Surgical Treatment of Medial Gastrocnemius Tear

Medial gastrocnemius tears typically occur with forced dorsiflexion while the knee is extended. Myotendinous injuries occur most commonly, which are almost always treated without surgery. If a tendinous injury or avulsion occurs, nonoperative treatment should first be attempted. However, in patients where forceful plantar flexion is required for their desired activities or occupation, surgical fixation is an important treatment option. Postoperative bracing should be used to protect the repair with a graduated therapy progression, including range of motion followed by strengthening and return to activities. This technical note describes the technique for a safe and reliable medial gastrocnemius tendinous repair using two suture anchors

Shoulder Arthroscopy in the Lateral Decubitus Position

Arthroscopic shoulder surgery can be performed in both the beach chair and lateral decubitus positions. The lateral decubitus position allows for excellent exposure to all aspects of the glenohumeral joint and is therefore frequently employed in procedures such as stabilization, in which extensive visualization of the inferior and posterior aspects of the joint is required. Improved visualization is imparted due to applied lateral and axial traction on the operative arm, which increases the glenohumeral joint space. To perform arthroscopy surgery in the lateral decubitus position successfully, meticulous care during patient positioning and setup must be taken. In this Technical Note, we describe the steps required to safely, efficiently, and reproducibly perform arthroscopic shoulder surgery in the lateral decubitus position

Treatment of a Failed Type V Acromioclavicular Separation Due to Coracoid Fracture: Revision of Acromioclavicular-Coracoclavicular Reconstruction and Coracoid Fixation

Acromioclavicular (AC) injuries are common, especially in the young and active population. AC joint dislocations account for 8% of all joint dislocations and are even more common in contact sports. These injuries are graded as type I through type VI on the basis of the Rockwood classification method. Types I and II are generally treated without surgery whereas types IV, V, and VI are best treated operatively. Type III dislocations remain controversial in terms of treatment, and many surgeons recommend nonoperative treatment first and operative treatment in case of continued symptoms such as pain, instability, or shoulder girdle dysfunction. The goal of operative treatment is to restore AC joint stability, which involves addressing both the coracoclavicular and coracoacromial ligaments to achieve a desirable patient outcome. The objective of this Technical Note is to describe our technique for management of a failed acromioclavicular stabilization, treated with a coracoclavicular and AC joint capsular reconstruction using tibialis anterior and semitendinosus allografts

Glenohumeral Resurfacing in Young, Active Patients With End-Stage Osteoarthritis of the Shoulder

Treatment of end-stage glenohumeral arthritis in young patients is a challenge; however, there is a lack of consensus on optimal treatment algorithms. A thorough history and physical examination are essential. Nonoperative treatments should first be attempted, whereas surgical options range from arthroscopic debridement to arthroplasty. One arthroplasty option is glenohumeral resurfacing with the objective of maintaining more native anatomy and bone stock. The described treatment includes a hemi-cap implant for the humerus and inlay polyethylene glenoid. While hemi-caps have been successfully used for decades, inlay glenoid implants are a more modern treatment, with the objective of less glenoid loosening, the typical complication and failure method in young patients. With the potential for greater longevity and preservation of anatomy, glenohumeral resurfacing for end-stage shoulder arthritis is an important treatment option to consider before total shoulder arthroplasty. This Technical Note describes resurfacing of the glenohumeral joint in a young, active patient presenting with extensive osteoarthritis on both the glenoid and humerus after a previous failed Trillat stabilization

Shoulder Arthroscopy in the Beach Chair Position

Arthroscopic shoulder surgery can be performed in both the beach chair and lateral decubitus positions. The beach chair position is a reliable, safe, and effective position to perform nearly all types of shoulder arthroscopic procedures. The advantages of the beach chair position include the ease of setup, limited brachial plexus stress, increased glenohumeral and subacromial visualization, anesthesia flexibility, and the ability to easily convert to an open procedure. This position is most commonly used for rotator cuff repair, subacromial decompression, and superior labrum anterior-to-posterior repair procedures. To perform arthroscopy surgery in the beach chair position successfully, meticulous care during patient positioning and setup must be taken. In this Technical Note, we describe the necessary steps to safely and efficiently prepare patients in the beach chair position for arthroscopic shoulder surgery

Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction in a Revision Setting: Anchor and Interference Screw Fixation

Recurrent patellar instability is a common pathology and typically affects younger and more active patients. To prevent complete lateral dislocation of the patella, several osseous and soft-tissue procedures have been previously described, including reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL), which has been identified as the primary medial stabilizer of the patella. Several techniques have been reported for reconstruction of the MPFL, sometimes in conjunction with other procedures, with the majority showing success in the treatment and resolution of patellar instability. However, MPFL reconstruction is not free of complications, with previous reports of recurrence of medial patellar instability and patellar fracture after surgery. The objective of this Technical Note is to describe our preferred technique, comprising anchor as well as interference screw fixation, for reconstruction of the MPFL in a primary or revision setting

Open Repair of an Anterior Humeral Avulsion of the Glenohumeral Ligament

A humeral avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament, or HAGL lesion, is an uncommon yet disabling shoulder injury, which leads to complaints of pain and overall inability to properly use the shoulder from patients. The diagnosis of a HAGL lesion is particularly challenging. To arrive at an accurate diagnosis, the use of a magnetic resonance arthrogram is suggested along with high clinical suspicion. A HAGL lesion may be anterior or posterior. This difference dictates the type of surgical treatment to be undertaken. Although a posterior HAGL lesion is repaired arthroscopically, an anterior HAGL lesion is treated through an open approach. The purpose of this Technical Note is to describe our preferred technique to surgically treat an anterior HAGL lesion through an open approach

Sternoclavicular Joint Reconstruction in the Setting of Medial Comminuted Clavicle Fracture

A dislocation of the sternoclavicular joint is a particularly threatening injury given the close proximity of neighboring vital structures. Moreover, a traumatic injury resulting in a comminuted fracture of the medial clavicle in addition to joint instability results in even greater complexity. In the setting of sternoclavicular joint instability, definitive treatment that will lead to complete resolution of symptoms is necessary. Various treatment methods, both conservative and operative, with positive treatment outcomes have been described. The aim of this Technical Note is to describe our preferred surgical technique to treat a medial comminuted clavicle fracture with anterior sternoclavicular joint instability

Pectoralis Major Transfer for Treatment of Serratus Anterior Dysfunction in the Setting of Long Thoracic Nerve Palsy

Symptomatic scapular winging resulting in scapular dyskinesia leads to a wide spectrum of clinical complaints, most notably periscapular pain. The malpositioning of the scapula, termed through use of the acronym SICK (scapular malposition, inferior-medial border prominence, coracoid pain and malposition, and dyskinesia of scapular movement), is due to the irregular activity of one or more of the periscapular muscles. In particular, the serratus anterior, innervated by the long thoracic nerve, is a key muscle that stabilizes the scapula and provides coordinated scapulohumeral rhythm. If the long thoracic nerve is injured, this results in significant shoulder dysfunction and scapular winging that may require surgical intervention. The purpose of this Technical Note is to present our preferred technique to treat symptomatic scapular winging due to long thoracic nerve palsy through transfer of the pectoralis major with its bone insertion to the inferior edge of the scapula

Proximal Patellar Tendon Repair: Internal Brace Technique With Unicortical Buttons and Suture Tape

Patellar tendon ruptures may be considerably limiting, especially in younger and highly active patients. These injuries ultimately result in a complete inability to maintain extension of the knee, thereby placing strict impediment on physical activity. As a result, a durable repair construct via surgery is necessary to allow patients to return to their preinjury activity level. Because of the inherent difficulty in maintaining patellar tendon position after repair, and to avoid failure of the tendon healing to the patella, we recommend using an internal brace construct. The construct uses bone tunnels in the patella and also cortical buttons on the tibia with suture tape whipstitched through the tendon. We feel that this provides an enhanced fixation construct. The purpose of this Technical Note is to describe our preferred method for proximal patellar tendon repair via an internal brace construct with unicortical buttons and suture tape