Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Sports Biomech 2020 May 24:1-13. Epub 2020 May 24.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine , New Orleans, LA, USA.

Softball is the third most popular women's collegiate sport in the United States, with 19,680 total athletes as of the 2015-2016 season. Despite its popularity and growth in recent years, research focusing on the biomechanics of the windmill pitch and its associated shoulder injuries is relatively scarce. The incidence of shoulder injury is highest during the preseason and the beginning of the regular season. Read More

J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2020 May 20. Epub 2020 May 20.

Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, Schulthess Clinic, Zürich, Switzerland; Research, Teaching and Development, Schulthess Clinic, Zürich, Switzerland. Electronic address:

Background: The use of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) has dramatically increased in recent years with the advent of new prosthesis designs regularly entering the market. We define the rate of local complications during the first 2 years after RTSA with the Univers Revers prosthesis and describe the changes in radiologic outcomes, as well as function, pain, satisfaction, and quality of life.

Methods: This multicenter, prospective case series included rotator cuff tear arthropathy patients who underwent RTSA with the Univers Revers. Read More

J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2020 May 13. Epub 2020 May 13.

From the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Antonio Military Medical Center, San Antonio, TX (Dr. Sheean); Lexington Clinic Orthopaedics, Sports Medicine Center, Lexington, KY (Dr. Kibler); Orthopaedic Specialty Associates, Fort Worth, TX (Dr. Conway); and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery (Dr. Bradley), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.

Posterior glenohumeral instability in overhead athletes presents a unique set of challenges for both diagnosis and treatment. Although a great deal of attention has been focused on the management of injuries to the biceps-labrum complex and rotator cuff in throwers, comparatively less has been written about posterior glenohumeral instability within this unique cohort. Historically, posterior instability has been observed secondary to either acute trauma or repetitive microtrauma, usually among collision athletes, weight lifters, and rowers. Read More

Arthroscopy 2020 May 6. Epub 2020 May 6.

Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Partners Heath System, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the short-term outcomes of endoscopic repair of full-thickness gluteus medius and minimus tendon tears with a minimum of 2-year follow-up and add to the paucity of literature on abductor tendon tears.

Methods: All patients who underwent endoscopic abductor tendon repair between December 2013 and August 2017 were prospectively evaluated. The inclusion criteria for this study were primary full-thickness gluteal tendon tears and at least 2-years follow-up. Read More

J Spinal Cord Med 2020 May 7:1-7. Epub 2020 May 7.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA.

Wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (SCI) have a high risk of developing shoulder pain, caused by rotator cuff disease. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a potential treatment after conservative treatments fail and prior to surgical intervention; however, it has not been tested in wheelchair users who have recalcitrant shoulder pain associated with rotator cuff disease. The objective of this pilot project was to test the safety and potential treatment effect of an ultrasound-guided PRP injection for shoulder pain in the aforementioned population. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 May;99(18):e20027

Traumatic Orthopedics, Longhua District Central Hospital, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, 518110, China.

Background: The optimal treatment for symptomatic, nontraumatic rotator cuff tear is unknown. The primary aim of this randomized controlled trial is to compare functional improvement after surgical and conservative treatment of nontraumatic rotator cuff tears.

Methods: This is a single-centre, randomized clinical trial with a follow-up of 12 months. Read More

Zhongguo Gu Shang 2020 Apr;33(4):348-52

Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Beijing 100102, China.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effect of arthroscopic 360° capsular release with concomitant rotator cuff repair for patients with rotator cuff tears in global stiff shoulder.

Methods: From December 2016 to December 2018, 247 patients full-thickness rotator cuff tear were treated with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Among them, 42 patients (17%) with global limitation of shoulder movement were treated with arthroscopic 360° capsular release operation at the same time of rotator cuff repair. Read More

Zhongguo Gu Shang 2020 Apr;33(4):312-6

Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Hospital of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing 312000, Zhejiang, China.

