• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.91-99
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• 2019

Most patients experience pain relief and functional improvement after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. In some patients, however, symptoms still remain after surgery. Failed rotator cuff repair is a complex outcome of biological, technical, and traumatic factors. Moreover, re-tears might or might not be the main cause for patients with persistent pain after rotator cuff repair. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the patient's history, physical examination, and appropriate imaging studies will be needed to evaluate and manage these patients. The patient's age, functional requirement, quality of the rotator cuff, preoperative range of motion, quality of the deltoid, and glenohumeral arthritis are factors to consider before performing revisional rotator cuff repair. Preoperative patient education is as important as the surgical technique for successful revisional rotator cuff repair.

• The Academic Congress of Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society
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• 2008.03a
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• pp.125-126
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• 2008

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2008

Purpose: We wanted to evaluate the relationship between the clinical outcomes and cuff integrity after open rotator cuff repair and we wanted to analyze the causes of rotator cuff retear. Materials and Methods: 78 patients who underwent open rotator cuff repair were enrolled from 2004 to 2006. All the patients were observed for a minimum follow-up of 12 months and they were evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The clinical outcomes were accessed by dividing the patients into the retear group and the intact group. The groups were also compared to analyze the cause of rotator cuff retear according to the preoperative tear size, the symptom duration, and so on. Results: The clinical outcome of the retear group (n=22) was improved significantly after operation (p<0.001, p<0.001), but the muscle power was not improved significantly (p=0.099, p=0.243). More retears were found in the patients who had a larger preoperative tear (p<0.001) and the symptom duration of the retear group was longer (p=0.027). Conclusion: Although there were retear after rotator cuff repair, the clinical outcomes were improved. Yet the muscle power of the supraspinatus and external rotator were not improved significantly. There were more retears for the cases that had a larger preoperative tear size and a longer duration of symptoms.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.53-61
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the clinical usefulness of serial ultrasonography (USG) after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and to assess the re-tear rate and the re-tear time according to the tear sizes and the repair method. Materials and Methods: Between January 2008 and June 2008, 52 patients were treated with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, Of the 52 patients, 29 patients that had undergone more than six months follow-up underwent preoperative USG examinations and subsequent arthroscopic examinations. MRI and USG findings were compared with intraoperative results of arthroscopic examinations. The postoperative integrity of the rotator cuff was observed using serial USG examination performed postoperatively at two weeks, six weeks, three months, and six months. Results: Small to medium rotator cuff tear were identified in 10 patients where the double pulley suture bridge (DPSB) technique was performed; the re-tear rate was 20%. For 19 patients with large to massive rotator cuff tears, the re-tear rates was 100% for six patients who had undergone tendon to tendon (TT) repair, the re-tear rate was 50% for two patients who had undergone tendon to tendon and bone to tendon (TTBT) repair and the re-tear rate was 55% for11 patients where the DPSB technique was performed. Re-tear rates according to follow-up periods were 7% from two to six weeks, 66% from six weeks to three months and 27% from three to six months postoperatively. Conclusion: Serial USG examinations after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were useful to assess the re-tear rate and the re-tear time. In addition, USG examination were useful for treatment planning during postoperative rehabilitation.

• 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 Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.61-68
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• 2011

Purpose: We evaluated the clinical outcome after arthroscopic repair in full thickness rotator cuff tears with and without delamination. Materials and Methods: From March 2006 to October 2008, we included 48 consecutive shoulders (31 males, 17 females; mean age 57.6 years; 45~68) who had arthroscopic double row repair for fullthickness tears of the rotator cuff. Mean rotator cuff tear size was 2.8 cm (range: 1.2~3.6) and the techniques of tendon-to-bone fixation varied according to the presence of delamination; separate row fixations of bursal and articular layer were used in delaminated tear. The mean follow-up was 26 months (range: 18~33) and functional and structural results were evaluated by American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) scale, isokinetic strength testing and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) obtained mean 8 months (range:6~13) postoperatively. The patterns of delamination, age, sex, symptom duration, size of tear, satisfaction rate, retear rate ware compared and significance was set at p values < 0.05. Results: Postoperative functional shoulder score improved significantly in 44 shoulders (91.7%). Delamination was observed in 15 shoulders (31%) and it extended proximally and posteriorly in the majority of shoulders, and the articular layer was thicker (8/15, 53%) and more retracted (9/15, 60%) compared with the superficial bursal layer. Final follow up functional shoulder scores showed no differences between non-delaminated and delaminated tears and the presence of delamination had no correlations with sex, symptom duration, tear size and satisfaction rate, however, older age had more delaminated tears (p=0.041). Follow up MRI in 29 shoulders revealed that fourteen (48%) shoulders had complete healing; nine (31%), partial healing; six (21%), complete retear but the half of the retear group showed favorable clinical results. 79% (15/19) in non-delaminated tear and 80% (8/10) in delaminated tear were judged as healed tendon on MRI and double-layer double row repairs in delaminated tears resulted in nearly same rate of structural integrity of single-layer double row repairs (p=0.165). Conclusion: The incidence of delamination in our series was 31% and older age had more delaminated tears. Sex, symptom duration, preoperative size of the tear, functional results and satisfaction rate had no significant correlations with the presence of delamination. Nearly the same postoperative structural integrity was noted in both delaminated and non-delaminated tears.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 2009

