Sternoclavicular joint reconstruction for traumatic acute and chronic anterior and posterior instability: Patient-reported outcomes at a minimum of 2 years.

Background: Instability of the sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) is a rare problem that is often treated closed, with few published outcomes of surgical treatment with tendon graft reconstruction.

Methods: We reviewed a consecutive series of patients who underwent tendon graft reconstruction for SCJ instability over a 7-year period. Cases with acute fractures or fewer than 2 years of follow-up were excluded.

Which Components of the Simple Shoulder Test Show Improvement After Scapulothoracic Fusion for Recalcitrant Scapular Winging? Clinical Results at a Minimum of 5 Years of Follow-up.

Background: Scapular winging is an uncommon but important cause of shoulder pain and disability. Surgical management can include soft tissue procedures such as split pectoralis major transfer, the Eden-Lange procedure, or a triple tendon transfer. When these procedures do not alleviate symptomatic winging or are inappropriate, scapulothoracic fusion is an alternative, but data on its longer-term effectiveness are sparse.

The minimal clinically important differences of the Simple Shoulder Test are different for different arthroplasty types.

Background: Preoperative and postoperative patient self-reported measures are the key to understanding the benefit of shoulder arthroplasty for patients with different diagnoses and having different surgical approaches. The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for patient-reported outcomes such as the Simple Shoulder Test (SST) is often used to document the amount of improvement that is of importance to the patient; however, the MCID may differ for different types of shoulder arthroplasty. The objective of this study was to report the MCID of the SST and the MCID of the percentage of maximal possible improvement (%MPI) for 5 different arthroplasty types.

Shoulder Hemiarthroplasty with Nonprosthetic Glenoid Arthroplasty: The Ream-and-Run Procedure.

»: Glenoid component wear and loosening are the principal failure modes of anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (aTSA).

»: The ream-and-run (RnR) procedure is an alternative glenohumeral arthroplasty for patients who wish to avoid the risks and limitations of a prosthetic glenoid component.

»: During the RnR procedure, the arthritic glenoid is conservatively reamed to a single concavity, while the prosthetic humeral component and soft tissues are balanced to provide both mobility and stability of the joint.

Unicortical sternal graft reconstruction for anterior sternoclavicular joint instability.

Sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) injury represents 3%-5% of all shoulder girdle injuries, yet can produce significant pain and disability. While conservative management improves symptoms in most cases, surgical intervention may be indicated for patients with symptoms recalcitrant to nonoperative treatment. A wide range of surgical stabilisation techniques is documented in the literature; however, the scarcity of SCJ pathology has hindered development of a 'gold standard'.

Ream and run and total shoulder: patient and shoulder characteristics in five hundred forty-four concurrent cases.

Purpose: Total shoulder (TSA) is commonly used to treat arthritic shoulders with intact rotator cuffs; however, some patients choose a ream and run (RnR) to avoid the potential risks and limitations of a prosthetic glenoid component. Little is known about how patients selecting each of these two procedures compare and contrast.

Methods: We analyzed the patient characteristics, shoulder characteristics, and two year clinical outcomes of 544 patients having RnR or TSA at the same institution during the same six year period.

Is the Simple Shoulder Test a valid outcome instrument for shoulder arthroplasty?

Background: The Simple Shoulder Test (SST) is a brief, inexpensive, and widely used patient-reported outcome tool, but it has not been rigorously evaluated for patients having shoulder arthroplasty. The goal of this study was to rigorously evaluate the validity of the SST for outcome assessment in shoulder arthroplasty using a systematic review of the literature and an analysis of its properties in a series of 408 surgical cases.

Methods: SST scores, 36-Item Short Form Health Survey scores, and satisfaction scores were collected preoperatively and 2 years postoperatively.

Bilateral Posterior Sternoclavicular Dislocations.

We present the case of a professional horse jockey with chronic, bilateral, posterior sternoclavicular dislocations. Traumatic dislocation of the sternoclavicular is a relatively rare but potentially devastating injury. Posterior sternoclavicular dislocations occur less frequently than anterior dislocations and require careful and complete evaluation because of the potential for serious complications including respiratory distress, brachial plexus injury, and vascular injury.

Management of intraoperative posterior decentering in shoulder arthroplasty using anteriorly eccentric humeral head components.