Objective: To explore the feasibility of arthroscopic humeral ending insertion of rotator cuff, and to provide a scheme for the treatment of giant rotator cuff tears.

Methods: From February 2014 to April 2018, 40 patients with giant rotator cuff tears were operated on and divided into two groups. The study group consisted of 20 patients, including 8 males and 12 females, aged 42 to 82(57. Read More

Folia Med (Plovdiv) 2019 12;61(4):612-619

University of Peloponnese, Tripoli, Greece.

Introduction: People suffering from rotator cuff tendinopathy exhibit reduced mobility due to pain. The pain and the limited functionality affect negatively the overall quality of life.

Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the intensity of pain, the functionality of the upper limbs and the quality of life of patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy by using two different therapeutic modalities, shockwave and ultrasound, whose outcomes were assessed pre-treatment and post-treatment as well as after a 4-week follow-up. Read More

FP Essent 2020 Apr;491:11-16

WellSpan York Hospital Sports Medicine Fellowship, 1001 S George St, York, PA 17403.

Subacromial impingement/pain syndrome is a common cause of shoulder pain that encompasses a spectrum of pathology of the subacromial bursa and rotator cuff tendons. Pathology of the rotator cuff tendons can range from inflammation to fibrotic changes to partial- and full-thickness tears. Biomechanical dysfunction of the rotator cuff and glenohumeral complex contributes to the pathophysiology and progression of subacromial impingement/pain syndrome. Read More

J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2020 Apr 16. Epub 2020 Apr 16.

São João University Hospital, Porto, Portugal; Porto Medical School, Porto University, Porto, Portugal.

Background: The pathophysiology of subscapularis (SS) lesions is still relatively unknown despite recent interest in predictive factors for SS tears. Our goal was to determine the influence of the coracoid morphology and humeral version on SS tears.

Methods: This was a retrospective, controlled, single-blinded study. Read More

J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2020 May;29(5):1059-1070

Sports Medicine Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.

Background: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has gained significant interest in recent years to potentially add biological augmentation of healing to surgical repairs of soft-tissue injuries. We sought to determine whether perioperative PRP injection influences the risk of failure following rotator cuff repair.

Methods: A systematic search was performed in the Embase and PubMed databases and identified 16 randomized controlled trials or prospective cohort studies (1045 participants) reporting rates of failure, defined as a subsequent tear on postoperative imaging, after rotator cuff repair with or without perioperative PRP administration. Read More

BMC Med Genet 2020 Apr 17;21(1):82. Epub 2020 Apr 17.

Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.

Background: Investigations in genetics have provided valuable information about the correlation between gene variants and tendinopathy. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of COL5A1 gene are reported to be involved in Achilles tendinopathy, chronic degenerative tendon changes at the elbow, and other tendinopathies. The influence of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of COL5A1 was previously analyzed in rotator cuff disease with confounding results. Read More

Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2020 Apr 13. Epub 2020 Apr 13.

Helios Clinic Munich West, Department of Orthopedic Sports Medicine, Trauma Surgery and Hand Surgery, Munich, Germany.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyze partial subscapularis tendon (SSC) tears and provide a descriptive classification.

Methods: The retrospective study included 50 patients with arthroscopically confirmed partial SSC tears. Internal rotation (IR) force measurements and IR ROM have been made and compared to the healthy contralateral side. Read More

Sports Health 2020 May/Jun;12(3):225-233. Epub 2020 Apr 9.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.

Context: The prescription of opioids after elective surgical procedures has been a contributing factor to the current opioid epidemic in North America.

Objective: To examine the opioid prescribing practices and rates of opioid consumption among patients undergoing common sports medicine procedures.

Data Sources: A systematic review of the electronic databases EMBASE, MEDLINE, and PubMed was performed from database inception to December 2018. Read More

Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am 2020 May 19;28(2):269-283. Epub 2020 Feb 19.

Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, Sidney Kimmel Medical Center, 132 South 10th Street, Suite 1096, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.

Acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) pathology is a common source of shoulder girdle pain, frequently coexisting with and sharing overlapping clinical features of rotator cuff and glenohumeral articular lesions. ACJ trauma and osteoarthritis dominate clinical presentation; however, an array of pathologies can affect the joint. MR imaging of the ACJ is a powerful secondary diagnostic tool in early diagnosis of ACJ pathology and in accurate assessment of ACJ injuries, helping to resolve clinically challenging cases and allowing for individualized treatment planning. Read More

Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 2020 Mar 31. Epub 2020 Mar 31.

Arcus Sportklinik, Rastatter Str. 17-19, 75179, Pforzheim, Germany.

Introduction: Rotator cuff tears (rct) subsequent to glenohumeral dislocation are relevant concomitant injuries, can lead to impaired shoulder function and increase risk of recurrent dislocation.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the functional outcome, recurrent dislocation rate and tendon integrity after rotator cuff repair after primary traumatic shoulder dislocation.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective case series, 23 patients (age 56. Read More

J Clin Med 2020 Mar 30;9(4). Epub 2020 Mar 30.

Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Klinik und Poliklinik für Unfallchirurgie, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 München, Germany.

Background: Scapula body fractures are rare injuries with an incidence of 1% of all fractures accounting for 3% to 5% of all upper extremity fractures. Fractures of the scapula commonly result from high-energetic trauma and fall from great height. While several studies focused on concomitant injuries of chest and head as well as the cervical spine, up to now in the common literature, no study exists analyzing the prevalence of concomitant intra-articular glenohumeral injury following extra-articular scapular fracture. Read More

Zhongguo Gu Shang 2020 Mar;33(3):238-41

Department of Orthopaedics of Joint Diseases, Guanghua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200052, China.

Objective: To explore clinical effects of tranexamic acid on postoperative intra-articular hemorrhage after shoulder arthroscopy.

Methods: From February to July 2018, 60 patients with rotator cuff tears treated by shoulder arthroscopy were randomly divided into observation group and control group, 30 cases in each group. In observation group, there were 6 males and 24 females; aged from 55 to 70 years old with an average age of (62. Read More

Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2020 May 31;33(3):212-219. Epub 2020 Mar 31.

Orthopaedic Bioengineering Research Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States.

Objective:  Rotator cuff tendon tears are the most common soft tissue injuries in the shoulder joint. Various animal models have been described for this condition, but all current translational animal models have inherent weaknesses in their ability to generate chronically degenerated rotator cuff tendons. The objective of this study was to evaluate a partial infraspinatus tendon transection model as a means of creating a chronically degenerated rotator cuff tendon in an ovine model and compare the injury characteristics of this model to those observed in human patients with severe chronic rotator cuff tendon injuries. Read More

Arthrosc Tech 2020 Mar 14;9(3):e357-e365. Epub 2020 Feb 14.

Cornell University, Weill Medical College; New York Presbyterian Hospital/Queens; and New York University School of Medicine, NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital, New York, NY, U.S.A.

Massive and retracted tears of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons of the rotator cuff are associated with great pain and disability and may be considered "non-repairable," depending on the extent of injury and the experience of the treating clinician. The technique of anatomic vector repair of the rotator cuff is a surgical treatment method that enables the surgeon to accurately characterize the injury pattern and successfully repair many of these debilitating injuries anatomically in a stepwise manner, often in cases that would have otherwise been treated with a less preferable surgical procedure that does not restore native anatomy. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 Mar;99(12):e19579

Department of Orthopaedics, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong.

Background: Numerous quantitatively based studies measuring the accuracy of MRI and MRA for the diagnosis of rotator cuff tears remain inconclusive. In order to compare the accuracy of MRI with MRA in detection of rotator cuff tears a meta-analysis was performed systematically.

