• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.224-230
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the grade of fatty degeneration and atrophy of rotator cuffs on immediate postoperative MRI to those on preoperative MRI in patients with rotator cuff tears. Materials and Methods: Seventy patients were included in this study, who received arthroscopic rotator-cuff repair and underwent both preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and immediate postoperative MRI in our institution. Fatty degeneration of rotator cuffs and the atrophy of supraspinatus muscles were evaluated with T1 oblique sagittal images in the Y-shaped view. Fatty degeneration was evaluated using a Goutallier classification system, and the atrophy of supraspinatus muscles was evaluated using a modified tangent sign and a visual occupation ratio. Results: From 70 patients, a total of 100 tendons were repaired: 18, 69, and 13 tendons were treated for subscapularis, supraspinatus, and infraspinatus, respectively. The Goutallier grades (P = 0.012), modified tangent signs (P = 0.000), and visual occupation ratios (P = 0.000) of supraspinatus muscles were significantly decreased in immediate postoperative MRIs when compared to preoperative MRIs. In immediate postoperative MRIs, the Goutallier grades of supraspinatus muscles were decreased by one grade in 18.8% (n = 13) of the patients, and the atrophy of supraspinatus muscles was improved by one grade in 26.1% (n = 18) for modified tangent signs and 21.7% (n = 15) for visual occupation ratios. However, fatty infiltration by the Goutallier grades of subscapularis (P = 1.000) and infraspinatus (P = 0.157) muscles were not significantly changed after arthroscopic surgery. Conclusion: Immediate postoperative MRIs showed a significant improvement of fatty degeneration and muscle atrophy in supraspinatus muscles when compared to preoperative MRIs.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.125-129
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• 2016

Background: Superior migration of humeral head has been conventionally determined by measuring the acromiohumeral distance (AHD), We sought to devise a novel measurement system more reliably and accurately than AHD. We described a structural landmark called 'C-line'. In this study, we investigated the clinical usefulness of 'step-off of the C-line (SOC)' compared to that of AHD. Methods: The C-line formed from the medial margin of the proximal humeral head continuing up to the inferior margin of the articular glenoid and then to the lateral border of the scapula. The superior migration of the humeral head triggered by a rotator cuff tear introduces a discontinuity in this C-line. We measured the distance of this discontinuity. We enrolled 144 patients who underwent a rotator cuff repair. We selected 58 controls who didn't have any cuff lesions apparent on magnetic resonance imaging. Using radiographs derived from standardized true anteroposterior views of the shoulder, we measured the SOC and the AHD. We used t-tests for statistical analyses. Results: A rotator cuff tear was associated with an increase in SOC and a decrease in AHD. In control group, the mean SOC was $1.29{\pm}1.71mm$ and AHD was $9.71{\pm}2.65mm$. In cuff tear group, the mean SOC was $3.15{\pm}3.41mm$ and AHD was $8.28{\pm}1.76mm$. The mean SOCs of the patient group in relation to the mean SOC of the control group according to tear size, the SOCs of medium tear and lager groups showed statistically significant increase (p<0.05). Conclusions: The SOC may be a similarly effective to diagnose cuff tears of medium size and larger compared with AHD.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.65-72
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• 2007

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between the clinical outcome and the cuff integrity following open repair in large and massive rotator cuff tears using ultrasonography as an imaging modality. Material and Methods: From November 2001 to April 2005, 17 cases(16 patients) who had open repair of tear measuring more than 3cm were assessed with minimal follow-up of 12 months in this study. 6 cases had a large tear and 11 cases a massive tear. There were 6 men and 11 women with a mean age of 52 years at surgery (range, 33 to 72 years). The evaluation consisted of the preoperative and postoperative shoulder scores according to UCLA shoulder scoring system and Visual analogue scale (VAS). Ultrasonography was performed by a experienced musculoskeletal physician at a minimum of 12 months postoperatively to evaluate the postoperative cuff integrity. Results: Retear were detected in four of seventeen cases. Regardless of the presence of recurrent tear, 14 cases had UCLA score of more than 29 points (good grade). All 17 had an improvement in the functional score, which increased from an average of 15.1 to 31.2 points. All cases showed pain relief and five cases had no pain. Sixteen cases except one had the range of motion of forward elevation above $90^{\circ}$. Conclusion: Open rotator cuff repair in large and massive tears showed low retear rate. At a minimum of twelve months follow-up, all cases had improvement on UCLA score, pain relief, increased range of motion of the shoulder regardless of retear. And the correlation between recurrent tear and function score was not statistically significant.

