Elective Lumbar Spine Surgery in Depressed Patients: Is it Worth it?

Background: The objective of this study is to compare surgical results (pain, function, and satisfaction) between a group of depressed patients and a nondepressed group who had been operated on for a degenerative lumbar condition.

Methods: Prospective observational study. Preoperative pain (lumbar and radicular visual analog scale [VAS]), function (Oswestry Disability Index [ODI]), and depression (Zung depression scale) data were collected in patients listed to be operated on for a lumbar degenerative condition.

Decreased axial coracoid inclination angle is associated with rotator cuff tears.

Purpose: Coracoid morphology has been related to coracoid impingement mainly resulting in anterior shoulder pain aggravated by forward flexion and internal rotation. However, the coracoid process morphology can also affect the inclination of the coracoacromial ligament and subsequently the subacromial space in the same way that acromial slope does. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of the coracoid body-glenoid surface, coracoid tip-glenoid surface, and coracoid body-coracoid tip angles (coracoid inclination angles) on rotator cuff tears (RCTs).

The magnetic resonance aspect of a polyurethane meniscal scaffold is worse in advanced cartilage defects without deterioration of clinical outcomes after a minimum two-year follow-up.

Background: Meniscal scaffolding is thought to provide functional improvement and to prevent cartilage degeneration. Advanced chondral injuries might damage the scaffold structural properties.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of different degrees of articular chondral injuries on the imaging aspect of a polyurethane meniscal scaffold (Actifit®).

Does fracture of the dominant shoulder have any effect on functional and quality of life outcome compared with the nondominant shoulder?

Hypothesis: Proximal humeral fractures involving the dominant arm are not predisposed to worsen the functional outcome and the quality of life compared with proximal humeral fractures of the nondominant arm.

Methods: This was a retrospective study including 179 consecutive proximal humeral fractures divided into 2 groups: fractures involving the dominant arm (n = 97) and fractures involving the nondominant arm (n = 82). Both groups were prospectively assessed for 2 years, and at the end of the follow-up, all patients underwent functional assessment by Constant score and quality of life assessment through the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36).

Partial meniscus substitution with a polyurethane scaffold does not improve outcome after an open-wedge high tibial osteotomy.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine whether medial meniscal substitution with a polyurethane scaffold (Actifit(®)) improves the outcome of medial meniscal-deficient varus knees undergoing open-wedge high tibial osteotomy.

Methods: Sixty patients with symptomatic varus knees those who underwent open-wedge high tibial osteotomies were prospectively studied. In 30 patients, the medial meniscus was left with a defect larger than 25 mm (Group M).