Methods: PubMed/Medline and Embase were utilized to retrieve articles comparing the diagnostic performance of MRI and MRA for use in detecting rotator cuff tears. Read More

JSES Int 2020 Mar 14;4(1):85-90. Epub 2020 Jan 14.

Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Background: The association between concomitant pathologic characteristics and preoperative symptoms in patients identified as eligible for surgical rotator cuff repair has been sparsely evaluated. The purpose was to explore the associations between preoperative shoulder symptoms and additional structural pathology or injuries identified during surgery in patients with traumatic supraspinatus tears.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study including patients with traumatic supraspinatus tears. Read More

Orthop J Sports Med 2020 Mar 5;8(3):2325967120904937. Epub 2020 Mar 5.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Background: The treatment of irreparable rotator cuff tears (IRCTs) is a significant challenge, and various treatment options have emerged. Superior capsular reconstruction (SCR) is a promising procedure for patients with IRCTs.

Purpose: To investigate the clinical outcomes of SCR and compare allografts with autografts. Read More

Am J Sports Med 2020 Apr 16;48(5):1213-1219. Epub 2020 Mar 16.

Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.

Background: During nonoperative or postoperative rehabilitation after sports injuries, exercise selection is often based on minimal load on the injured/repaired glenohumeral structures, while optimally activating scapulothoracic muscles. Previous research explored scapular muscle activity during rehabilitation exercises using surface electromyography (EMG). However, limited information exists about the deeper lying muscle activity, measured with fine-wire electrodes, even more in combination with 3-dimensional scapular kinematics. Read More

Sao Paulo Med J 2019 Nov-Dec;137(6):543-549

PhD. Physiotherapist and Professor, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Santos (SP), Brazil.

Background: Shoulder pain is considered to be the third largest cause of musculoskeletal functional alterations in individuals presenting pain during movement.

Objective: The purpose of this synthesis of evidence was to identify the clinical effectiveness of conservative and surgical treatments reported in Cochrane systematic reviews among individuals diagnosed with rotator cuff disease.

Designand Setting: Review of systematic reviews, conducted in the Federal University of São Paulo (Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP). Read More

Arthroscopy 2020 03;36(3):714-715

University of Colorado School of Medicine.

The viscoelastic properties of suture may impact how soft tissue (such as the shoulder rotator cuff tendons) heals to bone and therefore may impact patient outcomes. Thus, it is logical to use suture material less likely to creep and elongate. Suture tape, in particular, may show superior biomechanical properties compared with standard sutures. Read More

Arthroscopy 2020 03;36(3):687-688

Superior capsular reconstruction remains a controversial procedure, and long-term results still need to be established. Graft thickness seems crucial and fascia lata appears superior to dermal allograft. Using a subacromial spacer by suturing dermal allograft to the subacromial bone "increases graft thickness" and reduces superior humeral head migration but increases subacromial pressures in a static laboratory cadaver model. Read More

Arthroscopy 2020 03;36(3):658-659

Charité-University Medicine Berlin.

As failure rates after arthroscopic rotator cuff remain high, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has gained interest as a potential biological augmentation to enhance bone-tendon healing. Recent research shows that delayed PRP application fails to significantly improve clinical results or decrease retear rates but may result in less fatty-infiltration of the repaired rotator cuff muscles. In combination with a lower trend toward retear, this may hint that we should not bid farewell to PRP in rotator cuff repair just yet, and whether our current enthusiasm for emerging biological strategies in rotator cuff repair is justified remains subject to additional investigation. Read More

Arthroscopy 2020 03;36(3):638-639

After rotator cuff repair, the regeneration of the anatomic enthesis may be beneficial. Although many cell and growth factor studies have been performed, none have shown a consistent regeneration of this structure. The use of bone marrow vents in the greater tuberosity has been associated with improved healing. Read More

Arthroscopy 2020 03;36(3):625-626

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Spaarne Gasthuis, Hoofddorp, the Netherlands Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Bone Joint J 2020 Mar;102-B(3):360-364

Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.

