• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.82-89
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• 2008

Ideal rotator cuff repair is to maintain high fixation strength and minimize gap formation for optimizing the environment of biologic healing of tendon to bone. Among the current repair techniques, the suture bridge technique is superior to single- or double-row repair in ultimate load to failure, gap formation, restoring anatomical footprint and achieving pressurized contact area. The suture bridge technique also minimizes gap formation and has rotational and torsional resistances allowing early rehabilitation. However, despite superior biomechanical characteristics of the suture bridge technique, there is no evidence that these mechanical advantages result in better clinical outcomes. Furthermore, there is no difference in failure rates between the double-row repair and suture bridge techniques. An appropriate repair technique should be determined based on tear size and pattern and tendon quality.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.221-225
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• 2009

Purpose: For an isolated tear of the subscapularis tendon, the presented technique using a subclavian portal provides both a good angle for anchor placement and sufficient space for managing the upper portion of a subscapularis tendon tear. Materials and Methods: The conventional method needs 2 additional portals for traction, debriding the footprint and anchor fixation for repair. The presented technique requires only an anterior portal for suture management and a subclavian portal without cannula for suture anchoring and placement of suture hooks. Results: The two suture limbs of the anchor can be placed on the subscapularis tendon by the switching technique and these limbs are repaired sequentially. Conclusion: This technique is simple and reproducible and it can be applied to partial tears and minimally retracted subscapularis tears.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.161-166
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• 2010

Purpose: Irreparable massive rotator cuff tears pose a distinct clinical challenge for the orthopaedist and non-surgical treatment has had inconsistent results and proven unsuccessful for chronic symptoms, while surgery, including debridement and partial and complete repairs have had varying degrees of success. Materials and Methods: For rotator cuff tears that are deemed irreparable, treatment options are limited. Results and Conclusion: The use of tendon transfers (latissimus dorsi for posterosuperior type cuff defects and pectoralis major for subscapularis defects) in younger patients to reconstruct rotator cuffs and re-establish function and restore shoulder kinematics can be useful in solving this difficult problem.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.77-81
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• 2009

In patients with full-thickness tears of the rotator cuff, the tendon is usually detached from its bony insertion in the greater or lesser tuberosity. We experienced an unusual pattern of rotator cuff tear in two cases, in which complete rotator cuff tears occurred at the tendinous portion (i.e., intrasubstance tears) with more than a 1cm remnant attached to the greater tuberosity. Arthroscopic tendon-totendon repair was performed without remnant removal in both cases. Follow-up MRI at 6 months showed re-tear of the rotator cuff at the previous tear site in both of our patients. To prove the availability of arthroscopic tendon-to-tendon repair in such cases, a larger case follw-up and biomechanical studies are required.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.212-219
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• 2009

Medially retracted large-sized rotator cuff tears includes large-sized tears, massive tears and irreparable tears. Generally arthroscopic repair or open repair of rotator cuff tears is used in reparable tears. However, arthroscopic repair requires long period practice and endurance. In irreparable tears, arthroscopic debridement, partial repair, latissimus dorsi transfer and retrograde arthroplasty can be the option. Arthoscopic debridement gives temporal relief who experienced improvement in pain and increase in range of motion after subacromial local anesthetic injection. Also arthroscopic partial repair gives good results in irreparable cases, especially in suprascapular nerve traction neurapraxia. Tendon transfer can be used in mild to moderate muscle weakness in shoulder abduction for long term treatment. Pectoralis major transfer can be used in anterosupeior tears and latissimus dorsi transfer can be used in posterosuperior tears. Reverse shoulder prosthesis is used in extreamly weakened shoulder pseudoparalysis. The authors discussed the method of arthroscopic repair in irreparable tears. The debridement, partial repair, and tendon transfer could be used in medially retracted large-sized rotator cuff tears.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.106-111
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to clinically evaluate the usefulness of all arthroscopic repair with biceps incorporation in massive sized full thickness rotator cuff tears. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective comparative outcome study evaluating a series of all arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs with biceps incorporation on massive(range: $5{\sim}\;cm6$ sized) from March 2003 to May 2006. Group I was twenty two cases of arthroscopically repaired with biceps incorporation, twenty cases of group II without biceps incorporation were analyzed. The average age of the patients was 58 years(range, $41{\sim}74$ years), and mean follow-up was 24 months(range, $12{\sim}36$ months). Results were statistically compared by Mann-Whitney test. Results: Average VAS for pain, ADL, UCLA score were not significantly different between group I and group II (P>0.05 for each). Forward elevation strength was 4.3 in group I, 3.5 in group II(P<0.05). On postoperative follow up ultrasound, retear was 10 cases in the middle of 19 cases at group I, 15 cases in the middle of 17 cases at group II (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study reveals that all arthroscopic repairs with biceps incorporation in massive sized full thickness rotator cuff tears is an effective surgical method and reduced retear and enhanced strength.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.155-159
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• 2007

