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PubMed1994

Rotator cuff degeneration and lateral epicondylitis: a comparative histological study.

OBJECTIVES: Rotator cuff tendinitis and lateral epicondylitis are common in clinical practice but the underlying pathology is poorly understood. The study examined both normal and biopsy tendon specimens histologically, to determine the mechanisms involved in tendon degeneration. METHODS: Rotator cuff tendons from 83 cadavers aged 11-94 and tendon biopsy specimens from 20 patients with lateral epicondylitis aged 27-56 years were examined histologically. RESULTS: The microscopic changes found in the tendon biopsies from the elbow were similar to those found in the cadaveric rotator cuff tendons. Abnormalities ranged from minor blood vessel wall changes and loss of tenocytes to calcification. The most frequent abnormality was glycosaminoglycan infiltration and fibrocartilaginous transformation. There appeared to be some sequence in the changes observed which were milder in younger patients. Only 17% of cadaver tendons, below the age of 39 were abnormal but abnormalities increase in later life to around 40-50%. CONCLUSIONS: There was an increasing incidence of degenerative changes in tendons with age. The changes observed in biopsy samples of common extensor tendons were the same as those seen in aged supraspinatus tendons, but these changes were not seen in control common extensor tendons.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1977

Diagnosis of rotator cuff tear on routine radiographs.

Routine shoulder radiographs were reviewed in 42 patients with proven rotator cuff tears and in 38 patients in whom a rotator cuff tear had been excluded by shoulder arthrography. Five radiographic findings were identified which were commonly associated with a rotator cuff tear. One or more of these findings were seen in 90.4% of those patients with a rotator cuff tear. These findings were not specific and were also seen in 64.3% of those patients with a frozen shoulder.

Female↗

PubMed1998

Continuous passive motion after repair of the rotator cuff. A prospective outcome study.

Despite the apparent success of continuous passive motion after soft-tissue procedures or joint replacements, its effect after repair of the rotator cuff is still unknown. The purpose of this prospective, randomized outcome study was to compare the results of continuous passive motion with those of manual passive range-of-motion exercises after repair of the rotator cuff. Thirty-one patients (thirty-two rotator cuffs) were randomly assigned to one of two types of postoperative management: continuous passive motion (seventeen patients) or manual passive range-of-motion exercises (fifteen patients). There were seventeen women and fourteen men, and the mean age was sixty-three years (range, thirty to eighty years). The patients were followed for a mean of twenty-two months (range, six to forty-five months). Five tears of the rotator cuff were small, eighteen were medium, and nine were large. All of the operations were performed by one surgeon. The patients who were managed with continuous passive motion used the device for the first four weeks postoperatively. The patients who were managed with manual passive range-of-motion exercises were assisted by a trained relative, friend, or home-care nurse. After the four-week period, the two groups were managed similarly for two to five months. According to the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, a valid and reliable self-administered questionnaire, the treatment was extremely successful in both groups. The overall score was excellent for twenty-seven shoulders (84 per cent), good for two (6 per cent), fair for two (7 per cent), and poor for one (3 per cent). With the numbers available, we could detect no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the two groups with respect to the score according to the Index, pain (according to a visual-analog scale), range of motion, or isometric strength. Manual passive range-of-motion exercises were more cost-effective than continuous passive motion. The limited number of physical-therapy visits associated with the manual passive range-of-motion exercises in the present study appeared to be more cost-effective than a traditional physical-therapy schedule of three visits per week. Postoperative therapy with continuous passive motion or manual passive range-of-motion exercises appears to yield favorable results after repair of a small, medium, or large tear of the rotator cuff.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Outcome and structural integrity after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair using 2 rows of fixation: minimum 2-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Although arthroscopic repairs of the rotator cuff are becoming increasingly popular, security of fixation remains a concern. Two-row repairs have been described, but clinical outcome reports have primarily involved open techniques. HYPOTHESIS: An arthroscopic repair technique that uses 2 rows of fixation produces satisfactory outcome and structural integrity by ultrasonography. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Forty-eight patients (52 shoulders) with a full-thickness, but fully reducible, rotator cuff tear who met the inclusion criteria were treated with an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair using 2 rows of suture anchors. The mean tear size was 2.47 cm (range, 1-4 cm). Patients were evaluated by subjective functional assessment (L'Insalata Shoulder Rating Questionnaire), clinical examination, including measured strength testing, and ultrasonography. RESULTS: At a mean follow-up of 30 months (minimum of 2 years), functional scores improved from a mean of 42 preoperatively to 93 postoperatively (P < .001). Active range of motion was increased in all measured planes (P < .001). Strength was also increased in elevation (P < .001), external rotation (P < .001), and internal rotation (P = .033). Nine of the 52 shoulders (17%) had evidence of retear or persistent defect on postoperative ultrasonography. There were no differences detected in functional scores between those with an intact repair and those with a defect, but those with an intact repair were stronger in elevation (P = .006) and external rotation (P = .001). CONCLUSION: An arthroscopic 2-row rotator cuff repair produces excellent functional outcome and repair integrity comparable with previously reported open repairs. Presence of a defect after repair did not appear to affect patient-reported function and return to preinjury activity but did affect measured strength.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Sonographic findings of rotator cuff calcifications.