Aims: The aim of this study was to examine the recent trend in delivery of arthroscopic subacromial decompression (ASD) in Scotland and to determine if this varies by geographical location.

Methods: Scottish Morbidity Records were reviewed retrospectively between March 2014 and April 2018 to identify records for every admission to each NHS hospital. The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS-4) surgical codes were used to identify patients undergoing primary ASD. Read More

Ultrasonography 2020 Apr 2;39(2):144-151. Epub 2020 Jan 2.

Department of Pathology, National Police Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Purpose: This study investigated whether shear wave elastography (SWE) could be used to estimate the chronicity of supraspinatus tendon (SST) tears.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed. From November 2015 to July 2016, 113 patients (52 men, 61 women; age range, 21 to 79 years) with persistent shoulder pain underwent 119 rotator cuff tendon examinations by routine B-mode ultrasonography, while SST elasticity was measured using SWE. Read More

J Orthop Translat 2020 Mar 24;21:24-34. Epub 2019 Dec 24.

Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.

Background: The role of macrophages (Mφs) in tendon injury healing is controversy. The aims of this study were to determine whether there is a shift in Mφs polarisation after an acute and chronic tendon injury ​and to assess whether the Mφs polarisation between the partial and complete rupture is different.

Methods: This systematic review of the scientific literature was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and Cochrane guidelines. Read More

J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2020 Mar;29(3):471-482

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.

Background: Subacromial analgesia (SAA) is hypothesized to reduce pain after arthroscopic shoulder surgery by delivering a continuous infusion of local anesthetic directly to the surgical site. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of SAA vs. placebo for pain relief after arthroscopic subacromial shoulder procedures. Read More

Arthrosc Tech 2019 Oct 26;8(10):e1233-e1237. Epub 2019 Sep 26.

Mississippi Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center, Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.A.

Partial-thickness rotator cuff tears are among the most common challenges faced by orthopaedic surgeons today. The ability to adequately manage these injuries depends on identifying their full extent during arthroscopic evaluation. There are many ways to fully visualize these tears, including arm positioning and gentle debridement. Read More

PLoS One 2020 10;15(2):e0228779. Epub 2020 Feb 10.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine and Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Republic of Korea.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence and associated factors of rotator cuff tear (RCT) in patients with hand osteoarthritis (HOA).

Methods: Between June 2013 and December 2015, we recruited 1150 participants in rural area of South Korea. Of the 1150 participants, 307 participants with HOA were analyzed. Read More

Instr Course Lect 2019 ;68:499-512

Knowledge regarding the importance of the superior labrum in shoulder function is evolving as biomechanical and clinical studies define the roles of the labrum in shoulder function and dysfunction. The diagnosis of the clinically significant labral injury, the alteration in labral anatomy that is associated with the production of clinical symptoms and dysfunction and requires management, is based on specific history and clinical examination findings that point to the loss of labral roles. Surgical management should address all aspects of the altered labral anatomy and repair the labral structure to allow normal labral roles without excessive biceps tension. Read More

Instr Course Lect 2019 ;68:53-64

Rotator cuff tears are prevalent injuries, yet their management and identifying patients who will benefit from surgical intervention are controversial topics. Population studies demonstrate high rates of asymptomatic tears that, with time, show a general progression of the pathologic state. However, not all tears are or will become symptomatic or require surgical intervention. Read More

Zhongguo Xiu Fu Chong Jian Wai Ke Za Zhi 2020 Feb;34(2):266-269

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Kunming Yunnan, 650032, P.R.China.

Objective: To summarize the research progress of the greater tubercle fixation and the rotator cuff repair in humeral head replacement.

Methods: The literature about proximal humerus fracture and humeral head replacement in recent years was extensively consulted and analyzed.

