• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.207-212
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• 2018

Background: Delaminated rotator cuff tear is known to be a degenerative tear having a negative prognostic effect. This study undertook to compare the anatomical and clinical outcomes of delaminated tears and single layer tears. Methods: Totally, 175 patients with medium to large rotator cuff tears enrolled for the study were divided into 2 groups, based on the tear pathology: single layer tear (group 1) and delaminated tear (group 2). Preoperatively, length of the remnant tendon, muscle atrophy of supraspinatus (SS), and fatty degeneration of SS and infraspinatus (IS) muscles were assessed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). For follow-up, the repair integrity of the rotator cuff was evaluated by ultrasonography. Clinical outcomes were assessed by evaluating the Constant score (CS) and Korean Shoulder Score (KSS). Results: Retears were detected in 6 cases of group 1 (6.5%) and 11 cases of group 2 (13.3%). Although higher in group 2, the retear rate was significantly not different (p=0.133). Preoperative MRI revealed length of remnant tendon to be $15.46{\pm}3.60mm$ and $14.17{\pm}3.16mm$ (p=0.013), and muscle atrophy of SS (occupation ratio) was $60.54{\pm}13.15$ and $56.55{\pm}12.88$ (p=0.045), in group 1 and group 2, respectively. Fatty degeneration of SS and IS in both groups had no significant differences. Postoperatively, no significant differences were observed for CS and KSS values between the groups. Conclusions: Delaminated rotator cuff tears showed shorter remnant tendon length and higher muscle atrophy that correlate to a negative prognosis. These prognostic effects should be considered during delaminated rotator cuff tear treatment.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.128-134
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• 2019

Background: Patients with rotator cuff tears are usually afflicted with shoulder pain and disability. However, it is unclear which factors are related to shoulder pain in patients with rotator cuff tears. This study was therefore undertaken to determine the factors correlated with shoulder pain in patients with painful rotator cuff tears, but without any history of trauma. Methods: We evaluated a cohort of 745 patients with painful rotator cuff tears having no trauma history, and analyzed the relationship between pain and multiple factors including demographic data, tear characteristics, and passive range of motion. Pain was analyzed with a questionnaire concerning the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain. Tear characteristics were determined by evaluating tear size, muscle atrophy, number of torn tendons, and presence of arthritis. Multivariate linear regression analysis and chi-squared test were applied to evaluate the relationship between the VAS for pain and variable factors. Results: Shoulder pain was associated with young age (p=0.01), male sex (p=0.01) and the presence of diabetes mellitus (p<0.001). Measurements of rotator cuff tear characteristics including tear size (p=0.53), muscle atrophy (p=0.16) and the number of torn tendons (p=0.34) did not correlate with shoulder pain. Symptom duration (p=0.60) and range of motion (p>0.05) also showed no correlation with VAS for pain. Conclusions: Young age, male sex and the presence of diabetes mellitus correlated positively with preoperative shoulder pain in patients with painful rotator cuff tears without a trauma history. Combined treatment of pain management and risk factor correction could be helpful to control preoperative shoulder pain.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.169-174
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• 2023

Background: Sleep quality, quantity, and efficiency have all been demonstrated to be adversely affected by rotator cuff pathology. Previous measures of assessing the impact of rotator cuff pathology on sleep have been largely subjective in nature. This study was undertaken to objectively analyze this relationship through the use of activity monitors. Methods: Patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears at a single institution were prospectively enrolled between 2018 and 2020. Waist-worn accelerometers were provided for the patients to use each night for 14 days. Sleep efficiency was calculated using the ratio of the time spent sleeping to the total amount of time that was spent in bed. Retraction of the rotator cuff tear was classified using the Patte staging system. Results: This study included 36 patients: 18 with Patte stage 1 disease, 14 with Patte stage 2 disease, and 4 patients with Patte stage 3 disease. During the study, 25 participants wore the monitor on multiple nights, and ultimately their data was used for the analysis. No difference in the median sleep efficiency was appreciated amongst these groups (P>0.1), with each cohort of patients demonstrating a generally high sleep efficiency. Conclusions: The severity of retraction of the rotator cuff tear did not appear to correlate with changes in sleep efficiency for patients (P>0.1). These findings can better inform providers on how to counsel their patients who present with complaints of poor sleep in the setting of full-thickness rotator cuff tears.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.115-119
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• 1999

