evaluation are generally sufficient to establish the diagnosis of AC joint impingement. Nonoperative measures are indicated for the treatment of acute bursitis, although operative intervention may be necessary in cases of large, distally projecting osteophytes in the presence of AC joint degeneration. Acromioclavicular pathology, when present, should be addressed at the time of subacromial decompression, and may involve distal clavicular resection, beveling of the AC joint, or excision of marginal osteophytes. The results of surgery to address the AC contribution to impingement are generally favorable; future investigation may further clarify the role of coplaning and its potential contribution to continued postoperative AC pain and symptomatic instability.

Acromioclavicular Joint↗
PubMed2002

Severe ulnar neuropathy after subcutaneous transposition in a collegiate tennis player.

We report the case of an "overhead" athlete (a collegiate tennis player) who developed severe ulnar neuropathy after anterior subcutaneous transposition and placement of a fasciodermal sling. Treatment consisted of opening the sling, excising suture material, releasing all other areas of potential compression, and performing anterior submuscular transposition of the ulnar nerve deep to the flexor muscle group. Two years after surgery, subjective symptoms were significantly improved, though the patient continued to experience mild medial-side elbow discomfort and intermittent paresthesia along the ulnar nerve distribution. Pain relief achieved without full sensory and motor recovery is consistent with results reported elsewhere. In short, extreme care must be taken when creating a fasciodermal sling during anterior subcutaneous transposition of the ulnar nerve.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Arthroscopic versus mini-open rotator cuff repair: a comparison of clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction.

This study compares the results of arthroscopic and arthroscopically assisted mini-open rotator cuff repair in a series of 84 patients who underwent repair of small, medium, or large tears between March 1997 and September 2001 with at least 2 years of follow-up. There were 42 arthroscopic repairs and 42 mini-open repairs. Of the patients, 81 (96.4%) had good or excellent UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) scores (40 arthroscopic repairs [95.2%] and 41 mini-open repairs [97.6%]); there were 2 fair results and 1 poor outcome. The ASES (American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons) scores averaged 91.1 for the arthroscopic group and 90.2 for the mini-open group (P > .05). Six patients required further surgery (three from the arthroscopic group and three from the mini-open group). Of 84 patients, 83 (98.8%) reported being satisfied with the procedure. At greater than 2 years of follow-up, arthroscopic and mini-open rotator cuff repairs produced similar results for small, medium, and large rotator cuff tears with equivalent patient satisfaction rates.

Arthroscopy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Treatment of acromioclavicular joint separation: suture or suture anchors?

This investigation compared the stability of 2 methods of fixation for acromioclavicular (AC) joint separations. A complete AC joint separation was simulated in 6 matched pairs of fresh-frozen human cadaveric shoulders. One specimen from each pair was repaired with two No. 5 nonabsorbable braided sutures passed around the base of the coracoid and the other with 2 suture anchors preloaded with the same suture material placed into the base of the coracoid process. The specimens were cyclically loaded for 10(4) cycles to simulate our early postoperative rehabilitation protocol for coracoclavicular repairs. Before cycling, the repairs had a mean superior laxity of 1.68 +/- 0.44 mm for the sutures alone and 1.23 +/- 0.31 mm for the suture anchors. After 10(4) cycles, the laxity was 1.32 +/- 0.59 mm and 1.33 +/- 0.94 mm, respectively. These differences were not statistically significant (P =.2). This study demonstrated that similar stability can be achieved for coracoclavicular fixation with suture anchors or with sutures placed around the base of the coracoid for the treatment of AC joint separations. The clinical relevance includes the following: (1) the potentially diminished risk of neurovascular injury with the use of suture anchors compared with the passage of sutures around the base of the coracoid and (2) the potentially reduced surgical time associated with the use of suture anchors.

Acromioclavicular Joint↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Imaging of the elbow in the overhead throwing athlete.

Elbow injuries in athletes who perform overhead throwing motions often present diagnostic challenges because of the undue stresses and often chronic, repetitive patterns of injury. Accurate and efficient assessment of the injured elbow is essential to maximize functional recovery and expedite return to play. Radiographic evaluation should be tailored to the specific injury suspected and requires a thorough understanding of normal anatomic relationships as well as familiarity with common injuries affecting these athletes.

Athletic Injuries↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A comparison of nonoperative and operative treatment of type II distal clavicle fractures.

A retrospective study was performed to compare nonoperative and operative treatments of Type II distal clavicle fractures. From a total of 30 diagnosed patients, 16 were identified as receiving nonoperative treatment and 14 open reduction and coracoclavicular stabilization. The average follow-up was 53.5 months for the nonoperative group and 59.8 months for the operative group. All patients were evaluated postoperatively for pain, range of motion, function, and fracture healing as well as for isokinetic strength. Fractures treated surgically achieved union within six to ten weeks. Nonoperative treatment resulted in seven nonunions. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the mean UCLA, Constant, and ASES scores. Nonunion had no significant effect on functional outcome or strength. This study suggests that Type II distal clavicle fractures can be successfully managed nonoperatively. The high incidence of nonunion does not impede a clinical outcome comparable to that achieved by surgical treatment.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The shoulder in baseball pitching: biomechanics and related injuries-part 1.

The extreme range of motion at the shoulder, the high angular velocities and torques, and the repetitious nature of the pitching motion combine to make the shoulder vulnerable to injury during the baseball pitch. An understanding of the biomechanics that contribute to shoulder injuries during each phase of the pitching motion can facilitate the athlete's diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. Common injuries that occur during the late cocking and acceleration phases of the pitch include anterior instability and impingement, bicipital tendinitis, and subacromial impingement. Nonoperative treatment consisting of an initial period of rest and NSAIDS, followed by physical therapy and a gradual return to activity, is usually successful. When this approach fails, surgical intervention, either arthroscopic or open, may be necessary. Physical therapy and rehabilitation are directed toward restoring the integrity and strength of the dynamic and static stabilizers of the shoulder joint, yet preserving the range of motion necessary for performance. Through rehabilitation, the dedicated athlete can often return to the pitching mound at his previous level of performance.

Acceleration↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The shoulder in baseball pitching: biomechanics and related injuries-part 2.

The extreme range of motion at the shoulder, the high angular velocities and torques, and the repetitious nature of the pitching motion combine to make the shoulder vulnerable to injury during the baseball pitch. An understanding of the biomechanics that contribute to shoulder injuries during each phase of the pitching motion can facilitate the athlete's diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. The athlete's symptoms and signs, as well as radiographic imaging, are key elements in arriving at a diagnosis of shoulder injuries. Nonoperative treatment consisting of an initial period of rest and NSAIDS, followed by physical therapy and a gradual return to activity, is usually successful. When this approach fails, surgical intervention, either arthroscopic or open, may be necessary. Physical therapy and rehabilitation are directed toward restoring the integrity and strength of the dynamic and static stabilizers of the shoulder joint, yet preserving the range of motion necessary for performance. Through rehabilitation, the dedicated athlete can often return to the pitching mound at his previous level of performance.

Baseball↗