• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.242-248
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• 2009

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical and radiologic results of the arthroscopic rotator cuff repair for partial articular surface tendon avulsion lesion. Materials and Methods: Twelve patients with symptomatic, partial articular surface tendon avulsion underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair between Mar. 2006 and Sep. 2008. The mean follow-up period was 18.3 months(12~36 months), and the mean age at the time of surgery was 46.9-year-old(19~64 years). Three cases had underwent rotator cuff repair after conversion to full-thickness tear and nine cases had transtendon repair with preserving bursal side cuff. Results: The mean VAS during motion was 6.2 before treatment and 2.0 at final follow-up (p<0.001). The passive forward flexion improved from $163.3^{\circ}$ preoperatively to $169.8^{\circ}$ postoperatively (p=0.038). The mean UCLA score improved from 18.4 preoperatively to 30.1 with 2 excellent, 8 good and 2 fair results at final follow-up. The mean KSS improved from 61.8 preoperatively to 76.8 at final follow-up. By examining the postoperative MR images of 5 patients, complete healing was observed in all of them. Conclusion: Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair may be an effective procedure for partial articular surface tendon avulsion in pain relief and improvement of the range of motion. If the remaining bursal side cuff fibers are intact, transtendon repair procedure with preserving the intact bursal layer of the tendon can be considered. If the remaining bursal side cuff fibers are friable or little, completion from partial-thickness to full-thickness tears with subsequent cuff repair can be considered.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.94-99
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical results of arthroscopic biceps long head suprapectoral tenodesis using an interference screw. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the cases of 30 patients who underwent arthroscopic biceps long head suprapectoral tenodesis using an interference screw between January 2008 and January 2010. The minimum follow up period was one year. Twenty patients had rotator cuff tears. The results were analyzed by VAS, ASES, tenderness in the bicipital groove, fixation failure, and the degree of deformity. Results: VAS, ASES scores showed a statistically significant increase during the final observation in all patients, compared with those before surgery. However, five patients (17%) had anterior shoulder pain and tenderness in the biceps groove, and three patients (10%) had Popeye deformity. Better results were achieved in patients without rotator cuff tear than in patients with rotator cuff tear (p<0.05). Conclusion: Arthroscopic biceps long head tenodesis above the pectoralis major using an interference screw in patients with a pathologic lesion of the proximal biceps tendon showed good results at the last follow up. However, further study for tenderness in the biceps groove in 17% of patients is needed.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.344-351
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• 2020

Background: The effects of far-infrared radiation (FIR) on the treatment of rotator cuff diseases remains unknown. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of FIR after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with regard to postoperative pain and healing. Methods: This prospective randomized comparative study included 38 patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair due to a medium-sized tear. Patients were randomly divided into the FIR or control group (n = 19 per group). In the FIR group, FIR with an FIR radiator started 1 week postoperatively for 30 minutes per session twice daily. It lasted until abduction brace weaning at 5 weeks postoperatively. We assessed pain using a pain visual analogue scale (pVAS) and measured the range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder at 5 weeks, and 3 and 6 months, postoperatively. The anatomical outcome was evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging at 6 months postoperatively. Results: At 5 weeks postoperatively, the average pVAS score was lower in the FIR group than in the control group (1.5 ± 0.8 vs. 2.7 ± 1.7; P = 0.019). At 3 months postoperatively, the average forward flexion was higher in the FIR group (151.6° ± 15.3° vs. 132.9° ± 27.8°; P = 0.045), but there was no significant difference at 6 months postoperatively. There was no significant difference in healing failure between the groups (P = 0.999). Conclusions: FIR after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair could be an effective and safe procedure to reduce postoperative pain, thereby facilitating rehabilitation and better ROM in the early postoperative period.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.780-783
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• 2006

Purpose: Rupture of a collateral ligament of the metacarpophalangeal joint is rare except in the thumb. The injured digit became flexed and deviated toward ulna side by the hypothenar intrinsic musculature. Incomplete rupture of a collateral ligament of the metacarpophalangeal joint can be often managed by splinting the affected digit in flexion position, however, in the case of complete tears that distraction of the ends of the ruptured collateral ligament is too great to allow repositioning by splinting. Primary repair of the ruptured collateral ligament or reattachment to bone by a pull-out wire, or tendon graft technique appears to be adequate. Methods: We report a case of instability of fifth metacarpophalangeal joint due to complete rupture of radial collateral ligament. This 18-year-old male presented pain in his right outstretched hand after trauma. The diagnosis was obtained by physical examination and simple radiography. Because of persistent instability after the initial conservative treatment, open reduction and repair surgical treatment was required. Results: The fifth metacarpophalangeal joint became free of pain and stable under forced lateral deviation. Postoperative results showed good metacarpophalangeal joint function and stability during 8 months follow-up period. Conclusion: Because of the interposition of the sagittal band between the ruptured ends of radial collateral ligament such as Stener-like lesion of the thumb, surgical repair of metacarpophalangeal joint collateral ligament of the finger was justified in case of complete laxity in full flexion.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.224-230
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• 2021

