• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.82-86
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• 2008

Many rotator cuff tears are operatively treated in recent years. Postoperative rehabilitation of rotator cuff repair is as important as diagnosis of disease or surgery itself. And it is a crucial factor on the prognosis of the surgery. For appropriate rehabilitation, surgeon should have knowledge about the anatomy and biomechanics of shoulder. The purposes of postoperative rehabilitation are to avoid additional injury, to decrease inflammation, to help healing process of collagen, to strengthen weak muscle, to recover decreased range of motion, to increase endurance of muscle and to protect the repair site and deltoid. These protocols must be individualized according to the condition of the patients.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.153-162
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• 2013

The arthroscopic bony procedures during rotator cuff repair include acromioplasty, distal clavicle resection, footprint preparation and coracoplasty. The indication of each bony procedure is based on the theoretical reasons, and various types of surgical techniques are available. The purpose of this review article is to review the backgrounds of the indication and surgical techniques in the arthroscopic bony procedures during rotator cuff repair.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.254-260
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• 2015

With the advancement of shoulder arthroscopy, use of biodegradable suture anchors in the surgical repair of rotator cuff tears has increased. Because of the radiolucency of these anchors, radiography is not appropriate for early detection of anchor failure. Ultrasonography is an advantageous modality in visualizing biodegradable, radiolucent anchors on a real-time basis without risk of radiation exposure. We report on two cases of displacement of a biodegradable suture anchor diagnosed on ultrasonography during the postoperative follow- up, which has not been previously reported. Because this displacement could be missed in the postoperative follow up ultrasonography, we describe the ultrasonographic features of the displaced biodegradable anchors. Surgeons and radiologists should pay special attention to the possibility of displacement of the suture anchor in patients who underwent rotator cuff repairs using suture anchors.

• 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.9 no.2
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• pp.222-226
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• 2006

Full-thickness rotator cuff tears are relatively uncommon in the young adults. One of the pathogenesis of such tear is thought to be closely related to the specific trauma event. Favorable outcome is expected in young patient rotator cuff tears when it is diagnosed early following prompt surgical repair. However, early detection is sometimes difficult when the acute rotator cuff tear is combined with other injuries especially around the shoulder joints such as ipsilateral humerus fractures. Authors report an uncommon case of acute traumatic rotator cuff tear accompanied by the midhumerus shaft fracture in young adult.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.485-492
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• 2014

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the pain, range of motion (ROM), upper extremity task performance, and functional levels of patients after rotator cuff repair according to the timing of a closed chain exercise thereby presenting basic data for an effective rehabilitation program. METHODS: The intervention was applied three times per week, one hour per day, for four weeks to 40 participants, 78 of whom had undergone rotator cuff repair. The participants were divided into four groups and assigned to usual general physical therapy and an open chain exercise. Group I consisted of the open chain exercise only. The closed chain exercise was applied to group II after the 4 times, group III after the 7 times, group IV after the 10 times. Measurement were used ROM, visual analogue scale (VAS), box and block test (BBT), and shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI). A one-way analysis of variance was conducted to test differences. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the internal/external rotation between group I and group II. The VAS significantly differed between group II and group I, group III, and group IV. The BBT results of group II and group I were significantly different compared to those of group IV. The SPADI significantly differed between group II and group I and between group II and group IV. CONCLUSION: The closed chain exercise was effective for patients following rotator cuff repair from the second week after active exercise was prescribed, verifying its applicability in rehabilitation programs.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.72-76
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• 2009

Two diabetes mellitus patients treated by arthroscopy and associated procedure for an infection after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were involved. The time interval from rotator cuff repair to symptom development was 18 days in average and arthroscopic debridement and associated procedure for infection applied in average 65 days after symptom development. Patient evaluation was done according to the KSS, ASES, UCLA and Constant Score. We used antibiotics for average 22.5 days after arthroscopic debridement and associated procedure, the infection was treated in average 4 months. At final follow-up, the mean KSS score was 82 points, the mean UCLA score was 33 points, the mean ASES score was 91 points, the mean Constant score was 71 points. All infections following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were cured by arthroscopy and associated procedure. ROM and functional results were much improved, the pain and satisfaction were also much improved.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.57-63
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• 2014

