• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.4-7
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• 2011

Rotator cuff disease is one of the most common shoulder problems. When dealing with patients suffering from rotator cuff disease, whether to perform surgery or not is the most common difficulty faced by the outpatient clinic. Choosing the adequate operation time as well as the method of operation is important when deciding to perform surgery. Selecting the type of non-surgical treatment is an important issue when opting not to perform surgery. This review article will focus on the decision-making process involved in the treatment of rotator cuff disease.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of MR arthrography to detect partial thickness rotator cuff tears. Materials and Methods: One hundred and seventy seven patients with a high suspicion for rotator cuff disease were studied by performing MR-arthrography and subsequent arthroscopy. The ability of MR-arthrography to detect partial thickness tears was evaluated according to the location of the tears. We determined the correspondence between the measurements of the articular side partial tears on MR arthrography and those on the arthroscopic findings. Results: The arthroscopic diagnosis of partial thickness rotator cuff tears was divided into 3 groups according to their location. There were 63 cases on the articular side, 41 cases on the bursal side and 20 cases on both sides. The sensitivity of MR-arthrography was 82% for the articular side tears and 11% for the bursal tears. The specificity was 88% for the articular side tears and 100% for the bursal tears. MR-arthrographic measurement correctly predicted 72% in 28 repaired cases of 56 articular side partial thickness tears. Conclusions: MR-arthrography may be a reliable tool for diagnosing articular side partial thickness rotator cuff tears, but it has limitations for bursal side tears.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.199-206
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• 2009

Purpose: Our goal for this study was to prospectively evaluate the functional & structural outcomes, by means of CT arthroscopy, of arthroscopic double-row fixation for treating rotator cuff tear. We also attempted to determine the variants that affect the functional & structural outcomes. Materials and Methods: Twenty seven consecutive patients underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with double-row fixation. The average age at the time of the operation was fifty six years. The preoperative and postoperative examinations consisted of determining the Constant score, the score for the visual analogue scale for pain, the UCLA score, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, as well as a full physical examination of the shoulder. Preoperative MR arthrography was used to evaluate the integrity and atrophy of the rotator cuff. We measured the intraoperative tear size in the sagittal and coronal planes. Postoperative CT arthrography was used at one year postoperatively to evaluate the integrity and atrophy of the repaired tendons and muscles. Results: Preoperative MR arthrography revealed an average 29.22 mm tear size in the sagittal plane and an average 22.72 mm tear size in the coronal plane. Twelve cases of supraspinatus muscle atrophy and two cases of infraspinatus atrophy were observed on the preoperative MR arthrography. The average clinical outcome scores all significantly improved at the time of follow-up. At a mean of one year postoperatively, CT arthrography revealed 48.1% of the shoulders had healed, 11.1% showed incomplete healing and 40.7% showed retear of the repaired tendon. Conclusion: Arthroscopic double-row repair can result in improved clinical outcomes and good patient satisfaction. However, the problems about how to enhance healing of the repaired tendon still remain.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.236-239
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• 2009

Purpose: We wanted to evalulate the clinical results of pectoris major tendon transfer for a neglected winged scapula that was caused by paralysis of the serratus anterior due to injury to the long thoracic nerve. Materials and Methods: A patient had neglected winged scapula that followed an arthroscopic operation for multi-directional instability of the shoulder joint, which was caused by traumatic dislocation. The patient was treated with pectoralis major tendon transfer using the modified Eden-Lange procedure. The range of a motion was improved from forward flexion $90^{\circ}$ and external rotation $70^{\circ}$ to $170^{\circ}$ and $150^{\circ}$ respectively. Results and Conclusion: There were no complications or recurrence and the patient's psychological satisfaction was also high. If the shoulder girdle muscles are intact, except for the serratus anterior, then pectoralis tendon transfer is a satisfactory method that can provide normal scapulo-thoracic motion.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.62-67
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to find out the accuracy and usability of the three dimensional ultrasonography in measuring the size of the rotator cuff tear, especially before and after the injection of normal saline into the glenohumeral joint. Materials and Methods: 14 patients of rotator cuff tear who were diagnosed and operated from August 2007 to September 2008 were included in this study and authors compared the size of rotator cuff tear measured with three dimensional ultrasonography with the real size measured intraoperatively. In preoperative ultrasonographic evaluation, horizontal and longitudinal length of rotator cuff tear before and after injection of normal saline intraarticularly. During the arthroscopic operation the size of tear was measured by passing a Kirschner wire through a spinal needle and direct measure was performed in open surgery. Results: The average difference was 8 mm in horizontal and 1.9 mm in longitudinal length of tear without saline injection between ultrasonographic and intraoperative measure. The average difference was 4.1 mm in horizontal and 1.6 mm in longitudinal length of tear after the normal saline injection. Conclusion: In three dimensional ultrasonographic evaluation in rotator cuff tear, intraarticular normal saline injection would produce more accurate results.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.61-65
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• 2013