Background: Local anesthetics often are used in rotator cuff tears as therapeutic tools, although some cases have reported that they have detrimental effects. Neurotropin (NTP) is used widely in Japan as a treatment for various chronic pain conditions and is shown to have protective effects on cartilage and nerve cells. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of NTP against lidocaine-induced cytotoxicity. Methods: Tenocytes from rotator cuff tendons were incubated with lidocaine, NTP, lidocaine with NTP, and a control medium. Cell viability was evaluated using the WST-8 assay. Cell apoptosis was detected via annexin V staining using flow cytometry. The expression of BCL-2 and cytochrome c, which are involved in the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis, was evaluated via Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining. Results: In the cell viability assay, lidocaine decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, and NTP did not affect cell viability. Moreover, NTP significantly inhibited the cytotoxic effect of lidocaine. The flow cytometry analysis showed that lidocaine significantly induced apoptosis in tenocytes, and NTP considerably inhibited this lidocaine-induced apoptosis. Western blotting experiments showed that lidocaine decreased the protein expression of BCL-2, and that NTP conserved the expression of BCL-2, even when used with lidocaine. Immunohistochemical staining for cytochrome c showed that 0.1% lidocaine increased cytochrome c-positive cells, and NTP suppressed lidocaine-induced cytochrome c expression. Conclusions: NTP suppresses lidocaine-induced apoptosis of tenocytes by inhibiting the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Intra-articular/bursal injection of NTP with lidocaine could protect tenocytes in rotator cuff tendons against lidocaine-induced apoptosis.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.172-179
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• 2008

Purpose: To evaluate the functional and structural results of arthroscopic double-row repair using combined knot-tying and knotless suture anchors in rotator cuff tears. Materials and Methods: From March 2006 to June 2007, twenty-one patients (15 males, 6 females; mean age 55.6 years; range 48 to 67) were included who underwent arthroscopic double-row repair for full-thickness tears of the rotator cuff following conservative treatment for a mean of 6.5 months (range 3 to 11). The tear size was carefully inspected arthroscopically and we found 2 small, 13 medium and 6 large-sized rotator cuff tears, with a mean tear size of 2.5cm(range 1.8 to 3.2). The repair constructs were consisted of horizontal mattress sutures using conventional knot-tying suture anchors medially and simple suture at the same level of medial row stitch with Bioknotless RC anchors (DePuy Mitek, Norwood, MA) as lateral row. Clinical and functional evaluations were made according to the range of motion, the ASES, UCLA scale and the isokinetic strength testing. Postoperative cuff integrity was determined through magnetic resonance imaging. The mean follow-up was 15 months (range 13 to 24). Results: The average clinical outcome scores and strength were all improved significantly at the time of the final follow-up (p < 0.01). Nineteen patients (90%) were satisfied with the result of the treatment. In 17 of 21 patients (81%) were judged to reveal healed tendon on magnetic resonance imaging at a mean of 7 months postoperatively. There were no significant functional differences according to the preoperative tear size (p<0.01), but large-sized tear shows less favorable structural results in 3 out of 6 cases(50%). Conclusion: Our results document the usefulness and variability of arthroscopic double-row rotator cuff repairs comparable to the results of the other types of double-row repairs.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the accompanying lesions of humerus greater tuberosity fracture with anterior shoulder dislocation and to analyze its clinical results. Materials and Methods: From May 2005 to November 2008, arthroscopy was performed on a total of 30 selected patients who were diagnosed with humerus greater tuberosity fracture with anterior shoulder dislocation and who were also under the age of 40. The preoperative and postoperative Constant and Rowe scores were compared. Results: There was a total of 21 cases of anteroinferior labral lesions: 2 Bankart lesions, 4 bony Bankart lesions, 4 Perthes lesions, 2 free ALPSA lesions, 3 GLAD lesions and 6 capsular tears. For other lesions, 5 rotator cuff partial tears, 3 SLAP lesions and 1 biceps tendon rupture were found. The constant scores were increased from 56.3 to 94.43 points (p=0.034), and the Rowe scores were increased from 52.56 to 91.76 points (p=0.026). Conclusion: For humerus greater tuberosity fracture with anterior shoulder dislocation, the accompanying lesion was identified and the fracture was treated using arthroscopy. Good clinical results and bone union were achieved. According to the secondary arthroscopic findings, all of the Perthes lesion, the free ALPSA lesion, the GLAD lesion and the capsular tear spontaneously healed or they did not progress to extended rupture although arthroscopic suture was not performed. Any postoperative secondary instability was not observed.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2020

Purpose: This paper presents the long term follow-up results of arthroscopic partial repair for massive irreparable rotator cuff tears using a biceps long head auto graft. Materials and Methods: Forty-one patients with massive irreparable rotator cuff tear, who underwent arthroscopic repair, were reviewed retrospectively. Patients who underwent arthroscopic partial repair using a biceps long head auto graft were assigned to group 1, and patients in group 2 underwent arthroscopic partial repair alone. Patients with a less than 50% partial tear of the long head biceps tendon were included in this study. The clinical scores were measured using a visual analogue pain scale (VAS) for pain, range of motion (ROM), The University of California, Los Angeles shoulder score (UCLA), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Shoulder Score (ASES), and Korean Shoulder Scoring System (KSS) scores preoperatively and at the final follow-up. The acromiohumeral interval (AHI) was measured using plain radiographs taken preoperatively and at the final follow-up, and re-tear was evaluated using postoperative ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging at the last follow-up. Results: The mean age of the patients was 62.1±12.7 years, and the mean follow-up period was 90.3±16.8 months. No significant differences in the VAS and ROM (forward flexion, external rotation, internal rotation) were found between the two groups (p=0.179, p=0.129, p=0.098, p=0.155, respectively). The UCLA (p=0.041), ASES (p=0.023), and KSS (p=0.019) scores showed functional improvements in group 1 compared to group 2. At the last follow-up, the measured AHI values were 9.46±0.41 mm and 6.86±0.64 mm in group 1 and 2, respectively (p=0.032). Re-tear was observed in six out of 21 cases (28.6%) in group 1 and nine out of 20 cases (45.0%) in group 2; the retear rate was significantly lower in group 1 than in group 2 (p=0.011). Conclusion: Arthroscopic partial repair for a massive irreparable rotator cuff tear using a biceps long head auto graft has significant clinical usefulness in functional recovery and decreases the re-tear rates after surgery than arthroscopic partial repair alone, showing favorable results after a long-term follow-up.