We studied the findings and value of sonography in the diagnosis of rotator cuff calcifications in comparison to plain radiographs. Sonograms were correlated with plain radiographs in 951 patients. The diagnosis of rotator cuff calcifications was made by ultrasonography in 87 and with plain films in 93 of 951 patients. Sonography displayed two additional bursal slurry calcifications were found on plain films. Three types of calcifications were found with ultrasonography: (1) a hyperechoic focus with a well-defined shadow (79%); (2) a hyperechoic focus with a faint shadow (14%); and, (3) a hyperechoic focus with no shadow (7%). Large and slurry calcifications and bursal calcifications were better seen with ultrasonography, but small and more scattered deposits were better found on plain radiographs. Sonography proved to be reliable in the detection and localization of rotator cuff calcifications, but classification into a formative or resorptive phase could not be done. Because of this and the possibility of pathologic conditions of bone, plain radiographs should always be obtained prior to doing sonography.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Rotator cuff tears and associated nerve injuries.

A series of 15 patients with concomitant rotator cuff tears and infraclavicular brachial plexus injuries treated between 1980 and 1989 were reviewed. There were 6 men and 9 women with a mean age of 65 years. Seventeen nerve injuries were identified, including 12 axillary nerves, 4 suprascapular nerves, and 1 musculocutaneous nerve. One patient had an injury to all three nerves. Thirteen patients underwent operative repair of the torn rotator cuff, and 2 patients who refused surgery were treated conservatively. The average time from injury to surgery was 7.7 months. Follow-up averaged 5.5 years (range: 2-10 years). Clinical results were graded according to pain, range of motion, and strength. Postoperatively, mean active forward elevation was 137 degrees and mean active external rotation was 40 degrees. Clinically, 8 patients achieved complete nerve recovery and 7 had an incomplete recovery. Satisfactory pain relief was achieved in 87% of patients with 60% having excellent or good function. Overall, the results of rotator cuff repair with concurrent nerve injury are less favorable than those of isolated cuff repairs. Careful preoperative assessment of concomitant nerve injury should be performed to better predict outcome.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The stabilizing sling for the long head of the biceps tendon in the rotator cuff interval. A histoanatomic study.

A histoanatomic study of the rotator cuff interval was done in 13 cadaveric specimens to investigate the relation of its ligamentous structures to the long head of the biceps tendon, with a special focus on revealing a stabilizing function. After macroscopic evaluation, the lateral half of the rotator cuff interval capsule was cut into three sections: medial, middle, and lateral. These sections were embedded in methacrylate, and then serial sections were made and stained for polarized light microscopy. The superior glenohumeral ligament was seen to form a fold having the macroscopic appearance of a U-shaped anterior suspension sling for the long head of the biceps tendon. Microscopic evaluation revealed an important role of the fasciculus obliquus in the roof of this sling. Fibers of the supraspinatus tendon join the posterosuperior part of the sling. The subscapularis tendon is not involved in this suspensory mechanism. As a result of these observations, we determined that the superior glenohumeral ligament and the fasciculus obliquus are the most important ligamentous reinforcements of a stabilizing sling for the long head of the biceps tendon in the rotator cuff interval. Their histologic appearance indicates they function to protect the long head of the biceps against anterior shearing stress. A lesion of this sling might lead to anterior instability of the biceps tendon.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Rehabilitation of rotator cuff tendinopathy.