Background: Posterior humeral decentering presents a challenge in glenohumeral arthroplasty. Soft tissue releases and osteophyte resection can lead to intraoperative decentering not evident preoperatively. Inferior outcomes result if decentering is not addressed as a part of the arthroplasty.

Complete Spinal Accessory Nerve Palsy From Carrying Climbing Gear.

We report an unusual case of spinal accessory nerve palsy sustained while transporting climbing gear. Spinal accessory nerve injury is commonly a result of iatrogenic surgical trauma during lymph node excision. This particular nerve is less frequently injured by blunt trauma.

Orthopaedic Residents Improve Confidence and Knot-Tying Speed With a Skills Course.

Purpose: To determine the effect of a knot-tying module, within an arthroscopic training course, on resident speed, resident confidence, and biomechanical quality of arthroscopically tied knots.

Methods: Sixty-four participants (8 postgraduate year [PGY]-3 and 8 PGY-4 orthopaedic residents annually for 4 years) were enrolled in a 5-day training course, which included a daily knot-tying module. Self-assessed confidence was obtained by pre-course (day 1) and post-course (day 5) questionnaire.

Can the ream and run procedure improve glenohumeral relationships and function for shoulders with the arthritic triad?

Background: The arthritic triad of glenoid biconcavity, glenoid retroversion, and posterior displacement of the humeral head on the glenoid is associated with an increased risk of failure of total shoulder joint replacement. Although a number of glenohumeral arthroplasty techniques are being used to manage this complex pathology, problems with glenoid component failure remain. In that the ream and run procedure manages arthritic pathoanatomy without a glenoid component, we sought evidence that this procedure can be effective in improving the centering of the humeral head contact on the glenoid and in improving the comfort and function of shoulders with the arthritic triad without the risk of glenoid component failure.

The quality of upper extremity orthopedic care in liability claims filed and claims paid.

Purpose: To review a series of closed liability claims for upper extremity conditions to guide improvements for upper extremity care and thereby reduce the frequency of paid claims.

Methods: The authors, a team of 3 orthopedic surgeons and 3 nonphysician investigators experienced in closed claims research, investigated 108 closed upper extremity liability claims from a large United States-wide insurer for events that occurred between 1996 and 2009. We sought to determine the types of conditions, treatments, and surgeon factors common to claims made and claims paid.

The Arthroscopic Surgical Skill Evaluation Tool (ASSET).

Background: Surgeries employing arthroscopic techniques are among the most commonly performed in orthopaedic clinical practice; however, valid and reliable methods of assessing the arthroscopic skill of orthopaedic surgeons are lacking.

Hypothesis: The Arthroscopic Surgery Skill Evaluation Tool (ASSET) will demonstrate content validity, concurrent criterion-oriented validity, and reliability when used to assess the technical ability of surgeons performing diagnostic knee arthroscopic surgery on cadaveric specimens.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Lessons regarding the safety of orthopaedic patient care: an analysis of four hundred and sixty-four closed malpractice claims.

Background: An orthopaedic malpractice claim alleges that the patient sustained a preventable iatrogenic injury. The analysis of a representative series of malpractice claims provides a unique view of alleged orthopaedic adverse events, revealing what can potentially go wrong across a spectrum of practice settings and anatomic locations. The goal of this study was to identify high-impact targets in order to institute measures to reduce claims through efforts focused on patient safety.

Prognostic factors for bacterial cultures positive for Propionibacterium acnes and other organisms in a large series of revision shoulder arthroplasties performed for stiffness, pain, or loosening.

Background: Propionibacterium acnes has been grown on culture in half of the reported cases of chronic infection associated with shoulder arthroplasty. The presence of this organism can be overlooked because its subtle presentation may not suggest the need for culture or because, in contrast to many orthopaedic infections, multiple tissue samples and weeks of culture incubation are often necessary to recover this organism. Surgical decisions regarding implant revision and antibiotic therapy must be made before the results of intraoperative cultures are known.

Comparison of structural bone autografts and allografts in pediatric foot surgery.

Background: Autogenous bone has been the gold standard as the source for structural bone-graft material due to its osteogenic potential, nonimmunogenicity, and efficiency of incorporation. However, donor-site morbidity can lead to significant problems. Allograft bone is readily available and obviates the risks associated with bone-graft harvesting.