Consensus guidelines for the use and interpretation of angiogenesis assays

The formation of new blood vessels, or angiogenesis, is a complex process that plays important roles in growth and development, tissue and organ regeneration, as well as numerous pathological conditions. Angiogenesis undergoes multiple discrete steps that can be individually evaluated and quantified by a large number of bioassays. These independent assessments hold advantages but also have limitations. This article describes in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro bioassays that are available for the evaluation of angiogenesis and highlights critical aspects that are relevant for their execution and proper interpretation. As such, this collaborative work is the first edition of consensus guidelines on angiogenesis bioassays to serve for current and future reference

Arthroscopic Sternoclavicular Joint Resection Arthroplasty: A Technical Note and Illustrated Case Report

Open resection arthroplasty of the sternoclavicular (SC) joint has historically provided good long-term results in patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the SC joint. However, the procedure is rarely performed because of the risk of injury to vital mediastinal structures and concern regarding postoperative joint instability. Arthroscopic decompression of the SC joint has therefore emerged as a potential treatment option because of many recognized advantages including minimal tissue dissection, maintenance of joint stability, avoidance of posterior SC joint dissection, expeditious recovery, and improved cosmesis. There are, however, safety concerns given the proximity of neurovascular structures. In this article we demonstrate a technique for arthroscopic SC joint resection arthroplasty in a 26-year-old active man with bilateral, painful, idiopathic degenerative SC joint osteoarthritis. This case also highlights the pearls and pitfalls of arthroscopic resection arthroplasty for the SC joint. There were no perioperative complications. Four months postoperatively, the patient had returned to full activities, including weightlifting, without pain or evidence of SC joint instability. One year postoperatively, the patient showed substantial improvements in the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score; Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation score; Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score; and Short Form 12 Physical Component Summary score over preoperative baseline values

Arthroscopically Assisted Anatomic Coracoclavicular Ligament Reconstruction Technique Using Coracoclavicular Fixation and Soft-Tissue Grafts

Acromioclavicular joint injuries are common and are often seen in contact athletes. Good to excellent clinical results have been reported using soft-tissue grafts to reconstruct the coracoclavicular ligaments; however, complications remain. Some complications are unique to the surgical technique, particularly clavicle and coracoid fractures that are associated with drilling large or multiple bone tunnels. The described technique allows for an anatomic coracoclavicular reconstruction using a large soft-tissue graft while minimizing the risk of clavicle fracture by avoiding large bone tunnels

Rotator Cuff Tears at the Musculotendinous Junction: Classification and Surgical Options for Repair and Reconstruction

Although uncommon, rotator cuff tears that occur medially at the musculotendinous junction can result from acute trauma, anatomic force imbalance, or medial row cuff failure following a previous rotator cuff repair. The quality of the torn muscle and tendon along with the length of the remnant tendon stump should be considered before deciding on the most appropriate repair technique. When muscle and tendon quality are sufficient, the tear can often be repaired directly to the remnant tendon stump and compressed onto the greater tuberosity. If the remnant tendon stump is degenerative, of insufficient length, or lacks tendon in which to place sutures, an allograft patch can be used to augment the repair. When the quality of the remaining muscle and tendon are poor or when the muscle is retracted too far medially and is nonmobile, a bridging technique such as superior capsule reconstruction is preferable. The purpose of this report is to (1) highlight that medial cuff failure can occur both primarily and after previous repair; (2) define and classify the 3 major tear patterns that are encountered, and (3) describe the authors' preferred techniques for medial cuff repair that specifically address each of the major tear patterns

Conjoint Tendon Tenotomy for Glenoid Exposure in the Setting of Previous Coracoid Transfer

Surgical exposure of the glenoid after previous coracoid process transfer is technically challenging as a result of distorted anatomy, obliterated soft-tissue planes, and adhesive scar tissue, which poses additional risk to adjacent neurovascular structures. The purpose of this article is to present a technique for glenoid exposure following coracoid transfer that involves tenotomy of the conjoint tendon to minimize the risk for neurovascular injury while leaving the well-healed coracoid bone graft in place