• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.207-212
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• 2018

Background: Delaminated rotator cuff tear is known to be a degenerative tear having a negative prognostic effect. This study undertook to compare the anatomical and clinical outcomes of delaminated tears and single layer tears. Methods: Totally, 175 patients with medium to large rotator cuff tears enrolled for the study were divided into 2 groups, based on the tear pathology: single layer tear (group 1) and delaminated tear (group 2). Preoperatively, length of the remnant tendon, muscle atrophy of supraspinatus (SS), and fatty degeneration of SS and infraspinatus (IS) muscles were assessed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). For follow-up, the repair integrity of the rotator cuff was evaluated by ultrasonography. Clinical outcomes were assessed by evaluating the Constant score (CS) and Korean Shoulder Score (KSS). Results: Retears were detected in 6 cases of group 1 (6.5%) and 11 cases of group 2 (13.3%). Although higher in group 2, the retear rate was significantly not different (p=0.133). Preoperative MRI revealed length of remnant tendon to be $15.46{\pm}3.60mm$ and $14.17{\pm}3.16mm$ (p=0.013), and muscle atrophy of SS (occupation ratio) was $60.54{\pm}13.15$ and $56.55{\pm}12.88$ (p=0.045), in group 1 and group 2, respectively. Fatty degeneration of SS and IS in both groups had no significant differences. Postoperatively, no significant differences were observed for CS and KSS values between the groups. Conclusions: Delaminated rotator cuff tears showed shorter remnant tendon length and higher muscle atrophy that correlate to a negative prognosis. These prognostic effects should be considered during delaminated rotator cuff tear treatment.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.186-190
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• 2001

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of Neer, Hawkins provocative tests and supraspinatus manual muscle test for the assessment of impingement syndrome, partial tear and small complete tear of De rotator cuff. Materials and Methods: Seventy-one female and 115 male patients were included in the study. Patients were divided into four groups of no impingement, impingement without tear, partial tear and small complete tear of the rotator cuff, which were confirmed by sonogram, magnetic resonance imaging and surgery. Neer and Hawkins provocative tests and supraspinatus manual muscle test were performed respectively. SAS 6.12 version was used in statistical analysis. Results: We found that Neer test had 94% sensitivity, 54% specificity for impingement without tear and 89% sensitivity, 78% specificity for partial tear and 96% sensitivity, 23% specificity for small tear. Hawkins test revealed 95% sensitivity, 54% specificity for impingement without tear and 93% sensitivity, 78% specificity for partial tear and 100% sensitivity, 23% specificity for small tear. Supraspinatus manual muscle test revealed 27% sensitivity, 94% specificity for impingement without tear and 29% sensitivity, 82% specificity for partial tear and 48% sensitivity, 82% specificity for small tear. Conclusion: Neer and Hawkins tests have high sensitivity, low specificity for impingement syndrome, partial and small tear. Supraspinatus manual muscle test had low sensitivity and high specificity. However this test was not effective to differentiate the partial and small rotator cuff tear. We thought that more effective provocative test should be designed to detect the partial and small rotator cuff tear.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.209-217
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• 2014

Most studies on the pathophysiology, natural history, diagnosis by imaging and outcomes after operative or nonoperative treatment of rotator cuff tear have focused on those of full-thickness tears, resulting in limited knowledge of partial-thickness rotator cuff tears. However, a partial-thickness tear of the rotator cuff is a common disorder and can be the cause of persistent pain and dysfunction of the shoulder joint in the affected patients. Recent updates in the literatures shows that the partial-thickness tears are not merely mild form of full-thickness tears. Over the last decades, an improved knowledge of pathophysiology and surgical techniques of partial-thickness tears has led to more understanding of the significance of this tear and better outcomes. In this review, we discuss the current concept of management for partial-thickness tears in terms of the pathogenesis, natural history, nonoperative treatment, and surgical outcomes associated with the commonly used repair techniques.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.109-117
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• 2020

Repair of the rotator cuff tear is a joint-tightening procedure that can worsen joint stiffness. This paradoxical phenomenon complicates treatment of rotator cuff tear with joint stiffness. As a result, there is controversy about how and when to treat joint stiffness. As many treatments have been published, this review discusses the latest findings on treatment of rotator cuff tear with joint stiffness.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.197-201
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• 2016

Background: The purpose of the study was to compare the degree of degeneration of the articular and bursal layers of delaminated supraspinatus tendons based on histological examination. Methods: Fifty-four patients with a full-thickness rotator cuff tear were included in the study. Tendon specimens were harvested during arthroscopic rotator cuff repair from the lateral torn edges of the articular and bursal layers of the delaminated tear. Harvested samples were stained with H&E dye and evaluated based on a semi-quantitative grading scale. Results: There were no significant differences in the seven histological characteristics of tendon degeneration: fiber structure, fiber arrangement, round nuclei, regional variations in cellularity, vascularity, collagen stainability, and hyalinization between the articular and bursal layers of the delaminated rotator cuff tear (all p>0.05). Total degeneration scores of articular and bursal sides were $13.1{\pm}3.85$ points and $13.2{\pm}3.42$ points, respectively, and were not significantly different (p=0.958). Conclusions: The study demonstrates that tendon degeneration was similar in the articular and bursal sides of the delaminated full-thickness rotator cuff tear, suggesting that degeneration would be a main etiology for the rotator cuff tear not only in the articular side but also in the bursal side. Considering potential disadvantages of subacromial decompression, this study tentatively suggests routine use of subacromial decompression as well as the need for halting or recovery from rotator cuff degeneration for better rotator cuff repair.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.115-119
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• 1999

