Reliability of forced internal rotation and active internal rotation to assess lateral instability of the biceps pulley

Purpose: the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between positive painful forced internal rotation (FIR) and lateral pulley instability in the presence of a pre-diagnosed posterosuperior cuff tear. The same investigation was conducted for painful active internal rotation (AIR). Methods: a multicenter prospective study was conducted in a series of patients scheduled to undergo arthroscopic posterosuperior cuff repair. Pain was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (DASH) was administered. The VAS score at rest, DASH score, and presence/absence of pain on FIR and AIR were recorded and their relationships with lesions of the lateral pulley, cuff tear patterns and shape of lesions were analyzed. Results: the study population consisted of 115 patients (mean age: 55.1 years) recruited from 12 centers. The dominant arm was affected in 72 cases (62.6%). The average anteroposterior extension of the lesion was 1.61 cm. The mean preoperative VAS and DASH scores were 6.1 and 41.8, respectively. FIR and AIR were positive in 94 (81.7%) and 85 (73.9%) cases, respectively. The lateral pulley was compromised in 50 cases (43.4%). Cuff tears were partial articular in 35 patients (30.4%), complete in 61 (53%), and partial bursal in 19 (16.5%). No statistical correlation between positive FIR or AIR and lateral pulley lesions was detected. Positive FIR and AIR were statistically associated with complete lesions. Negative FIR was associated with the presence of partial articular tears. Conclusions: painful FIR in the presence of a postero-superior cuff tear does not indicate lateral pulley instability. When a cuff tear is suspected, positive FIR and AIR are suggestive of full-thickness tear patterns while a negative FIR suggests a partial articular lesion. Level of evidence: level I, validating cohort study with good reference standards

Recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation with glenoid bone loss and concurrent irreparable rotator cuff tear in a young patient: case report

Full-thickness rotator cuff tear associated with glenohumeral anterior dislocation is a rare injury in patients younger than 40 years of age. We here report a case of recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation with glenoid bone loss and concurrent irreparable rotator cuff tear in a young patient. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first such case reported in the literature. We also discuss the type of surgical treatment adopted and the measures that can be undertaken to address both instability and massive rotator cuff tear

Selected factors that negatively impact healing

Wound healing is achieved through orchestrated phases that must occur in the proper sequence and time. Many factors impair normal healing by interfering with one or more of its phases. This chapter reviews the most important factors known to negatively affect healing and describes the mechanisms whereby they exert their detrimental effects. The factors discussed include patient-related factors (horse versus pony, age, nutritional status, disease, and tissue perfusion) and wound-related factors (causes and types of wounds, age and location of the wound, involvement of structures other than skin, nature of the wound, previous treatment, neoplastic transformation, and bioburden). A better understanding of the influence of these factors on repair may lead to a therapeutic approach that negates or diminishes their effects, thereby improving healing and resolving non-healing wounds