• 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.17 no.1
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• pp.44-47
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• 2014

Typically, massive rotator cuff tears have stiff and retracted tendon with poor muscle quality, in such cases orthopaedic surgeons are confronted with big challenging to restore the cuff to its native footprint. Furthermore, even with some restoration of the footprint, it is related with a high re-tear rate due to less tension free repair and less tendon coverage. In this tough circumstance, the partial repair has yielded satisfactory outcomes at relatively short follow-up by re-creating the transverse force couple of the rotator cuff. Through this partial repair, the massive rotator cuff tear can be converted to the "functional rotator cuff tear" and provide improvement in pain and functional outcomes in patient's shoulder.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.183-188
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• 2017

Background: To evaluate the clinical outcomes and associated repair integrity in patients treated with arthroscopic repair for a transtendinous rotator cuff tear followed by resection of the remnant rotator cuff tendon. Methods: Between July 2007 and July 2011, we retrospectively reviewed patients who were treated for transtendinous full-thickness tears in the tendinous portion of the rotator cuff by arthroscopic repair. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, the Shoulder Rating Scale of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), the Constant-Murley score, a visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score, and range of motion (ROM). The repair integrity was determined by magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasonography. Results: There were 19 shoulders with transtendinous full-thickness tears in the tendinous portion of the rotator cuff. The ASES, UCLA, Constant-Murley, and VAS pain scores showed significant improvements in function and symptoms (all p<0.001). The active ROM for forward flexion and abduction was also significantly improved (p=0.002 and p<0.001, respectively). The postoperative radiological examination showed cuff integrity without a re-tear in 68.4% of patients. However, the UCLA, ASES, and Constant-Murley scores were not significantly different between healed and re-torn group (p=0.530, p=0.885, and p=0.262, respectively). Conclusions: Although repair of transtendinous rotator cuff tears followed by resection of the remnant rotator cuff tendon in the footprint has a relatively high re-tear rate, no significant difference was observed in the short-term clinical results between the re-tear and healed groups.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.167-174
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• 2010

Purpose: Anatomical repair of massive rotator cuff tear has been technically challenging because of medial retraction, muscle atrophy and fatty degeneration. Among several treatment options for massive rotator cuff tear, we reviewed rotator cuff repairs and investigated modalities for improvement of clinical outcomes, decreasing the re-tear rate, and increasing healing. Materials and Methods: Patient-related factors and rotator cuff-related factors were the two major groups of factors we considered when choosing a treatment plan. Results: Mobilization of a massive rotator cuff tear was increased by soft tissue release and by the interval slide technique. After meticulous soft tissue release, anatomical repair could be achieved. If the injury was not amenable to anatomical repair, alternative treatment options such as partial repair, the margin convergence technique and augmentation with a tenotomized biceps tendon were considered. Many reports of massive rotator cuff repair demonstrated satisfactory clinical outcomes, decreased pain, recovery of shoulder functions, and increases in muscle strength. However, the re-tear rate had been reported to be relatively high in long-term follow-up. Conclusion: Despite a high re-tear rate after massive rotator cuff repair, a better understanding of the pathogenesis, progression and clinical symptoms of massive rotator cuff tear and improved surgical materials and techniques will lead to satisfactory clinical outcomes.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.65-68
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• 2010

Acromio-clavicular (AC) joint cyst have been reported in small series of the orthopedics literature in association with extensive rotator cuff tear, pseudotumor, infection of the shoulder or chondrocalcinosis. Authors experienced one case of AC joint cyst with rotator cuff re-tear after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, clinicians may need pay attention to AC joint bulging or mass lesion after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair as an important sign to check follow-up imaging study for the cuff integrity. Especially, ultrasonography is recommended for this follow up study, because it is simple to be operated, economic, easily accessible.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2012

Purpose: The objective of this study is to evaluate the functional outcome and identify prognosis of retear patients in patients aged 65 years or over undergoing surgical repair for a large to massive full-thickness rotator cuff tear. Materials and Methods: From 1995 September to 2010 March, 147 patients aged 65years or over (40 male, 107 female, with an average age of 69.6) undergoing surgical repair for large to massive full thickness rotator cuff tear (large 67 cases, massive 80 cases). For functional evaluation, preoperative and postoperative 1 year range of motion and muscle power checked. For subjective evaluation, American shoulder and elbow surgeons score and Constant score were checked. For anatomical evaluation, 87 patients were checked shoulder MRI at the time of the postoperative 1 year. Results: ASES score improved from to 50.4 to 88.9, Constant score improved from 47.1 to 75.2. Supraspinatus power improved from 51.1% to 80.8%, external rotator muscle power improved from 64.5% to 83.1%. Forward elevation improved from 117.4 degrees to 153 degrees, external rotation improved from 23.6 degrees to 41.8 degrees. Follow up MRI showed re-tear in 23%, all re-tear patients were from massive tear except one patient. All re-tear patients showed improved clinical outcomes, but supraspinatus and external rotator muscle power were not improved. Conclusions: Patients aged 65 years or over undergoing surgical repair for a large to massive full-thickness rotator cuff tear showed successful outcomes over 90 percent. Re-tear patients also showed successful clinical outcomes. In elderly patients with large to massive full thickness rotator cuff tear, aggressive surgical repair leads good clinical outcomes.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.189-194
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• 2017