Purpose: We reviewed the SLAP lesions and associated injuries, also evaluated a hypothesis that the type II posterior SLAP lesion is related with posterior rotator cuff tear and gives rise to the postero-superior instability. Materials and Methods: The patient recording papers, MRI, video and operation sheets were reviewed with the 28 SLAP lesions confirmed by the arthroscopy among 242 cases. Among these SLAP lesions, type II was 22 cases and classified to the anterior, posterior(16 cases), combined subtype(6 cases) based on the main anatomic location. There were 14 cases of the type II accompanying rotator cuff tear. The average follow-up(13 months) results were evaluated with the ASES and Rowe rating score after repair or debridement of the SLAP lesions. Results: In the type II lesions accompanying the rotator cuff tears(14 cases), the posterior(l0 cases) and combined type(4 cases), cuff lesions were all existed posteriorly. Also We could confirm the drive-through sign in the eleven cases, though did not check the disappearance of this sign after repair because of retrospective study. We could followed up the 22 cases, 18 cases(77%) were excellent or good, fair 3 cases(14%) and poor 1 case(4%). Also, type II lesions with the rotator cuff tear(14 cases) were showed better results in the repair(8 cases) than the debridement(6 cases) of the unstable type II with the cuff repair. Conclusion: The type II lesions were frequently associated with the cuff tear in the specific location. We could presume the possibility of postero-superior instability in the SLAP lesion with the cuff injuries. Also, satisfactory results could be experienced when the unstable SLAP lesions with the cuff tear were repaired at the same time.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.101-104
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• 2018

Since shoulder have a higher proportion of muscle which would have low electrical resistance, there could be more electrical damage to the rotator cuff muscles. We present a patient with acute rotator cuff tear by sudden uncontrolled jerking contractions caused by an electrical shock. A case of 42-year-old man with acute rotator cuff tear due to electrical injury to the shoulder was presented. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a full thickness tear and an undulating appearance of the peripheral end of the torn supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscle, suggesting an acute complete rupture. By arthroscopic surgery, the torn rotator cuff tendons were repaired with a suture bridge technique. At the final follow-up, the patient had a full, pain-free range of motion and had fully recovered shoulder muscle power.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.59-63
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• 2020

Rotator cuff tear is often cited as a reason for shoulder pain and dysfunction in patients > 40 years of age. Surgical repair of rotator cuff tear is one of the most commonly performed orthopedic surgical procedures. Until now, the success rate of surgical repair for rotator cuff tear has not been satisfactory. Many factors influence the process of rotator cuff repair such as the presence of tendinosis and fatty infiltration, but the main factor is the difficulty in achieving healing at the tendon to bone interface. There is a clinical need for bioengineering approaches to promote regeneration of the native enthesis and reduce the poor outcomes after surgical repair. Toward this end, the design and fabrication of multiphasic or hierarchically structured scaffolds have received great attention. This manuscript deals with information on the tendon to bone interface and tries to find out why a multiphasic scaffold is necessary to reproduce it and considerations that need to be taken into to make an ideal scaffold.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.105-108
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• 2020

Stress fractures of the acromion and scapular spine are well-known complications following reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. However, these fractures in patients with massive rotator cuff tear or cuff tear arthropathy are extremely rare, and the pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of these fractures are poorly understood. We report a case of bilateral stress fracture of the posterior angle of the acromion in a patient with massive rotator cuff tear and discuss the pathogenesis, clinical manifestation, and treatment with a review of the literature.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.167-174
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• 2010

Purpose: Anatomical repair of massive rotator cuff tear has been technically challenging because of medial retraction, muscle atrophy and fatty degeneration. Among several treatment options for massive rotator cuff tear, we reviewed rotator cuff repairs and investigated modalities for improvement of clinical outcomes, decreasing the re-tear rate, and increasing healing. Materials and Methods: Patient-related factors and rotator cuff-related factors were the two major groups of factors we considered when choosing a treatment plan. Results: Mobilization of a massive rotator cuff tear was increased by soft tissue release and by the interval slide technique. After meticulous soft tissue release, anatomical repair could be achieved. If the injury was not amenable to anatomical repair, alternative treatment options such as partial repair, the margin convergence technique and augmentation with a tenotomized biceps tendon were considered. Many reports of massive rotator cuff repair demonstrated satisfactory clinical outcomes, decreased pain, recovery of shoulder functions, and increases in muscle strength. However, the re-tear rate had been reported to be relatively high in long-term follow-up. Conclusion: Despite a high re-tear rate after massive rotator cuff repair, a better understanding of the pathogenesis, progression and clinical symptoms of massive rotator cuff tear and improved surgical materials and techniques will lead to satisfactory clinical outcomes.