Arthroscopic single-row rotator cuff repair is a well established surgical technique for the treatment of rotator cuff tears. However, the problem of postoperative retear remains a concern. Various avenues are being explored to address this problem. Some studies have suggested that restoring the anatomical footprint may improve the healing and initial strength of the repaired rotator cuff tendon. The double-row technique was introduced as a method of reconstructing the anatomical footprint. According to biomechanical studies on cadavers, this technique improved mechanical strength and reduced gap formation. However, the biological properties of reattached tendon such as tension, and vascularity have not been proved yet. Furthermore, the apparent mechanical superiority of the double-row over the single-row construction has not resulted in better functional outcomes. Therefore, the less complicated and less costly single-row technique is still the recommended treatment for rotator cuff repairs.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.77-81
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• 2008

The goal of rotator cuff repairs is to achieve high initial fixation strength, minimize gap formation, maintain mechanical stability under cyclic loading and optimize the biology of the tendon-bone interface until the cuff heals biologically to the bone. Single row repairs are least successful in restoring the footprint of the rotator cuff and are most susceptible to gap formation. Double row repairs have an improved load to failure and minimal gap formation. Transosseous equivalent repairs (suture bridge technique) have the highest ultimate load and resistance to shear and rotational forces and the lowest gap formation. Even though the superior advantages of double row and transosseous equivalent repairs, those techniques take longer surgical time and are more expensive than single row repairs. Therefore single row repairs can be useful in bursal side partial thickness or small size full thickess rotator cuff tear.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.70-76
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• 2005

Purpose: We describe a new technique of arthroscopic repair with using autogenous hamstring tendon graft augmentation for the acute posterior cruciate ligament rupture. Operative technique: A routine arthroscopic examination of the knee joint is initially performed, then the posterior trans-septal portal is prepared with the using the posteromedial and posterolateral portals. The torn tibial stump that is retracted to the posterior compartment is repaired by a suture hook that is introduced through the anteromedial portal; visualization during this procedure is done with the arthroscope via the posteromedial portal. Using the retrieved suture, both suture ends are brought out to the anteromedial portal. The torn tibial stump is pulled to the intercondylar notch and then repaired with stitches at the anterior compartment. After the tibial and femoral tunnels are prepared without damaging the remnant PCL bundle, the combined torn PCL fibers and the autogenous single-bundle semitendinosus and gracilis tendon grafts are passed through the femoral tunnel and fixed together Conclusion: Arthroscopic repair of the torn tibial stump and autogenous hamstring tendon graft augmentation after preparing the tibial and femoral tunnels by using the trans-septal portal, without damaging the remnant PCL bundle, seems to be a very effective method for the treatment for acute PCL injuries, and especially for tears at the femoral attachment.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.242-248
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• 2009

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical and radiologic results of the arthroscopic rotator cuff repair for partial articular surface tendon avulsion lesion. Materials and Methods: Twelve patients with symptomatic, partial articular surface tendon avulsion underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair between Mar. 2006 and Sep. 2008. The mean follow-up period was 18.3 months(12~36 months), and the mean age at the time of surgery was 46.9-year-old(19~64 years). Three cases had underwent rotator cuff repair after conversion to full-thickness tear and nine cases had transtendon repair with preserving bursal side cuff. Results: The mean VAS during motion was 6.2 before treatment and 2.0 at final follow-up (p<0.001). The passive forward flexion improved from $163.3^{\circ}$ preoperatively to $169.8^{\circ}$ postoperatively (p=0.038). The mean UCLA score improved from 18.4 preoperatively to 30.1 with 2 excellent, 8 good and 2 fair results at final follow-up. The mean KSS improved from 61.8 preoperatively to 76.8 at final follow-up. By examining the postoperative MR images of 5 patients, complete healing was observed in all of them. Conclusion: Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair may be an effective procedure for partial articular surface tendon avulsion in pain relief and improvement of the range of motion. If the remaining bursal side cuff fibers are intact, transtendon repair procedure with preserving the intact bursal layer of the tendon can be considered. If the remaining bursal side cuff fibers are friable or little, completion from partial-thickness to full-thickness tears with subsequent cuff repair can be considered.