• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.77-81
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• 2009

In patients with full-thickness tears of the rotator cuff, the tendon is usually detached from its bony insertion in the greater or lesser tuberosity. We experienced an unusual pattern of rotator cuff tear in two cases, in which complete rotator cuff tears occurred at the tendinous portion (i.e., intrasubstance tears) with more than a 1cm remnant attached to the greater tuberosity. Arthroscopic tendon-totendon repair was performed without remnant removal in both cases. Follow-up MRI at 6 months showed re-tear of the rotator cuff at the previous tear site in both of our patients. To prove the availability of arthroscopic tendon-to-tendon repair in such cases, a larger case follw-up and biomechanical studies are required.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.155-159
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• 2007

Arthroscopic single-row rotator cuff repair is a well established surgical technique for the treatment of rotator cuff tears. However, the problem of postoperative retear remains a concern. Various avenues are being explored to address this problem. Some studies have suggested that restoring the anatomical footprint may improve the healing and initial strength of the repaired rotator cuff tendon. The double-row technique was introduced as a method of reconstructing the anatomical footprint. According to biomechanical studies on cadavers, this technique improved mechanical strength and reduced gap formation. However, the biological properties of reattached tendon such as tension, and vascularity have not been proved yet. Furthermore, the apparent mechanical superiority of the double-row over the single-row construction has not resulted in better functional outcomes. Therefore, the less complicated and less costly single-row technique is still the recommended treatment for rotator cuff repairs.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.472-483
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• 2021

With increased development of patch graft, the number of repair using patch graft in massive rotator cuff tear has increased. Understanding characteristics of various patch graft might be helpful for selection of type of patch, and to improve the outcomes for the treatment of massive rotator cuff tears using patch grafts. Therefore, this paper reviews various studies dealing with clinical outcomes of rotator cuff repair using diverse patch grafts in massive rotator cuff tears.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.491-500
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of resistive exercise using an elastic band on range of motion, function and shoulder pain. Methods: Forty two subjects who had rotator cuff surgery were assigned either to a treatment or a comparison group, twenty one each. Following a six week period after surgery those in the treatment group participated in resistant exercise using an elastic band for four weeks. The subjects in the comparison group did not participate in the exercise program. The goniometer measured range of motion, a modified tool measured function, and a self report numerical rating scale measured pain. The data were analyzed using $x^2$ test, Fisher's exact, t-test and the Mann-Whitney Test. Results: Although not statistically significant, there was a trend that more subjects in the treatment group had increased range of motion. There was a statistically significance among the treatment group in terms of increased function (p=.015). Further the treatment group reported less pain that those in the comparison group (p<.001). Conclusion: The findings support that resistance exercise is an effective strategy for patients with rotator cuff repair.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.173-181
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• 2022

Background: Healing of the tendon itself is not always related to successful clinical outcomes after rotator cuff repair. It was hypothesized that certain radiologic factors affecting clinical outcomes could exist in case of the retear after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) and the radiologic factors could help predict clinical process. The purpose of this study was to identify the radiologic factors associated with clinical outcomes of the retear after ARCR. Methods: Between January 2012 and December 2019, among patients with sufficient footprint coverage for ARCR, 96 patients with Sugaya classification 4 or higher retear on follow-up magnetic resonance imaging were included. The association between clinical outcomes such as American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, Constant score and range of motion and radiologic variables such as initial tear dimension, retear dimension, variance of tear dimension, critical shoulder angle, acromial index, and acromiohumeral distance was analyzed. Results: Preoperatively, the ASES and Constant scores were 59.81±17.02 and 64.30±15.27, respectively. And at the last follow-up, they improved to 81.56±16.29 and 78.62±14.16, respectively (p<0.01 and p<0.01). In multiple linear regression analysis, the variance of the mediolateral dimension of tear had statistically significant association with the ASES and Constant scores (p<0.01 and p=0.01). Conclusions: In patients with the retear after ARCR, the variance in the mediolateral dimension of tear had significantly negative association with the clinical outcomes. This could be considered to be reference as relative criteria and needed more sample and mechanical study.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.206-210
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• 2015

Background: Assessment of the clinical outcomes after rotator cuff repair is essential for their effectiveness on treatment. The Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society devised the Korean Shoulder Scoring System (KSS) for patients with rotator cuff disorder. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the availability of the KSS for assessment of clinical outcomes in patients after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, and for comparison with other appraisal scoring systems. Methods: A total of 130 patients with partial-thickness or full-thickness rotator cuff tear who underwent arthroscopic repair using a single row or double row suture bridge technique were enrolled. The average follow-up period was 25.9 months. All patients were classified according to various factors. Comparison within corresponding categories was performed, and the correlation between the KSS and other shoulder assessment methods including University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Constant and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score was analyzed. Results: Total score of the KSS response had increased from 59.6 preoperatively to 88.96 at last follow-up. All KSS domains, including function, pain, satisfaction, range of motion, and muscle power had improved up to 24 months postoperatively. Statistical significance was observed mainly in preoperative measurements with number and size of torn tendons, and greater than or equal to grade 3 of fatty infiltration. The KSS was best correlated with the UCLA scoring system in both preoperative (r=0.785) and postoperative (r=0.951) measurements. Conclusions: The KSS was highly reliable and valid as a discriminative instrument, and it showed strong correlation with ASES and UCLA scoring systems.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.126-132
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• 2017