Rehabilitation of the dysfunction that is associated with rotator cuff tendinopathy should be based on the evidence known about the pathoetiology of the tendinopathy, what is known about the extent of the local anatomic injury, the local and distant physiological and biomechanical alterations, and on the knowledge developed regarding progressive loading of the injured or altered structures. Prehabilitation, or prospective exercises to minimize future rotator cuff loading stresses, should be included at the end of rehabilitation as part of the return to function.

Humans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of arm elevation and rotation on the strain in the repaired rotator cuff tendon. A cadaveric study.

In 14 cadaveric shoulders, a rotator cuff tear (2 cm wide and 1.5 cm long) was created and repaired under a 3-kg tensile force with the arm in adduction. Strain on the repaired tendon was measured at 0 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, and 45 degrees of elevation in the sagittal, scapular, and coronal planes and from 60 degrees of internal rotation to 60 degrees of external rotation. The strain in all of the planes decreased significantly with the arm elevated more than 30 degrees. With 30 degrees of elevation in the scapular and coronal planes, the strain increased in internal rotation and decreased in external rotation. In all of the positions measured, the strain in the sagittal plane was significantly greater than in the other planes. We concluded that more than 30 degrees of elevation in the coronal or scapular plane and rotation ranging from 0 degrees to 60 degrees of external rotation compose the safe range of motion after repair of the rotator cuff.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

[Clinical results of arthroscopic tenotomy of the long head of the biceps brachii in full thickness tears of the rotator cuff without repair: 40 cases].

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Appropriate treatment of irreparable rotator cuff tears in patients without osteoarthritic shoulder joints remains a subject of debate. Medical treatment, a substitution muscle flap, and palliative arthroscopic treatment have been proposed. Arthroscopic tenotomy of the long head of the biceps brachii is warranted because this tendon is often the cause of part or all of the pain. If there is a full thickness tear of the rotator cuff, the exposed tendon of the long head of the biceps brachii can, because of its anterosuperior position, become impinged against the acromial vault during forward flexion. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the mid-term clinical and radiological results of arthroscopic tenotomy of the long head of the biceps brachii during treatment of full thickness tears of the rotator cuff. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The series included 40 shoulders operated on for tenotomy alone (n=32) or in combination with acromioplasty (n=8). The long head of the biceps brachii was in place in 23 shoulders (58%), displaced in seven and subluxed in five. The position was not determined in five. At last follow-up, the mean rough Constant score was 58 points, giving a gain of 20 points. The gain for pain was +7.1 points, +6.4 points for activity, and +6.6 points for motion. After the operation, muscle force for elbow flexion-supination was decreased 40% compared with an age-, sex- and dominance-matched control group. 86% of the patients were satisfied with the outcome and only two patients were disappointed by the asymmetry of arm muscle volume. Radiographically, at last follow-up there were no signs of superior excentration of the humeral head and the subacromial space, which measured 7.38 mm preoperatively was 7.19 mm postoperatively. Likewise only two shoulders progressed to excentered osteoarthritis at 41 and 72 months. DISCUSSION: Mid-term results of arthroscopic tenotomy of the long head of the biceps brachii are satisfactory. The technique is simple and has limited functional consequences. The procedure has an undeniable impact on pain and has allowed a 34 degree gain in anterior flexion of the shoulder. Complementary acromioplasty was not found to provide a supplementary benefit in this series. Nevertheless, the degradation of the result in one female patient at six years suggests we should be prudent concerning the long-term benefit of this procedure which should be reserved for irreparable tears in patients with minimal functional demands.

Acromion↗

PubMed2002

Negative prognostic factors in managing massive rotator cuff tears.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the negative prognostic factors in the management of massive rotator cuff tears. DESIGN: Retrospective nonrandomized study. SETTING: Faculty Practice associated with a major orthopedic teaching hospital. PATIENTS: 108 patients who were treated for massive rotator cuff tears were evaluated for an average of 3.2 years posttreatment. There were 58 females and 50 males, with a mean age of 61.3 years. INTERVENTIONS: 40 patients underwent conservative nonsurgical management (Group 1), 32 patients underwent arthroscopic debridement (Group 2), and 36 patients underwent primary repair of the rotator cuff (Group 3). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A detailed Shoulder Rating Questionnaire was filled out by patients pretreatment and minimal 2 years posttreatment. RESULTS: Overall, Group 1 had 65% excellent or good outcomes, Group 2 had 81%, and Group 3 had 86%. The subgroup of patients in Group 1 who had cortisone injections had a 75% success rate. CONCLUSIONS: Negative prognostic factors evaluated are presence of glenohumeral arthritis, decreased passive range of motion, superior migration of the humeral head, presence of atrophy, and external rotation/abduction strength less than 3. The presence of 3 or more of these negative prognostic factors are correlated with poor outcomes in the treatment of massive rotator cuff tears.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2001

Localization and expression of osteopontin in the rotator cuff tendons in patients with calcifying tendinitis.

