• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.276-286
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• 2023

Background: The transosseous anchorless repair (ToR) technique was recently introduced to avoid suture anchor-related problems. While favorable outcomes of the ToR technique have been reported, no previous studies on peri-implant cyst formation with the ToR technique exist. Therefore, this study compared the clinical outcomes and prevalence of peri-implant cyst formation between the ToR technique and the conventional transosseous equivalent technique using suture anchors (SA). Methods: Cases with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) between 2016 and 2018 treated with the double-row suture bridge technique were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into ToR and SA groups. To compare clinical outcomes, 19 ToR and 57 SA cases without intraoperative implant failure were selected using propensity score matching (PSM). While intraoperative implant failure rate was analyzed before PSM, retear rate, peri-implant cyst formation rate, and functional outcomes were compared after PSM. Results: The intraoperative implant failure rate (ToR, 8% vs. SA, 15.3%) and retear rate (ToR, 5.3% vs. SA, 19.3%) did not differ between the two groups (all P>0.05). However, peri-implant cysts were not observed in the ToR group, while they were observed in 16.7% of the SA group (P=0.008). Postoperative functional outcomes were not significantly different between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions: The ToR technique produced comparable clinical outcomes to conventional techniques. Considering the prospect of potential additional surgeries, the absence of peri-implant cyst formation might be an advantage of ToR. Furthermore, ToR might reduce the medical costs related to suture anchors and, thereby, could be a useful option for ARCR. Level of evidence: III.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.43-46
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• 2015

Pancoast syndrome (PS) is characterized by a malignant neoplasm of the superior sulcus of the lung with destructive lesions of the thoracic inlet and involvement of the brachial plexus and cervical sympathetic nerves. The most common initial symptom of PS is shoulder pain; however, cough, dyspnea, and hemoptysis, signs often associated with lung cancer, are not as common. Investigation of PS can be difficult even with plain radiographs of the chest because it is surrounded by osseous structures such as the ribs, vertebral bodies, and manubrium. Due to these characteristics, orthopedic surgeons tend to make a misdiagnosis resulting in delay of appropriate treatment. Here we report on a patient who was supposed to undergo rotator cuff repair for his shoulder pain and weakness, and was eventually diagnosed with PS.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.162-166
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• 2017

Traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation combined with scapular fracture in elderly patients is relatively rare. In this case, a patient visited Emergency Room of Dong-A University Hospital for shoulder pain after falling off a ladder. Radiographs demonstrated anterior shoulder dislocation with displaced Ideberg type IIb scapula (glenoid fossa) fracture combined with a large rotator cuff tear on magnetic resonance imaging. We performed arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, but a large fragment in the inferior glenoid was left untreated. At the 1 year follow-up visit, the pain visual analogue scale of the patient was 2, the American Shoulder and Elbow Society score was 88 and the patient had gained nearly full range of motion without any apprehension.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.299-302
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• 2006

Segmental zoster paresis is characterized by focal, asymmetric motor weakness in the myotome corresponding to the dermatome of the rash. A 73-year-old man, who presented with severe right shoulder pain and shoulder girdle muscle weakness, was diagnosed with segmental zoster paresis involvement of the C5⁣-C6 motor roots as a complication of herpes zoster. Girdle muscles (supraspinatus, deltoid and infraspinatus) atrophy had developed in his right shoulder. An MRI showed rotator cuff tearing in his right shoulder; therefore, an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair was performed. Herein, this case is presented to emphasize the importance of considering post-herpetic segmental motor paresis in the differential diagnosis of acute painful motor weakness of the upper extremities.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.104-111
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• 2008

Purpose: The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical results of using the technique of rotator cuff repair without parting the biceps long head from the glenoid for large or massive tear of the rotator cuff. Material and Methods: Form January 2005 to January 2007, we performed the arthroscopic biceps repair with incorporating suture to the rotator cuff for 21 patients with large or massive rotator cuff tear. The mean follow up period was 23 months (range: 6-48months). The number of males and females was 9 and 13, respectively. The age distribution ranged from 47 to 73 years with a mean age of 60.3 years. We compared the preoperative score with the postoperative scores using the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) score, the shoulder index of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) and a simple shoulder test (SST). Results: The improvement in the VAS, ASES and the UCLA and SST scores was statistically significant at the final follow up (average follow-up 23 months) (p>0.05). Two of nine cases were found to have partial tear with continuity but seven cases were found to have complete tear according to the ultrasonography and MRI. Conclusion: The technique of rotator cuff repair without parting the biceps long head from the glenoid for large or massive tear of the rotator cuff is considered to be recommendable.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 2021

