• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 1999

We investigated the effectiveness of arthroscopic decompression in stage Ⅱ subacromial impingement after long term follow up. Arthroscopic subacromial decompression was done in 104 consecutive patients who had stage Ⅱ sub­acromial impingement. After average of 8.4 years follow up, the final results were as following; 57 shoulders(55%) in excellent, 25(24%) in good, 16(15%) in fair and 6(6%) in poor. All parameters-pain, function, muscle strength and motion-were improved significantly(p<0.00l). Rotator cuff tear was developed in 10 shoulders after decompression. Among them, 8 shoulders had unfavorable results including two poor. In 6 failures, two had rotator cuff tear, three had recurrence of impingement with degenerative change and reflex sympathetic dystrophy was developed in one. Reoperations were done in 4 shoulders. Improvement of impingement symptoms was maintained in the most of patients(79%) after long term follow up. Arthroscopic decompression surgery was very effective means for stage Ⅱ impingement syndrome.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.50-58
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• 2007

Purpose: To report our experience with nine cases of pathologic synovial plica on radiohumeral joint which symptom of painful snapping elbow was improved by arthroscopic resection. Materials and Methods: Between 1999 and 2004, 43 cases of elbow arthroscopy were performed by one surgeon. Eight patients with nine cases showed pathologic synovial plica in conjunction with snapping or posterolateral elbow pain. The mean age of eight patients (man: 7, woman: 1) was 29 years (range $16{\sim}56$ years). All patients had a trial of conservative treatment at least six months (range $6{\sim}16$ months). The diagnosis was confirmed before surgery in six cases and at the time of surgery in three cases. Pain, snapping, and subjective results were evaluated at least 12 months in the average(range $12{\sim}24$). Results: All patients showed a hypertropic lateral synovial plica with local synovitis. Seven of them had an associated lesion of chondromalacia on radial head. One of them was associated with radiocapitellar arthritis and had a wrapping over the radial head. Six patients experienced improved posterolateral pain at the end of study (VAS<1). However, the other two patients had occasional pain with activity. One of them persisted with mechanical symptoms, which was treated with additional arthroscopic procedure. Conclusion: Synovial plica in elbow should be considered as an important entity of common elbow disease, especially when pain in the lateral aspect of the elbow with a snapping sensation during motion is featured in patients. The arthroscopic resection seems to be safe and efficient in the short and long term treatment of plica in the elbow joint.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.125-130
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• 2020

Background: To determine the prevalence of rotator cuff diseases in a population older than 40 years in or nearby Chuncheon city, Republic of Korea. Methods: Sixty shoulders of 30 people older than 40 years who participated in a health lecture were examined for free by an orthopedic surgeon. Visual analog scale of pain and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores were assigned, and routine physical examination was performed. Ultrasonography was performed on the shoulder. Results: On ultrasonographic examination, there were one shoulder with full thickness rotator cuff tear, 20 of 60 (33%) with partial thickness rotator cuff tear, five of 60 (8%) with calcific tendinitis, one of 60 (2%) with tear of the long head of the biceps, and five of 60 (8%) with tendinitis of the long head of the biceps. Participants older than 60 years showed significantly high proportions of lesion of the long head of the biceps and rotator cuff diseases (P=0.019 and P=0.015, respectively). Participants who performed physical labor had high proportions of rotator cuff tear and rotator cuff disease (P=0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Rotator cuff diseases showed a high prevalence in aged persons and resulted in a decrease in shoulder function.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.107-113
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• 2014

Background: Sonoelastography (SE) is a new technique that can assess differences in tissue stiffness, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of SE to assess the long head of biceps tendon alteration. Methods: Forty shoulders of 36 consecutively registered patients with clinical symptoms and conventional ultrasonography findings of biceps tendinitis or tendinosis, and 40 asymptomatic shoulders of 20 healthy volunteers were assessed with SE. Transverse and longitudinal images of long head of biceps tendon were obtained using SE. SE images were performed by one orthopedic surgeon and evaluated by two orthopedic surgeons using an experimentally proven color grading system. Results: The transverse images of SE showed a sensitivity of 87.5%, a specificity of 95.0% and a accuracy of 91.3%, the longitudinal images of SE showed a sensitivity of 92.5%, a specificity of 90.0% and a accuracy of 91.3%. Inter-observer reliability of SE was in 'almost perfect agreement' with a weighted kappa coefficient of 0.83. Conclusions: SE is valuable in the detection of the intratendinous and peritendinous alterations of biceps tendon, and has excellent accuracy and excellent correlation with conventional ultrasound findings.

• The Academic Congress of Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society
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• 2008.03a
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• pp.165-165
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• 2008

A 27-year-old, right-hand-dominant woman with a posttraumatic anterior shoulder dislocation 3 months earlier after traYc accident presented because of pain and limited range of motion in the right shoulder. On physical examination, the patient had negative instability tests and a sulcus sign. On arthroscopic examination, a bifurcate long biceps tendon with two limbs was observed about 1 cm distal to the origin in the supraglenoid tubercle. We found no evidence of a tear in the long biceps tendon on probing, and the margin of each limb was smooth and round. Although this anatomic variant may be benign, its presence might be associated with other shoulder pathology. It is interesting to speculate whether the aberrant biceps anatomy in our patient contributed to transfer of injury at dislocation to the rotator cuff rather than to the classic anterior-inferior capsulolabral complex. In addition, recognition of the described anatomic variant on arthroscopy can aid the shoulder surgeon in focusing treatment on the actual pathology.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.148-153
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• 2012