Background: The aim of the present study was to determine the correlation between the amount of pain reduction after local anesthetic injection into the subacromial space preoperatively and clinical outcome after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Methods: A total of 127 patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and followed up at least 1 year were analyzed retrospectively. Preoperatively, a visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain was measured in all patients before and after the ultrasound guided impingement test. The participants were divied into four groups according to pain reduntion ater impingement test (Group A: >75%, Group B: 50%-75%, Group C: 25%-50%, Group D: <25%). VAS for pain, shoulder range of motion, shoulder isometric strength, ASES score were evaluated preoperatively and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postoperatively. Results: After surgery, the amount of pain reduction shows significantly at 3, 6 months in Groups A, B as compared to Groups C, D (p<0.05). Among the range of motion of shoulder joint, forward flexion was significantly improved in Group A at 3 months (p<0.05). The ASES score significantly improved at 3, 6 months in Groups A, B as compared to Group C, D (p<0.05). Conclusions: Preoperative degree of pain reduction after impingement test correlates with the improvement of pain after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, especially in the early phase. Therefore, the impingement test could be effectively used.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.195-202
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• 2019

Background: This study investigates the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in preventing deltoid atrophy during the first 12 weeks after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Methods: Eighteen patients undergoing arthroscopic repair of a medium-sized rotator cuff tear by a single surgeon, were randomized into two groups: NMES and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Each group used the respective device for 6 weeks after surgery. Pain was measured at baseline, 6, and 12 weeks postoperatively, using the visual analogue scale (VAS); range of motion (ROM), abduction strength and functional scores were measured at baseline and 12 weeks postoperatively. Deltoid thickness and cross-sectional areas were measured using magnetic resonance imaging at 12 weeks postoperatively. Results: At 12 weeks post-surgery, no statistically significant difference was observed between the NMES and TENS groups in the pain VAS, the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score, ROM, and abduction strength. Postoperative decrease in the thickness of the anterior, middle, and posterior deltoid, at the level just below the coracoid, was -2.5%, -0.7%, and -6.8%, respectively, in the NMES group, and -14.0%, -2.6%, and -8.2%, respectively, in the TENS group (p=0.016, p=0.677, and p=0.791, respectively). At the level of the inferior glenoid tubercle, postoperative decrease in area of the deltoid was -5.4% in the NMES group and -14.0% in the TENS group, which was significantly different (p=0.045). Conclusions: NMES has the potential for reducing deltoid atrophy after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, suggesting that NMES might help minimize postoperative atrophy after various shoulder surgeries.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.5-14
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• 2022

Background: The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of protocatechuic acid (PCA) on tendon healing and fatty degeneration in a chronic rotator cuff model. Methods: Twenty-eight Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly allocated into two groups: Saline+repair (SR) and PCA+repair (PR). The right shoulder was used for experimental interventions, and the left served as a control. PCA (30 mg/kg/day) was administered intraperitoneally at the site of infraspinatus tendon detachment in rats in the PR group, and the same volume of saline was administered to the same site in the SR group. The torn tendon was repaired 4 weeks after infraspinatus detachment. Four weeks after repair, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), S100, and CD68 stains were performed to evaluate the degree of fatty degeneration and H&E and Masson trichrome stains were performed to assess tendon healing. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) was measured to test the efficacy of PCA as an antioxidant. Results: Results from histological evaluation indicated that SOD and CD68 levels at the musculotendinous region and collagen fiber parallel to the orientation at the tendon-to-bone junction were not significantly different between the SR and PR groups. The mean load-to-failure of the PR group (20.32±9.37 N) was higher than that of the SR group (16.44±6.90 N), although this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.395). The SOD activity in the operative side infraspinatus muscle of the PR group was higher than that of the SR group, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.053). Conclusions: The use of PCA could improve tendon healing and decrease fatty degeneration after rotator cuff repair.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.223-233
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• 2022

Purpose: The study aimed to determine the effect of extra thoracic mobilization exercises on shoulder pain and function in patients who had undergone rotator cuff repair. Methods: Following the recording of baseline measurements, 20 subjects who had undergone rotator cuff repair were randomized into two groups: the experimental group (n = 10), which did thoracic mobilization exercises, and the control group (n = 10), which received traditional physical therapy. Each group participated in the intervention five times per week for two weeks. The pain (using the visual analogue scales [VAS]), the flexion and abduction range of motion (ROM), and the shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI) scores of both groups were recorded pre- and post-intervention. Paired t-tests were used to determine whether post-intervention scores were significantly different from pre-intervention scores, and independent t-tests were used to analyze differences in the dependent variables between the two groups. Results: After the two-week intervention, both groups experienced significantly decreased VAS and SPADI scores (p < 0.05) and significantly increased flexion and abduction ROM (p < 0.05). The experimental group that undertook the thoracic mobilization exercises showed greater improvements in pain, flexion and abduction ROM, and the SPADI than the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that thoracic mobilization exercises reduce shoulder pain and disability and enhance function in patients who have undergone rotator cuff repair.