Purpose: This study evaluated the preoperative and postoperative radiologic findings of patients with complete repairs after massive rotator cuff tears along with the incidence of re-tear and the clinical outcomes. Materials and methods: This study evaluated 33 cases who had open complete repairs for massive rotator cuff tears and these patients were followed up for more than 24 months. The clinical evaluation was performed according to the shoulder joint function test of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), and the degree of arthritis related to the massive rotator cuff tears was evaluated using the Hamada classification. Results: The ASES scores improved from 37.6 preoperatively to 85.6 postoperatively. The mean preoperative acromio-humeral interval (AHI) score was 6.5 mm, which increased to 9.3 mm immediately after surgery, and there was a decreased to 6.5 mm noted at the last follow up. The lower radiology stages of arthritis according to the classification showed better preoperative and postoperative results. Conclusion: An open complete repair as the surgical treatment for a massive rotator cuff tear showed satisfactory results for pain relief and an improvement in the shoulder joint function though re-tear after surgery.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.119-125
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• 2009

The primary purposes of revision repair for a failed rotator cuff repair are a relief of pain and functional improvement. Therefore, revision repair is most proper in patients with the functional deficit accompanied with the shoulder weakness as well as the persistent pain. The important factor that is considered in revision repair is a quality of torn cuff. Especially, Care must be taken to ensure that the revision repair is possible, considering the size of tendon defect, atrophy of the muscle, fatty infiltration and extent of the retraction of tendon. Revision repair of a failed rotator cuff repair is more difficult, and the functional results are less satisfactory than those of primary repair, because excessive bursal scarring and tendon retraction may be exhibited, a large or massive tear is often detected, tear has usually been present for a long time, and a quality of muscle-tendon may be poor. So, we discuss our experiences related to revision repair after a failed cuff repair that has been recently introduced through the articles.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.16-24
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the rate of incidence, location and the clinical value of the rotator cuff retear by analyzing MRI scans, which was taken after an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Materials and Methods: This study included a total of 109 patients, who underwent a shoulder MRI scan after an average of 10.6 months later from the arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. We only defined the 'retear' when the Sugaya type IV and V was observed in the sagittal section of the MRI. The location of the retear was divided into the medial and lateral areas by the site, which was 1 cm medial to the anchor insertion. We investigated the incidence rate and the location of the retear, in terms of the age, sex, initial tear size and the suture method. Also, we compared the functional score of the retear group and the non-retear group, after an average of 13.9 months follow-up. Results: There were 38 of the 109 patients that showed the rotator cuff retear. Of these patients, 25 were male patients, and 13 were female patients. Of the 38 patients with the rotator cuff retear, 21 patients were included in the <3 cm retear group, and 17 were included in the ${\geqq}3$ cm retear group. At the end of the follow up period, all 109 patients showed a statistical significant improvement in the shoulder functional score. Conclusion: According to the follow up of the MRI scan, which was taken after the rotator cuff repair, the retear rate reached 34.9 %, and there were no significant differences on the age and the suture method. More rotator cuff retear occurred in male patients, and the initial tear size was positively correlated with the incidence rate of the rotator cuff retear. Also, the retear was more frequently observed at the medial side. That is because when the suture was performed, excessive tension was loaded on the medial side of the suture site.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.65-72
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• 2007

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between the clinical outcome and the cuff integrity following open repair in large and massive rotator cuff tears using ultrasonography as an imaging modality. Material and Methods: From November 2001 to April 2005, 17 cases(16 patients) who had open repair of tear measuring more than 3cm were assessed with minimal follow-up of 12 months in this study. 6 cases had a large tear and 11 cases a massive tear. There were 6 men and 11 women with a mean age of 52 years at surgery (range, 33 to 72 years). The evaluation consisted of the preoperative and postoperative shoulder scores according to UCLA shoulder scoring system and Visual analogue scale (VAS). Ultrasonography was performed by a experienced musculoskeletal physician at a minimum of 12 months postoperatively to evaluate the postoperative cuff integrity. Results: Retear were detected in four of seventeen cases. Regardless of the presence of recurrent tear, 14 cases had UCLA score of more than 29 points (good grade). All 17 had an improvement in the functional score, which increased from an average of 15.1 to 31.2 points. All cases showed pain relief and five cases had no pain. Sixteen cases except one had the range of motion of forward elevation above $90^{\circ}$. Conclusion: Open rotator cuff repair in large and massive tears showed low retear rate. At a minimum of twelve months follow-up, all cases had improvement on UCLA score, pain relief, increased range of motion of the shoulder regardless of retear. And the correlation between recurrent tear and function score was not statistically significant.