Tophaceous gout, which is usually presented in the synovial fluid, bursal lining, cartilage or other soft tissues, may cause a nonoutlet impingement in the rotator cuff and bursa. In chronic tophaceous gout patient with the shoulder pain, a surgeon should consider the possibility of the tophaceous gout of the rotator cuff. We report a surgical experience of a 50-year-old man with tophaceous gout of the rotator cuff causing impingement syndrome. The patient was treated successfully with arthroscopic debridement and subacromial decompression.

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.58-62
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• 2006

Purpose: To evaluate the result of operative treatment with plate and wire fixation for fractures of the distal clavicle. Materials and Methods: We assessed 9 cases of fractures of the distal clavicle that were treated by plate and wire fixation from March 2001 to July 2003 and followed up over 1year. We used the reconstruction plate as a buttress and performed cerclage wiring to fix comminuted fracture site. The functional result of shoulder was evaluated by the scoring system of Rowe. Results: The average periods of bony union was 9 weeks in all cases. According to Rowe scoring system, the functional result was exellent in 7 cases and good in 2 cases. There was no LOM of shoulder and traumatic arthritis in AC joint. But there was skin irritation in 1 case. Conclusion : The operative method by reconstruction plate and wire fixation for distal clavicular fracture was useful when there were comminuted fracture. This method seems to be simple and satisfactory in terms of improvement of range of motion of shoulder, restoration of function and rare complication.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 2009

Purpose: This study evaluated the preoperative and postoperative radiologic findings of patients with complete repairs after massive rotator cuff tears along with the incidence of re-tear and the clinical outcomes. Materials and methods: This study evaluated 33 cases who had open complete repairs for massive rotator cuff tears and these patients were followed up for more than 24 months. The clinical evaluation was performed according to the shoulder joint function test of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), and the degree of arthritis related to the massive rotator cuff tears was evaluated using the Hamada classification. Results: The ASES scores improved from 37.6 preoperatively to 85.6 postoperatively. The mean preoperative acromio-humeral interval (AHI) score was 6.5 mm, which increased to 9.3 mm immediately after surgery, and there was a decreased to 6.5 mm noted at the last follow up. The lower radiology stages of arthritis according to the classification showed better preoperative and postoperative results. Conclusion: An open complete repair as the surgical treatment for a massive rotator cuff tear showed satisfactory results for pain relief and an improvement in the shoulder joint function though re-tear after surgery.

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.117-122
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between rotator cuff tear and nerve injury, and prevalence of nerve injury using electromyographic study. Materials and Methods: From May 2004 to Feb. 2005, 19 cases, who underwent surgery for full-thickness rotator cuff tear, were evaluated for nerve injury using electomyogram instruments preoperatively. Rotator cuff tears caused by acute high energy trauma were excluded in this study. Mean age was 59 (range, 45-87) years and mean duration of symptoms was 45 (range, 1-360) month. Results: There were six nerve injuries (31.6%). All of them were incomplete brachial plexus injuries, and mainly postganglionic lesions. Four cases among them had minor trauma history. There were no significant differences in terms of cuff tear size, range of motion, pain score and functional score between groups with and without nerve injury. Conclusion: This study showed high prevalence (31.6%) of nerve injury in full-thickness rotator cuff tear. So careful physical examination and evaluation for nerve injury are needed in rotator cuff tear.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.240-244
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• 2009

Purpose: This study examined the outcomes of closed reduction and fixation of the coracoid process fracture using a suture anchor in a patient with combined acromioclavicular dislocation for which the coraco-clavicular ligament was intact. Materials and Methods: A 26 year-old male patient with a coracoid process fracture that was associated with a type III acromioclavicular joint dislocation was operated on with anchor suture fixation. This is the first trial of this operative procedure. Results: At the postoperative follow-up at 3 months, complete union of the coracoid process fracture was seen. The shoulder had a full range of motion and the shoulder function was normal. Conclusion: Closed reduction and fixation using one suture anchor for treating coracoid process fracture is a safe, effective procedure.