• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was performed to assess the usefulness of non-anatomical repair for irreparable large and massive rotator cuff tears by the arthroscopic margin convergence technique. Materials and Methods: Twenty-two patients were followed up more than 1 year after non-anatomical repair for irreparable large and massive rotator cuff tears using the arthroscopic margin convergence technique. The clinical evaluation was performed according to the KSS score, the UCLA score and the Visual analogue scale (VAS). The measurement of the acromio-humeral distance was performed using the shoulder anterior-posterior radiographs. The measurement of fatty degeneration and the healing status was performed using the shoulder MRI after 6 months. Results: Among twenty-two patients, follow up MRI was performed in eleven cases. Three cases were well healed, four cases were partial healed and another four cases were re-torn. The KSS and UCLA scores had significantly improved from a preoperative average of 45.0${\pm}$8.014 and 10.8${\pm}$2.302 points to 77.1${\pm}$10.151 and 30.0${\pm}$1.521 points, respectively, and the pain VAS had decreased from a preoperative average of 7.7${\pm}$0.616 points to 3.0${\pm}$1.021 points at the last follow up. Less favorable results were obtained when the patient had a grade of fatty degeneration higher than grade 3 on the preoperative MRI. Conclusion: Non-anatomical repair for irreparable large and massive rotator cuff tears by the arthroscopic margin convergence technique showed good functional results. It seems to be one of the effective treatment methods for irreparable large and massive rotator cuff tears.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.84-88
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of suprascapular nerve block using platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) under ultrasonographic guidance in patients treated with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Material and Methods: 50 cases of patients, from March 2013 to March 2014, treated with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were retrospectively analyzed. We performed ultrasonography-guided suprascapular nerve block using platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) to these patients in the outpatient clinics at the 6 weeks follow-up after operation. We evalulated results for visual analogue score (VAS) for pain, range of motion (ROM), Constant Shoulder Score (CSS) for these patients before arthroscopic operation, following 6 weeks and 3 months after operation. Results: There was clinically significant improvement in VAS, ROM, CSS after ultrasonography-guided suprascapular nerve block using platelet-rich-plasma (PRP). Conclusion: Ultrasonography-guided suprascapular nerve block using platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) is an effective treatment method not only for around shoulder pain but also postoperative residual shoulder pain and limitation of shoulder motion.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2007

Purpose: To investigate the validity of positive signs of supraspinatus test. Materials and Methods: The empty can test and full can test were performed on 200 shoulders which were diagnosed with magnetic resonance imaging or surgical findings as full thickness tear, partial thickness tear and no tear. Presence of pain, weakness, pain or weakness, and both pain and weakness were recorded as positive signs separately. The two tests with positive signs were compared and analyzed. Results: Pain and weakness were severity-dependent, and the empty-can test had a higher incidence of pain. The sensitivities of the two supraspinatus tests in all positive signs were higher when including partial-thickness tears in the tear group; however, their specificities were higher when excluding partial-thickness tears. The sensitivities of an empty-can test in 'pain', 'pain or weakness', 'both pain and weakness' were higher than those of the full-can test, otherwise, the specificity of the full-can test for 'pain' and 'pain or weakness' were higher. Concordance rate between 'pain or weakness' and 'pain' was the highest in all categorization. Conclusion: Both empty can and full can test were valuable for detecting torn rotator cuff.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.68-75
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the motion of the shoulder joint dynamically through a depth sensor-based motion analysis system for the normal group and patients group with shoulder disease and to report the results along with a review of the relevant literature. Materials and Methods: Seventy subjects participated in the study and were categorized as follows: 30 subjects in the normal group and 40 subjects in the group of patients with shoulder disease. The patients with shoulder disease were subdivided into the following four disease groups: adhesive capsulitis, impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tear, and cuff tear arthropathy. Repeating abduction and adduction three times, the angle over time was measured using a depth sensor-based motion analysis system. The maximum abduction angle (θ_max), the maximum abduction angular velocity (ω_max), the maximum adduction angular velocity (ω_min), and the abduction/adduction time ratio (t_abd/t_add) were calculated. The above parameters in the 30 subjects in the normal group and 40 subjects in the patients group were compared. In addition, the 30 subjects in the normal group and each subgroup (10 patients each) according to the four disease groups, giving a total of five groups, were compared. Results: Compared to the normal group, the maximum abduction angle (θ_max), the maximum abduction angular velocity (ω_max), and the maximum adduction angular velocity (ω_min) were lower, and abduction/adduction time ratio (t_abd/t_add) was higher in the patients with shoulder disease. A comparison of the subdivided disease groups revealed a lower maximum abduction angle (θ_max) and the maximum abduction angular velocity (ω_max) in the adhesive capsulitis and cuff tear arthropathy groups than the normal group. In addition, the abduction/adduction time ratio (t_abd/t_add) was higher in the adhesive capsulitis group, rotator cuff tear group, and cuff tear arthropathy group than in the normal group. Conclusion: Through an evaluation of the shoulder joint using the depth sensor-based motion analysis system, it was possible to measure the range of motion, and the dynamic motion parameter, such as angular velocity. These results show that accurate evaluations of the function of the shoulder joint and an in-depth understanding of shoulder diseases are possible.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effectiveness of multimodal pain control method in an early phase after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, under interscalene brachial plexus block, this study was performed. Materials and Methods: The study was progressed with the 80 cases of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Interscalene brachial plexus block was used to all of the 80 cases and patients were divided into 2 groups. Group A consisted of patients injected with bupivacaine, through subacromial space catheter after surgery, and group B consisted of patients with additional method of multimodal pain control using oral opioids, acetaminophen-tramadol complex and selective COX2 inhibitor. Subacromial cathter was removed after injection in both groups. The pain during the day time and night time was compared on the operation day, postoperative 1st, 2nd, 3rd day and 2nd weeks, and it was measured with VAS (visual analogue scale) score. Additionally, the number of ketolorac injection and side-effect related to analgesics was compared between the 2 groups. Results : The mean VAS score of night time on the operation day and day/night time pain of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd day and 2nd weeks was 7.4, 7.0/6.8, 4.5/5.2, 4.8/5.0, 2.2/2.7 on group A and 6.5, 4.3/5.4, 3.2/4.3, 3.0/4.1, 2.4/2.5 on group B, respectively. Significant difference was observed in the night pain on the operation day, 1st, 2nd, 3rd day time and 1st night time pain (p<.05). The average number of ketololac injection was 1.1 and 0.5 in each group, and there was no difference in the frequency of side effects. Conclusion: Multimodal pain control method, after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, showed an effective early pain control and improved patients' satisfaction.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.24-31
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• 2007