Background: Few studies have reported the results of arthroscopic coracoplasty concomitantly conducted with subscapularis tear. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine and compare the outcomes of arthroscopic subscapularis repair after arthroscopic coracoplasty using either the subacromial approach or rotator interval approach. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 51 patients who underwent coracoplasty with subscapularis repair. The patients were grouped according to whether the subacromial approach group (24 patients) or rotator interval approach group (27 patients) was used during coracoplasty. Preoperative and postoperative visual analogue scale scores, American shoulder and elbow surgeons scores, Korean shoulder scores, and range of motion (ROM) were assessed. Assessment of repaired rotator cuff tendon integrity was performed at 1 year after surgery using either magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasonography. Results: At final follow-up, overall functional scores and ROM improved significantly in both groups when compared with preoperative values (p>0.05). The re-tear rates were not significantly different between groups; however, the rotator interval approach group showed a significant increase in ROM compared with that in the subacromial approach group (p<0.05). Conclusions: Arthroscopic coracoplasty conducted concomitantly with subscapularis repair can provide a satisfactory outcome. There were no significant differences between the two approach groups regarding final functional scores and re-tear rates. However, the rotator interval approach group showed a greater increase in ROM at final follow-up, especially in external rotation.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.195-201
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• 2022

Background: This study aimed to examine the preliminary clinical results of the infraspinatus rotational transfer procedure for irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears. Methods: This study included 34 patients (mean age, 68.4 years). Their mean tear width and length measurements were 50.9 mm and 50.6 mm, respectively. The functional outcomes, including physician-determined and patient-reported scores, were evaluated before and at 1 year after surgery. The structural outcomes determined using the magnetic resonance imaging examination results were also assessed. Results: The clinical scores significantly improved after surgery compared with the scores before surgery: the Constant-Murley score (53.3±21.1 to 76.8±10.5), University of California at Los Angeles Shoulder score (15.6±3.6 to 27.8±6.7), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Shoulder score (51.8±18.3 to 89.1±13.5), and WORC score (925.0±436.8 to 480.3±373.2) (all p<0.001). Postoperative re-tears were noted in two patients (5.9%). Conclusions: One year postoperatively, the patient's clinical scores significantly improved, with a re-tear rate of 5.9%.

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2013

Purpose: Proprioceptive function has been known to be important to shoulder stability. However, the function in rotator cuff tear patients is rarely investigated. The purpose of current study is to report the proprioceptive function in rotator cuff tear patients and to analyze the proprioceptive function regarding the tear size and the presence of subscapularis tear. Materials and Methods: Between 2011 and 2012, total 76 patients (male 28 and female 48) were recruited and average age was 61.7 years old (range, 38~76). Preoperatively, joint position senses in internal and external rotation were measured for proprioceptive function testing by method of active re-positioning technique. The absolute difference from set point was measured. Proprioceptive function was further analyzed according to tear size of rotator cuff, the presence of subscapularis tear, visual analogue scale of pain, shoulder functional score (American society of elbow and shoulder score), and ranges of motion in shoulder. Results: The absolute difference for external rotation was $4.9^{\circ}{\pm}2.9^{\circ}$, in normal joint and $4.9^{\circ}{\pm}3.0^{\circ}$for involved joint in rotator cuff tear patients. This difference was not significant statistically (p=0.87). The absolute difference for internal rotation was $4.0^{\circ}{\pm}2.7^{\circ}$in normal joint whereas $4.8^{\circ}{\pm}3.7^{\circ}$ for involved joint showing statistically significant difference (p=0.043). There was some trend that the proprioceptive function of internal rotation was more impaired in the bigger tear size group (more than medium tear) compared to the smaller tear size group (partial thickness and small tear, 5.0 vs. 4.0, p=0.061). The impairment of internal rotation proprioception was also accentuated in patients with subscapularis tear (4.8 vs. 4.0, p=0.065). The proprioceptive function of internal rotation was decreased when the pain visual analogue scale was increased (5.2 vs. 4.0 p=0.04), shoulder functional score was decreased (6.1 vs. 4.2, p=0.005), or range of motion in shoulder joint was restricted (5.3 vs. 3.7, p=0.041). Conclusion: The deficit of proprioceptive function was observed in rotator cuff tear patients. Proprioception for internal rotation was impaired in patients with the bigger tear size and subscapularis tear. Pain, shoulder function score, and range of motion were also shown to be related with the deficit in proprioceptive function.

• 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.