Purpose: We reviewed the SLAP lesions and associated injuries, also evaluated a hypothesis that the type II posterior SLAP lesion is related with posterior rotator cuff tear and gives rise to the postero-superior instability. Materials and Methods: The patient recording papers, MRI, video and operation sheets were reviewed with the 28 SLAP lesions confirmed by the arthroscopy among 242 cases. Among these SLAP lesions, type II was 22 cases and classified to the anterior, posterior(16 cases), combined subtype(6 cases) based on the main anatomic location. There were 14 cases of the type II accompanying rotator cuff tear. The average follow-up(13 months) results were evaluated with the ASES and Rowe rating score after repair or debridement of the SLAP lesions. Results: In the type II lesions accompanying the rotator cuff tears(14 cases), the posterior(l0 cases) and combined type(4 cases), cuff lesions were all existed posteriorly. Also We could confirm the drive-through sign in the eleven cases, though did not check the disappearance of this sign after repair because of retrospective study. We could followed up the 22 cases, 18 cases(77%) were excellent or good, fair 3 cases(14%) and poor 1 case(4%). Also, type II lesions with the rotator cuff tear(14 cases) were showed better results in the repair(8 cases) than the debridement(6 cases) of the unstable type II with the cuff repair. Conclusion: The type II lesions were frequently associated with the cuff tear in the specific location. We could presume the possibility of postero-superior instability in the SLAP lesion with the cuff injuries. Also, satisfactory results could be experienced when the unstable SLAP lesions with the cuff tear were repaired at the same time.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.209-217
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• 2014

Most studies on the pathophysiology, natural history, diagnosis by imaging and outcomes after operative or nonoperative treatment of rotator cuff tear have focused on those of full-thickness tears, resulting in limited knowledge of partial-thickness rotator cuff tears. However, a partial-thickness tear of the rotator cuff is a common disorder and can be the cause of persistent pain and dysfunction of the shoulder joint in the affected patients. Recent updates in the literatures shows that the partial-thickness tears are not merely mild form of full-thickness tears. Over the last decades, an improved knowledge of pathophysiology and surgical techniques of partial-thickness tears has led to more understanding of the significance of this tear and better outcomes. In this review, we discuss the current concept of management for partial-thickness tears in terms of the pathogenesis, natural history, nonoperative treatment, and surgical outcomes associated with the commonly used repair techniques.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.107-112
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• 2009

Ultrasonographic examination for the rotator cuff disease is dynamic noninvasive study and the results is comparable to MRI on the behalf of recent development. It also can be used as a tool for guided injection and follow up study after rotator cuff repair. The development of equipment, learning curve and knowledge for the disease are the three most important factors for the critical role of the ultrasonography in the diagnosis and treatment of the rotator cuff disease.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 2015

Rotator cuff tear is a common reason for shoulder pain. Although the surgical technique of rotator cuff repair is developing, high retear rate requires additional supplementary methods. Among these supplementary methods, as a kind of biologic augmentation, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been spotlighted and has recently been studied by many researchers. PRP, a concentrate of platelet extract obtained from whole blood, contains numerous growth factors. As this is known to play an important role in the tissue recovery process, it had been used for research in a variety of fields including orthopedics. Use of PRP has been attempted in surgical treatments of rotator cuff tear for better results; however, only a few large-scale research studies on the effect of PRP have been reported. Clinical results of each study are also variable. Therefore research using large-scale randomized, double-blind trials should be conducted in order to prove the application range, safety, and clinical effects of PRP.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.42-45
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• 2017

One of the most important factors leading to a successful healing of rotator cuff tear is good bone quality to secure the suture anchor in the bone for a stable fixation. However, rotator cuff tear are commonly found in elderly patients, and their proximal humerus often shows osteoporosis or cystic lesions. Especially when the transosseous repair prevails for a torn rotator cuff, a weak metaphyseal cancellous bone is often the case, which associated with difficulty in stable fixation of the lateral row suture anchor. In this situation, we were able to augment the lateral row fixation with polymethylmethacrylate bone cement. Although there is a concern of disturbance in the blood flow and healing potential, our case showed good clinical results with respect to healing. If we suspect a weak fixation of the lateral row suture anchor, bone cement seems to be a good option for augmentation.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.109-117
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• 2020

Repair of the rotator cuff tear is a joint-tightening procedure that can worsen joint stiffness. This paradoxical phenomenon complicates treatment of rotator cuff tear with joint stiffness. As a result, there is controversy about how and when to treat joint stiffness. As many treatments have been published, this review discusses the latest findings on treatment of rotator cuff tear with joint stiffness.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.64-69
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• 2020

Ultrasound (US) imaging is an efficient, easy to use, rapid, dynamic, noninvasive, with rare side-effects and inexpensive tool allowing for facilitated diagnosis and management of the painful shoulder. It also has advantages over other imaging modalities in the evaluation of the postoperative shoulder for rotator cuff integrity and correct anchor and suture placement, as well as rotator cuff analysis following repair surgery. Early postoperative tendons frequently had a hypo- echoic echo texture and the absence of a fibrillar pattern, which might be misinterpreted as recurrent tears. however, these features often normalized into tendons with an increased echo texture and the reappearance of a fibrillar pattern at 6 months. Based on these sequential findings, the US findings within 3 months after surgery should be interpreted with caution to accurately understand and monitor the repaired tendon status.