Purpose: To evaluate any combined rotator cuff pathologies in adhesive capsulitis patients with magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) or ultrasonography (USG), and to see any differences in findings between MRA and USG. Materials and Methods: From June to December 2005, 80 consecutive patients with adhesive capsulitis were prospectively evaluated with either MRA or USG. Two groups were randomly assigned for examination. Evaluation were focused on any combined rotator cuff pathologies especially supraspinatus tendon. Results: Small (less than 1 cm) full-thickness SSP tendon tear were seen in 6 patients (MRA 4, USG 2, 8%) and partial-thickness SSP tendon tears in 21 (MRA 12, USG 9, 26%). In addition, supraspinatus tendinopathy were seen in 15 patients (MRA 7, USG 8, 19%). Overall, various SSP pathologies were reported in 42 patients (53%) of the study objects (MRA 23, 68% and USG 19, 41%). Subscapularis tendon partial tears were reported in 9 patients (MRA 6, USG 3, 11%). There were no statistical differences of the findings between MRA and USG in detecting rotator cuff pathologies (p>0.5). Conclusion: Nearly one half of the adhesive capsulitis patients showed various supraspinatus tendon pathology in MRA or USG. Although MRA group showed slight higher percentage of associated rotator cuff pathology than USG group (without statistical significance), this could be attributed to better resolution capacity of MRA than USG.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2017

Background: Isolated infraspinatus tear is very rare and clinical features are not as well known, therefore the purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical characteristics and outcomes of isolated infraspinatus tear that authors experienced. Methods: Authors reviewed 288 cases of full-thickness rotator cuff tear involving infraspinatus between 2010 and 2015, and retrospectively analyzed six cases of isolated infraspinatus tear. Perioperative clinical characteristics, postoperative functional outcomes of 6 months were investigated. Functional evaluation included visual analogue scale (VAS), range of motions, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and Constant score. Results: Calcific tendinitis was accompanied in 4 cases (66.7%). Three of them received steroid injection or aspiration or extracorporeal shockwave therapy. Mean preoperative pain VAS was 7.1 (range, 5-9), and mean postoperative pain VAS at 6 months later was 1.6 (range, 0-5). Preoperative muscle strength by isokinetic muscle performance test showed 52% deficit of abduction and 37.6% deficit of external rotation. All 6 patients had arthroscopic repair of the infraspinatus tendon. All the patients at the 6 months follow-up exhibited clinical improvement in the Constant score (67.8 [range, 45-77] to 89.3 [range, 81-100], p=0.029), and ASES score (52.3 [range, 30-77] to 90.0 [range, 80-100], p=0.002). There was no healing failure on imaging. Conclusions: Isolated infraspinatus tendon tear was frequently accompanied by calcific tendinitis, but pathophysiologic relationship should need more study. To rule out neurogenic etiology, magnetic resonance imaging and electromyography would be helpful. Arthroscopic infraspinatus tendon repair and supraspinatus debridement showed relatively good result in painful shoulder.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.135-138
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• 2019

