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Biomedical subjects

E Rath

Publications and source records attributed to E Rath.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

An operative technique for recurrent shoulder dislocations in older patients.

Recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation in the elderly is not as exceptional as it was once thought to be. That anterior shoulder dislocation in older patients is caused by a rotator cuff tear through the posterior mechanism is well accepted. However, in the subset of patients who have multiple recurrent or intractable dislocations develop, there may be combined pathologic conditions at work: large or massive rotator cuff tears together with anterior capsulolabral injuries such as a Bankart lesion or fracture of the glenoid rim. These patients have multiple recurrences because of disruption of both the anterior and the posterior stability mechanisms. We suggest a procedure that provides anterior stabilization with the capsular shift technique and that is supplemented by Bankart repair as necessary. The capsule transfer is performed superiorly and posteriorly to close the defect in the cuff. In this way a capsulodesis effect can be achieved that displaces the humeral head downward and produces active centering of the head in the course of abduction. Use of only the anterior capsule for the shift, and not the subscapularis tendon, does not compromise subscapularis function. Between 1990 and 1996, we used this technique to treat 16 patients older than 55 years of age with multiple recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation and massive rotator cuff tear. We report the results for the first 10 patients with a minimum follow-up of 2 years (range 2 to 7 years) and an average follow-up of 52 months. There were 7 excellent results, 2 good results, and 1 fair result according to the Rowe criteria. None of the patients had a recurrence of the dislocation. All the patients regained full or functional range of motion with stable shoulders, and most of them could perform activities of daily living without limitation. The average Constant score was 83%. This procedure appears to be successful in treating older patients with recurrent shoulder dislocation.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Meniscal allograft transplantation. Two- to eight-year results.

We evaluated 18 of 23 patients who had undergone cryopreserved meniscal allograft transplantation for compartmental pain after total meniscectomy 2 to 8 years (mean, 5.4) after the operation. The Short Form-36 scores revealed a decrease in pain with a significant improvement in function, although function remained limited. There was no significant decrease in joint space on 45 degrees posteroanterior weightbearing radiographs through the duration of the study. Eight of 22 allograft menisci (36%) tore during the study period, necessitating 6 partial and 2 total meniscectomies. Two patients subsequently underwent reimplantation. Histologic examination of the removed tissue revealed reduced cellularity as compared with normal or torn native menisci. Four specimens also underwent detailed cytokine evaluation and demonstrated reduced cytokine expression compared with controls. While successful in alleviating compartmental pain that may be a late consequence of major meniscectomy, allograft menisci are repopulated with fewer cells than are present in normal or torn native menisci. These cells also demonstrate potentially reduced function, as measured by decreased growth factor production. This decreased biologic activity may be a factor that contributes to the high frequency of retears noted in this and prior studies.

Adult↗