Calcifying tendinitis of rotator cuff tendons is a common and painful condition caused by ectopic calcification in humans. To examine the involvement of osteopontin (OPN), a potent regulator of calcium deposition on connective tissues, localization and expression of OPN protein and messenger (m)RNA were investigated in human tissue samples of calcified rotator cuff tendons. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that OPN was localized in cells surrounding the calcified area. OPN was localized in two distinct cell types, i.e., fibroblast-like cells negative for CD68 and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and multinucleated macrophages positive for CD68 and TRAP. In situ hybridization revealed that the mRNA expression of OPN in these cells coincided with the immunohistochemistry results, and these results were supported by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis using human OPN-specific oligonucleotides. Cells located away from the calcified area did not express OPN. The present findings indicate the involvement of OPN in the process of calcification of rotator cuff tendons and suggest that OPN plays a role in such painful disorders through the actions of at least two cell types.

Acid Phosphatase↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Management of early deep infection after rotator cuff repair surgery.

Deep soft-tissue infection occurs infrequently after rotator cuff repair surgery. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical presentation in 14 patients whose rotator cuff repair was complicated by an early deep infection (<6 weeks). The functional outcome after treatment in 12 of these patients was analyzed at a mean follow-up of 37.5 months (range, 11-122 months). The diagnosis of infection was most often made within 3 weeks from the date of surgery (mean, 18 days; range, 3-41 days). Common presenting symptoms included localized wound erythema and drainage. The blood leukocyte counts were usually normal, but the erythrocyte sedimentation rates and C-reactive protein levels were elevated. A mean of 2.6 surgical debridements were required to clean the wound effectively in each case. Eight of twelve patients were dissatisfied at final assessment. Most patients reported reasonably good relief of pain, but they had residual shoulder stiffness and weakness. Retention of suture anchors in the humeral head did not preclude successful eradication of the infection.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Sonographic evaluation of the rotator cuff: correlation with arthroscopy.

High-resolution real-time sonography has been reported as a non-invasive means of evaluating the integrity of the rotator cuff. Fifty-two patients underwent both sonographic and arthroscopic evaluation of the rotator cuff. There were 42 men and 10 women with an average age of 47 years (range 28-71 years). The duration of shoulder pain averaged 24 months (range 3 months to 9 years). Thirty-five rotator cuff tears were noted arthroscopically. Twenty-seven of the tears were diagnosed by sonography for a sensitivity rate of 77%. Eleven of the 17 intact rotator cuffs were normal by sonography for a specificity rate 65%. The overall accuracy of sonography was 73% and the predictive value of a positive sonogram was 82%. Sonography appears to be a good initial screening examination in evaluating the integrity of the rotator cuff. It is noninvasive and relatively inexpensive. Technical limitations of this technique as well as the experience of the radiologist in performing and interpreting the examination play a major role in the accuracy of this test. As instrumentation improves and as experience in using this technique increases, we expect the accuracy of sonography in detecting tears of the rotator cuff to continue to improve.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Expression of procollagen alpha 1 type III mRNA in rotator cuff tears.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among expression of procollagen alpha 1 type III mRNA, subacromial adhesion, and limited shoulder elevation in rotator cuff tears. Procollagen alpha 1 type III mRNA was analyzed in the torn supraspinatus tendons and synovial tissue of 42 patients with rotator cuff tears. As a control, four normal supraspinatus tendons of patients who had undergone shoulder surgery other than rotator cuff repair served as controls. Cells stained positively for procollagen alpha 1 type III mRNA were more abundant in the adhesive synovium of the subacromial bursa and in the torn supraspinatus tendons than in controls. Patients with complete-thickness tears who had undergone surgery less than 10 months after trauma were found to have more signal-positive cells than those later than 10 months. We conclude that the adhesive synovium of the subacromial bursa contains abundant cells stained positively for procollagen alpha 1 type III mRNA. We suggest that the production of type III collagen by these cells could contribute to the limitation of shoulder motion in patients with rotator cuff tears, and recommend release and excision of the excess adhesive synovium during rotator cuff surgery.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

An analysis of rotator cuff repair.