Various biceps tenodesis techniques being used, make it difficult to compare the result of reports. First, the biceps tenodesis could be classified according to being performed by open incision or by the arthroscopic procedure. Second, it could be classified as a soft tissue and bony tenodesis according to the tissue which the long head of biceps is fixed with. Third, it could be classified as a proximal and distal tenodesis according to the location which the long head of biceps is fixed with. Fourth, it could be classified according to the implant (interference screw, suture anchor, knotless suture anchor). A decision should be suspended until an appropriate strength of tenodesis is revealed.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.191-204
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• 2023

Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the humeral head is a rare, yet detrimental complication. Left untreated, humeral head AVN frequently progresses to subchondral fracturing and articular collapse. Cases of late-stage humeral head AVN commonly require invasive procedures including humeral head resurfacing, hemiarthroplasty, and total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) to improve clinical outcomes. However, in cases of early-stage AVN, core decompression of the humeral head is a viable and efficacious short-term treatment option for patients with pre-collapse AVN of the humeral head to improve clinical outcomes and prevent disease progression. Several techniques have been described, however, a percutaneous, arthroscopic-assisted technique may allow for accurate staging and concomitant treatment of intraarticular pathology during surgery, although further long-term clinical studies are necessary to assess its overall outcomes compared with standard techniques. Biologic adjunctive treatments, including synthetic bone grafting, autologous mesenchymal stem cell/bone marrow grafts, and bone allografts are viable options for reducing the progression of AVN to further collapse in the short term, although long-term follow-up with sufficient study power is lacking in current clinical studies. Further long-term outcome studies are required to determine the longevity of core decompression as a conservative measure for early-stage AVN of the humeral head.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.87-94
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• 2018

Background: Popeye deformity is common after rupture of the biceps muscle's long head tendon. Herein, we report on histological changes in biceps brachii muscles following tenotomy of the long head biceps tendon. Methods: Twelve Sprague-Dawley rats (12-week-old) underwent tenotomy of the long head biceps tendon in the right shoulder. At postoperative weeks 4, 7, and 10, the operative shoulders were removed by detaching the biceps brachii muscle from the glenoid scapula and humerus; the opposite shoulders were removed as controls. H&E staining was performed to elucidate histological changes in myocytes. Oil-red O staining was performed to determine fatty infiltration. Myostatin antibody immunohistochemistry staining was performed as myostatin is expressed by skeletal muscle cells during myogenesis. Results: H&E staining results revealed no changes in muscle cell nuclei. There were no adipocytes detected. Compared with that of the control biceps, the cross-sectional area of the long head biceps was significantly smaller (p=0.00). Statistical changes in the total extent of the 100 muscle cells were significant (p=0.00). Oil-red O staining revealed no fatty infiltration. Myostatin antibody immunohistochemical staining revealed no significant difference between the two sides. Conclusions: Muscular changes after tenotomy of the long head biceps included a decrease in the size of the individual muscle cells and in relative muscle mass. There were no changes observed in muscle cell nuclei and no fatty infiltration. Moreover, there were no changes detected by myostatin antibody immunohistochemistry assay.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.170-177
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• 2013

Total elbow arthroplasty is still in its infancy compared with other arthroplasties, such as knee or hip arthroplasties. Implant design has been evolving with clinical experiences; however, there are only limited data on the long-term clinical outcome of elbow arthroplasty in the literature. The design of total elbow prostheses can be divided into three categories: linked (constrained or semi-constrained), unlinked (unconstrained), and convertible types. The choice between an unlinked (unconstrained) implant and a linked (semi-constrained) implant depends on joint stability and adequacy of the bone stock. Linked elbow arthroplasty has provided high patient satisfaction, and pain relief thanks to proper patient selection, advancement of implant design, improvement in cement techniques, meticulous surgical technique, and appropriate postoperative rehabilitation. Concerns remain about the use of this implant in young or high-demand patients. This article focuses on the linked (semi-constrained) prostheses, which provides an overview of the current state of linked total elbow arthroplasty.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.99-105
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• 2007

Purpose: The morphological study and dynamic stability of the ulnar nerve around the elbow joint was investigated in asymptomatic normal population using ultrasonography. The purpose of this study is to provide fundamental data for ultrasonographic diagnosis of ulnar neuropathy in cubital tunnel syndrome. Materials and Methods: Fifty cases of 25 healthy male volunteers, aged between 20 to 30 years, included in this study. High resolution 7.5 MHz linear probe was used to examine the ulnar nerve in axial and longitudinal views. In a longitudinal view, the course, position and the thickness of nerve were monitored, the diameter of ulnar nerve and dynamic stability at elbow flexion and extension were measured in an axial view at four different points; 1cm proximal to medial epicondyle, behind the medial epicondyle, entrance to Osborne ligament, and 1cm distal to Osborne ligament. Results: The short diameters of ulnar nerve at elbow extension at four anatomic points were 2.66 mm, 2.97 mm, 2.64 mm, and 2.69 mm and the long diameters were 4.61 mm, 4.56 mm, 4.36 mm, and 4.37 mm, which showed no significant change at each point. However, at elbow flexion, the short diameters were changed to 2.72 mm, 2.34 mm, 2.65 mm, and 2.41 mm and the long diameters into 4.49 mm, 5.40 mm, 4.16 mm, and 4.66 mm. At elbow flexion, significant morphologic change was observed in the medial epicondyle area, and the diameter of the ulnar nerve was shortest at the entrance of Osborne ligament both at flexion and extension. In terms of dynamic stability, nine subluxations and seven dislocations were observed. Conclusion: This study shows dynamic instability and a morphological change of long and short diameters of ulnar nerve at flexion and extension in a normal person, which should be considered in the ultrasonographic diagnosis of ulnar neuropathy.