Background: To compare the effect of different starting periods of rehabilitative exercise (early or delayed passive exercise) on the rate of retear and other clinical outcomes after the arthroscopic repair of the rotator cuff. Methods: In total, 103 patients who underwent arthroscopic repair of the rotator cuff were included in the study. Determined at 2 weeks post-operation, patients who were incapable of passive forward elevation greater than $90^{\circ}$ were allotted to the early exercise group (group I: 79 patients; 42 males, 37 females), whilst those capable were allotted to the delayed exercise group (group II: 24 patients; 14 males, 10 females). The group I started passive exercise, i.e. stretching, within 2 weeks of operation, whilst group II started within 6 weeks. The results were compared on average 15.8 months (11-49 months) post-operation using the passive range of motion, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score, and the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and Constant scores. Stiffness was defined as passive forward elevation or external rotation of less than $30^{\circ}C$ compared to the contralateral side. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was carried out on average 1 year post-operation and the rate of retear was compared with Sugaya's criteria. Results: There were no differences between the two groups in gender, age, smoking, presence of diabetes, arm dominance, period of tear unattended, pre-operative range of motion, shape and size of tear, degree of tendon retraction, and tendon quality. There were no significant differences in clinical outcomes. Whilst stiffness was more frequent in group II (p-value 0.03), retear was more frequent in group I (p-value 0.028) according to the MRI follow-up. Conclusions: During rehabilitation after the arthroscopic repair of the rotator cuff, the delay of passive exercise seems to decrease the rate of retear but increase the risk of stiffness.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.135-140
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• 2021

Background: We hypothesized in this study that the characteristics of retear cases vary according to surgeon volume and that surgical outcomes differ between primary and revision arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (revisional ARCR). Methods: Surgeons performing more than 12 rotator cuff repairs (RCRs) per year were defined as high-volume surgeons, and those performing fewer than 12 RCRs were considered low-volume surgeons. Of the 47 patients who underwent revisional ARCR at our clinic enrolled in this study, 21 cases were treated by high-volume surgeons and 26 cases by low-volume surgeons. In all cases, the interval between primary surgery and revisional ARCR, degree of "acromial scuffing," number of anchors, RCR technique, retear pattern, fatty infiltration, retear size, operating time, and clinical outcome were recorded. Results: During primary surgery, significantly more lateral anchors (p=0.004) were used, and the rate of use of the double-row repair technique was significantly higher (p<0.001) in the high- versus low-volume surgeon group. Moreover, the "cut-through pattern" was observed significantly more frequently among the cases treated by high- versus low-volume surgeons (p=0.008). The clinical outcomes after revisional ARCR were not different between the two groups. Conclusions: Double-row repair during primary surgery and the cut-through pattern during revisional ARCR were more frequent in the high- versus low-volume surgeon groups. However, no differences in retear site or size, fatty infiltration grade, or outcomes were observed between the groups.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2020

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare deltoid origin status following large rotator cuff repair carried out using either an open or an arthroscopic method with a propensity score matching technique. Methods: A retrospective review of 112 patients treated for full-thickness, large rotator cuff tear via either a classic open repair (open group) or an arthroscopic repair (arthroscopic group) was conducted. All patients included in the study had undergone postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical follow-up for at least 12 and 18 months after surgery, respectively. Propensity score matching was used to select controls matched for age, sex, body mass index, and affected site. There were 56 patients in each group, with a mean age of 63.3 years (range, 50-77 years). The postoperative functional and radiologic outcomes for both groups were compared. Radiologic evaluation for postoperative rotator cuff integrity and deltoid origin status was performed with 3-Tesla MRI. Results: The deltoid origin thickness was significantly greater in the arthroscopic group when measured at the anterior acromion (P=0.006), anterior third (P=0.005), and middle third of the lateral border of the acromion level (P=0.005). The deltoid origin thickness at the posterior third of the lateral acromion was not significantly different between the arthroscopic and open groups. The arthroscopic group had significantly higher intact deltoid integrity with less scarring (P=0.04). There were no full-thickness deltoid tears in either the open or arthroscopic group. Conclusions: Open rotator cuff repair resulted in a thinner deltoid origin, especially from the anterior acromion to the middle third of the lateral border of the acromion, at the 1-year postoperative MRI evaluation. Meticulous reattachment of the deltoid origin is as essential as rotator cuff repair when an open approach is selected.