• The Academic Congress of Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society
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• 2007.03a
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• pp.113-113
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• 2007

• The Academic Congress of Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society
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• 2008.03a
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• pp.87-88
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• 2008

• The Academic Congress of Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society
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• 2006.03a
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• pp.15-15
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• 2006

• The Academic Congress of Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society
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• 2009.03a
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• pp.83-84
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• 2009

• The Academic Congress of Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.141-142
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• 2001

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.180-187
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• 2010

Purpose: Rotator cuff tears involving the subscapularis are less common than those involving the superior and posterior rotator cuff. The purpose of the present study was to report the clinical results of repair of isolated traumatic tears of the subscapularis tendon. Materials and Methods: Fifteen patients (13 males, 2 females; mean age 46.2 years; range 35 to 52) with unilateral ruptures of the subscapularis tendon after trauma who underwent arthroscopic repair between February 2003 and October 2008 were reviewed retrospectively. All the cases were isolated tears of the subscapularis without the involvement of any other rotator cuff tendon and were followed for at least two years (mean 28 months). The entire subscapularis was involved in 9 cases and the tear was localized to the upper two thirds in 6 cases. The preoperative and postoperative status of patients with isolated subscapularis tears were analyzed using the Constant Score, American Shoulder and Elbow Society Index (ASES Index) and postoperative integrity was determined through magnetic resonance imaging. Results: The average clinical outcome scores and strength were all improved significantly at the time of the final follow-up. The constant shoulder score improved from 41.5 to 81.3 points (P<0.05) compared to before surgery and ASES index improved from 46.4 to 89.6 points (P<0.05) postoperatively. Thirteen patients (87%) were satisfied with the result of the treatment. The total tears were significantly more improved by surgery than the partial tears. In 12 of 15 patients (80%) were judged to reveal healed tendon on magnetic resonance imaging at a mean of 13 months postoperatively. The postoperative score was significantly lower for the patients with a failed repair than it was for those with an intact repair (P<0.05). Conclusion: Repair of traumatic isolated subscapularis tears through arthroscopic techniques effectively restores patient function with regard to pain, mobility, strength and postoperative tendon integrity. The postoperative integrity of the repair correlates with the functional results and the total tears were more improved by surgery than the partial tears, but future studies may be needed.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.178-186
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• 1999

Twenty-three patients with chronic shoulder pain beyond 6 months after the fracture of the greater tuberosity underwent arthroscopic treatment and were retrospectively assessed after an average of 29 months(range, 22 to 40 months). There were 18 men and 5 women with the average age of 39 years(range, 24 to 61 years). Fourteen were isolated fractures and nine were related to acute anterior instability episode. The average displacement of the fracture was 2.3mm(range, 0 to 4mm) on the anteroposterior view of the plane radiographs. At the time of arthroscopy, all patients had partial thickness rotator cuff tears in the articular surface. The cuff tears were located on the tuberosity fracture area and were an Ellman's grade I to n in depth. With the arthroscopic debridement or repair of the tear depending on the condition of the tear itself, as well as the subacromial decompression, the UCLA score revealed good to excellent results in 20 and fair in 3 patients. Nineteen of the patients had returned to the previous level of activities. The patient with a higher activity demand revealed a lower level of activity return(p=0.034). The partial thickness rotator cuff tear should be considered in patients with chronic shoulder pain after the minimally displaced fracture of the greater tuberosity, and arthroscopic debridement or repair is an appropriate procedure.