Background: To evaluate the demographics, clinical and radiographic features of calcific tendinitis of the shoulder in the Korean population, specifically focusing on the incidence of coexisting rotator cuff tear. Methods: Between October 2014 and January 2015, we performed a prospective multicenter study with 506 patients from 11 training hospitals in Korea. We collected data of demographics and radiographic analysis based on simple radiographs, clinical assessments based on visual analog scale (VAS) and the American Shoulder Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and treatment modalities that are used currently. We also evaluated coexisting rotator cuff tear by ultrasonography (US) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images. Results: There were 402 female patients (79%) with mean age of 55 years (range, 31-87 years). Mean duration of symptoms was 16 months. Mean size of calcific materials was 11.4 mm (range, 0-35 mm). Mean value of VAS and ASES scores were 6.5 (range, 1-10) and 47 (range, 8-95), respectively. Of 383 patients (76%), 59 (15%) had rotator cuff tear including 15 full-thickness tears on US or MRI. Patients with rotator cuff tears were significantly associated with older age, recurrent symptoms, menstrual disorders in females, and having undergone calcification removal surgery and rotator cuff repair (all p<0.05). Conclusions: This study reported demographic, radiographic, and clinical features of calcific tendinitis of the shoulder in Korean population, which were not different from those of Western population. Coexisting rotator cuff tear was found with 15% incidence in this large series, suggesting that further radiographic study to evaluate rotator cuff tear might be needed in some calcific tendinitis patients of older age and presenting with recurrent symptoms.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.126-130
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• 2002

Purpose : To evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of the subacromial bursoscopy with glenohumeral air infusion technique for detection of the full thickness tear which we used to think as a partial thickness tear, because it was hidden by bursal tissue. Materials and methods : We chose 65 cases and divided them into 2 groups. The group I was 18 cases with partial thickness rotator cuff tears on glenohumeral arthroscopic evaluation, and the group 2 was 37 cases with full thickness rotator cuff tears which were repaired. We inflated the glenohumeral Joint with 50-100ml of air and observed air bubble leakage simultaneously on bursoscopy. Results : In group I, we could detect air leakage in 3 cases and found that it was full thickness tear. In group II, 2 cases revealed too much air leakage proved that it was incomplete repair and was in need of additional suture. Conclusion : Air infusion technique is though to be a valuable method in differentiation between the partial and full thickness tear and for evaluation of the security of the repair.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2021

Purpose: To evaluate the prognostic factors affecting poor functional outcomes in patients with retear after rotator cuff repair. Materials and Methods: From January 2013 to December 2018, among 631 patients who underwent arthroscopic repair of a rotator cuff tear, 42 patients, who could be followed-up for more than one year and showed a retear of the repaired cuff on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), were collected retrospectively. The preoperative demographic data, range of motion, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, fatty degeneration, and tear progression on postoperative MRI, as well as other factors that could affect the clinical outcomes, were analyzed. Patients who scored <80 points on the ASES score were allocated to the poor function group. The risk factors for poor clinical outcomes were compared with the group with ASES scores of 80 or above. Results: The postoperative functional results in the group with retear (n=42) after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair showed significant improvement. Univariate analysis revealed the preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score and tear progression to have associations with a poor shoulder function. In addition, subscapularis repair was found to be associated with a good shoulder function. The preoperative VAS score and tear progression except for subscapularis repair were independent factors associated with poor clinical outcomes according to multivariate logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: In patients with retear after rotator cuff repair, the preoperative VAS and tear progression in postoperative MRI are factors predicting a poor functional outcome.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2023

Background: Golf is a popular sport involving overhead activity and engagement of the rotator cuff (RC). This study aimed to determine to what level golfers were able to return to golf following RC repair, the barriers to them returning to golf and factors associated with their failure to return to golf. Methods: Patients preoperatively identifying as golfers undergoing RC repair at the study centre from 2012 to 2020 were retrospectively followed up with to assess their golf-playing status, performance and frequency of play and functional and quality of life (QoL) outcomes. Results: Forty-seven golfers (40 men [85.1%] and 7 women [14.9%]) with a mean age of 56.8 years met the inclusion criteria, and 80.1% were followed up with at a mean of 27.1 months postoperatively. Twenty-nine patients (76.3%) had returned to golf with a mean handicap change of +1.0 (P=0.291). Golf frequency decreased from a mean of 1.8 rounds per week preinjury to 1.5 rounds per week postoperatively (P=0.052). The EuroQol 5-dimension 5-level (EQ-5D-5L) index and visual analog scale (EQ-VAS) score were significantly greater in those returning to golf (P=0.024 and P=0.002), although functional outcome measures were not significantly different. The primary barriers to return were ipsilateral shoulder dysfunction (78%) and loss of the habit of play (22%). Conclusions: Golfers were likely (76%) to return to golf following RC repair, including mostly to their premorbid performance level with little residual symptomatology. Return to golf was associated with a greater QoL. Persistent subjective shoulder dysfunction (78%) was the most common barrier to returning to golf.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.131-135
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• 2002

Object : To evaluate the prognostic factors of the rotator cuff tear after anterior dislocation of the shoulder over the 5th decades of age. Methods : We evaluated twelve patients who had rotator cuff tears combined with primary anterior dislocation of the glenohumeral joint between May 1995 and October 1998. Their age were ranged from 42 to 67-years-old. Two of them were initially presumed to have an injury of the axillary nerve and associated with avulsion fracture of the greater tuberosity. Among twelve patients who had rotator cuff tears, 8 cases had massive, 3 cases had medium and one case had a small sized tear. Results : All the tears of the rotator cuff were repaired and the results were obtained by UCLA shoulder rating scale. Ten cases of them revealed more than good results except for 2 cases who had been unhappy triad of the shoulder injury. Conclusions : In the case of anterior dislocation of shoulder, it is necessary to check the injury of rotator cuff and axillary nerve in the middle age group. If these injuries are combined, proper rotator cuff repair and axillary nerve rehabilitation program would be asked for better results.