Background: The aims of this study were (1) to examine the footprint of the subscapularis tendon using the traditional posterior portal and $30^{\circ}$ arthroscope by simple internal rotation of the arm during surgery, and (2) to classify the pattern of a subscapularis partial-thickness tear. Methods: This study analyzed a total of 231 patients with a partial-thickness subscapularis tear from 550 consecutive patients undergoing an arthroscopic operation who had a visualization of the subscapularis tendon footprint by internal rotation of the arm. First, the patients were classified into four categories according to the tear pattern: (1) stable lamination, (2) unstable lamination, (3) avulsion, and (4) laminated avulsion. Randomized arthroscopic videos were reviewed blindly by two independent orthopedic surgeons. The pattern of the tear of the subscapularis at the neutral position and after internal rotating the arm were assessed and compared with the treatment decision (level IV case series). Results: Stable lamination, unstable lamination, avulsion, and laminated avulsion were observed in 9.1% (n=21), 20.8% (n=48), 41.1% (n=95), and 29.0% (n=67) of cases, respectively. In 145 out of 231 cases (62.8%), the decision was changed after inspecting the footprint after internal rotation of the arm, and the treatment method was changed in 116 (50.2%) cases. Conclusions: In a subscapularis tendon partial-thickness tear, inspecting the footprint of the subscapularis tendon is essential to diagnosing and deciding on the appropriate treatment. In addition, simply internal rotating the arm during surgery when using the traditional posterior portal and $30^{\circ}$ arthroscope can be a valuable method.

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 2005

Purpose: To investigate the arthroscopic findings, and to evaluate the clinical outcomes of the treatment of posterior internal impingement of the shoulder in baseball players. Materials and Methods: We followed up 5 cases who were diagnosed as posterior internal impingement for the mean 15 months. All of the cases complained of the pain in the posterior shoulder at late cocking, and were positive in the relocation test added by hyper-horizontal abduction at $120^{\circ}$ abduction of the arm. We sutured posterior labral tear and SLAP lesion arthroscopically, and conducted debridement for rotator cuff. Three cases were performed of anterior capsular plication and the other two were performed of thermal capsular shrinkage. Pain, range of motion, and level of return to sports activity were assessed for the results. Results: As to the arthroscopic findings, all the five cases showed the fraying in posterosuperior labrum, and two of them was accompanied with the flap tear in posterosuperior labrum and the other one was accompanied with type 2 SLAP lesion. All the cases showed the fraying in supraspinatus, and one case showed partial tear. Meanwhile, in all the cases, the rotator cuff was impinged to the labrum at $90^{\circ}{\sim}120^{\circ}$ of abduction and external rotation. As to the postoperative results, all the cases did not complain of pain or instability while pitching, and the competition was recovered to be the mean 88%($80{\sim}100%$) of that before the injury. Conclusion: Definite diagnosis for the posterior internal impingement would be possible through arthroscopic examination. Favorable outcomes could be obtained with capsular plication or shrinkage for anterior microinstability and stretching exercise for posterior capsule tightness inducing the internal impingement.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 1999

Impingement syndrome is caused by a conflictual status between rotator cuff, subacromial bursa and anatomic and functional coracoacromial arch. The purpose of this study was to assessment the coracoacromial arch by MRI and to determine major factors among five components of coracoacromial arch. We analyzed forty-two cases of clinical impingement sign and test positive and postoperative confirmed diagnosed from March, 1991 to January, 1999. We evaluated acromial end abnormality according to the Bigliani acromial type and formation of osteophyte. Clavicular end abnormality classified flat, outward protrusion, inward protrusion to coracoacromial arch. Acromioclavicular joint abnormalities were advanced osteoarthritis and positive signal change. Coracoacromial ligament thickening was above 2 mm in oblique sagittal image. Coracoid process abnormality was inward protrusion to coracoacromial arch. All consecutive patients abnormalities were as follows: clavicular end osteophyte formation and inward protrusion to coracoacrmial arch were 30%, acromial end osteophyte formation was 28%, advanced acromioclavicular joint arthritis and osteophyte formation were 56%, coracoacromial ligament thickening was 24% and no coracoid process inward protrusion to coracoacromial arch. Impingement syndrome combined with rotator cuff tear group abnormalities were clavicular end(40%), acromial end(40%), acromioclavicular joint(20%), coracoacromialligament(20%) and coracoid process abnormality(0%) respectively. Only impingement syndrome group abnormalities were clavicular end(25%), acromial end(31%), acromioclavicular joint(62%), coracoacromial ligament(25%) and coracoid process(0%) respectively. Acromial type I(flat) were 6 cases, type II(curved) were 26 cases and type III(hooked) were 10 cases. We concluded that the most important contributing factors for impingement syndrome was acromial type and second was acromioclavicular joint arthritis and bony spur formation.