Results: The greater tubercle fixation and the attached rotator cuff repair have great influence on the function of shoulder joint after humeral head replacement. Read More

Instr Course Lect 2020 ;69:551-574

Rotator cuff repair can be challenging because of the compromised state of the tendon tissue. These challenges range from simply degenerative tendons to complete tendon loss in patients which can impair soft-tissue healing. Various grafts and patches are currently available to help address these challenges. Read More

Instr Course Lect 2020 ;69:525-550

Rotator cuff pathology is one of the most common reasons for patients to seek orthopaedic consultation. Although in many cases these issues can be resolved with proper conservative management, many of these patients benefit from surgical treatment. The goal of this instructional course lecture is to identify factors that can potentially lead to worse outcomes following repair, describe the history and techniques behind transosseous anchorless repairs, discuss subscapularis tears and their management, and to analyze the most current data regarding double-row rotator cuff repairs. Read More

Arthroscopy 2020 02;36(2):592-593

Superior capsular reconstruction can effectively relieve pain and improve function in the rotator cuff-deficient shoulder, but the optimal graft has not been determined. Multiple authors have demonstrated the effectiveness of the procedure, but bias and heterogeneity between studies do not allow valid comparative analysis of graft type. Until we can adequately compare outcomes, complications, or survival, graft availability and cost may be the greatest determinants of graft selection. Read More

Arthroscopy 2020 02;36(2):576-578

The critical shoulder angle and its correlation with rotator cuff tears and alternatively glenohumeral osteoarthritis has become a popular research topic in recent years. With carefully standardized x-rays, a correlation emerges. This development has generated interest in potential clinical usefulness for this measurement, as well as possible surgical interventions to modify the course of these shoulder problems. Read More

Arthroscopy 2020 02;36(2):409-410

The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

The topic of superior capsular reconstruction for the massive rotator cuff tear remains a challenging subject. Multiple issues remain regarding the optimum execution of this operation, including graft type, thickness, and fixation technique. While a valuable addition to understanding the successful performance of this procedure, significant questions remain. Read More

Arthroscopy 2020 02;36(2):397-399

Wake Forest Baptist Health.

The advent of modern suture anchor technology has not only revolutionized arthroscopic treatment options for management of complex shoulder pathology, but also engendered a materials science quest to identify the ultimate composition and design. What began as an open procedure with transosseous suture fixation has evolved dramatically with the widespread adoption of an arthroscopic, anchor-based technique for rotator cuff repair. Currently, a litany of commercially available "hard" and "soft" anchors are flooding the market, with limited qualitative comparisons to suggest superiority of one type. Read More

Arthroscopy 2020 02;36(2):381-382

Vail, Colorado.

Irreparable rotator cuff tears are challenging to treat, especially in highly active and young patients. Superior capsule reconstruction is a joint-preserving, anatomic, and arthroscopic option that has shown promising mid-term results. Over time, this procedure has undergone evolution in terms of patient selection and technical aspects, such as graft choices and fixation methods. Read More

Arthroscopy 2020 02;36(2):365-366

Pasadena, California.

One of the treatment options for a massive irreparable rotator cuff tear is superior capsule reconstruction (SCR). Biomechanically, SCR depresses and centers the humeral head on the glenoid so that the remaining rotator cuff muscles and the deltoid can provide function. Therefore, in SCR, graft characteristics such as graft type, graft thickness, and graft tension are the critical parameters contributing to the biomechanical effectiveness. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 Jan;99(3):e18766

Department of Radiology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.

Rationale: Shoulder pain is a common complaint among patients, and rotator cuff disorders are the most common diagnoses. Humeral head osteonecrosis is easily masked by other more common diagnoses and concomitant conditions.

Patient Concerns: This challenging diagnostic report consists of 2 cases. Read More

Front Genet 2019 16;10:1338. Epub 2020 Jan 16.

Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.

Both tendon injuries and tendinopathies, particularly rotator cuff tears, increase with tendon aging. Tendon stem cells play important roles in promoting tendon growth, maintenance, and repair. Aged tendons show a decline in regenerative potential coupled with a loss of stem cell function. Read More