Fifty-four patients who had surgery to repair a chronic rotator cuff tear (54 shoulders) were followed for an average of 25.9 months (range, 16 to 43). Forty-nine of 54 patients had at least 20 months of followup. The average age of the male patients (N = 37) was 52 (range, 24 to 80) and of the female patients (N = 17) was 56 (range, 38 to 72). All of these patients received a functional evaluation based on the Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Society classification system. Forty-eight patients had an individual examination and 33 patients had an isokinetic strength evaluation. There were 43 patients (80%) with a satisfactory functional result and 11 (20%) with an unsatisfactory result. Unsatisfactory results were associated with large and massive tears and decreased postoperative range of motion. Good functional results were obtained by open repair and subacromial decompression for rotator cuff tear. Arthroscopic evaluation and treatment did not affect the functional outcome, but it did increase costs by about $2000 per patient. Arthroscopy is useful to define tear size, which may affect the surgical approach, but the arthroscopic treatment of glenohumeral problems did not alter the functional result. The routine use of arthroscopy before rotator cuff repair is costly, not effective, and therefore not recommended.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Morphological changes of roof of subacromial bursa in patients with rotator cuff tear.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the morphological changes of the roof of the subacromial bursa (SAB) and its involvement extent after rotator cuff tear. METHODS: In the experimental group, the roof of SAB was obtained from 30 cases of rotator cuff tear both at the tear site and a site 2.5-3.0 cm distal to the tear site during rotator cuff repair. In the control group, the roof of SAB was obtained from the exposed site of recurrently dislocated shoulder or fractured humeral shaft of 8 cases. The specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and observed under a transmission electron microscope. The cell number was quantitated through counting the blue-stained nucleus in SAB with a computer image analysis system. RESULTS: The number of cells increased significantly in the roof of SAB in the experimental group compared with that of the control group. However, no difference of the bursal reaction was found among the type of rotator cuff tear, the bursa thickness and the presence of fluid in the bursa. The great majority of cells were type B cells observed under the transmission electron microscope. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in cell number in the roof of SAB in the experimental group is a reactive increase rather than an inflammatory process and the involvement of SAB is not limited in extent. The change of the roof of SAB is a secondary reaction to the rotator cuff tear.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: Analysis of results by tear size and by repair technique-margin convergence versus direct tendon-to-bone repair.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is 2-fold: To report the long-term functional results of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (average, 3.5 years in this study), and to analyze results by tear size and repair technique (margin convergence v direct tendon-to-bone repair). TYPE OF STUDY: Case series. METHODS: Between September 1993 and April 1997, 62 patients had an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair performed by the senior author (S.S.B.). Of this group, 59 patients (59 shoulders) were available for follow-up. Preoperative and postoperative function were assessed by means of a modified UCLA scoring system. Tears were categorized according to size (greatest diameter, number of tendons involved, and pattern of tear [crescent shape v U-shape]). Crescent-shaped tears were repaired in a direct tendon-to-bone fashion and U-shaped tears were repaired by a margin-convergence technique. RESULTS: Good and excellent results were achieved in 95% of the cases, regardless of tear size. The large and massive tears did as well as the small and medium-sized tears. That is, results were independent of tear size (P >.05). Results of tears repaired by margin convergence were not significantly different statistically from those repaired by direct tendon-to-bone repair (P >.05), validating the selection criteria of U-shaped tears for repair by margin convergence. There is a rapid return to full overhead function after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (average, 4 months for each tear size). Delay from injury to surgery, even of several years, did not adversely affect surgical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair can achieve good and excellent results in a large percentage of patients (95% in this series). (2) Results of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair are independent of tear size. (3) U-shaped tears repaired by margin convergence have results comparable to those of crescent-shaped tears repaired directly by a tendon-to-bone technique. (4) There is a rapid return to full overhead function after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (average, 4 months for all tear sizes). (5) A delay from injury to diagnosis, even of several years, is not a contraindication to arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Arthroscopy↗