Superior Capsule Reconstruction:What Do We Know?

The management of irreparable rotator cuff tears remains challenging. Since its introduction by Mihata in 2012, superior capsule reconstruction (SCR) has grown in popularity at an astonishingly rapid rate. The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of the available literature, in order to highlight what has so far been published on SCR, covering all aspects including biomechanical, clinical and radiological studies as well as descriptions of the various techniques for performing the procedure. The short-term clinical results of SCR are promising, but there is need for further long-term studies, as well as randomised controlled trials comparing SCR to other treatment modalities for irreparable rotator cuff tears. Further imaging studies looking at graft healing rates are also required as the healing rates published so far are variable. Additionally, the mechanism of action by which SCR delivers good short-term functional outcomes needs further clarification, as does the importance of the choice of graft type and thickness

The X-Pulley technique for subpectoral long head of the biceps tenodesis using all-suture anchors

Subpectoral long head of the biceps tenodesis is gaining popularity as a technique for treating patients with various pathologies of the tendon or its anchor to the superior labrum. It has the added advantage of addressing bicipital groove pathologies. Various techniques for performing it have been described, but none is without problems. We present a modification of the previously described techniques that involves 2 all-suture anchors and offers the added advantage of a reduced risk of fracture without sacrificing the biomechanical strength of the construct. We also believe that it may potentiate healing by providing an adequate surface contact area between the tendon and bone with a minimal risk of damage to the tendon and neurovascular structures

Distal triceps rupture repair: The triceps pulley-pullover technique

Distal triceps rupture is an uncommon but debilitating injury, and surgical fixation is almost invariably warranted. A number of techniques have been described in the literature in which combinations of transosseous tunnels and bone anchors have been used. We describe a modification to existing techniques-the triceps pulley-pullover technique with all-suture anchors. This technique minimizes bone loss, while maximizing the bone-tendon contact area and creating a double-row repair to optimize strength and healing

"Pseudosarcoma" in a pregnant woman

BACKGROUND: Intravascular fasciitis (IVF) is a rare benign condition characterised by reactive myofibroblastic proliferation arising from the superficial or deep fascia and involving arteries and/or veins. It is a distinct variant of the more common condition of nodular fasciitis, which possesses similar clinical and histological features to IVF, but lacks vascular invasion. A thorough review of the literature revealed 26 reported cases of IVF. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of IVF in a 16-week pregnant lady affecting the hypothenar eminence of the hand associated with the ulnar artery. CONCLUSION: The characteristic involvement of muscular arteries and veins by reactive myofibroblastic proliferation in IVF suggests a malignant component and often leads to an inappropriate diagnosis for this benign condition. We propose that hormone-related changes associated with pregnancy may play an important role in the aetiopathogenesis of this myofibroblastic lesion

Unipolar versus bipolar hemiarthroplasty for displaced femoral neck fractures: A pooled analysis of 30,250 participants data

PURPOSE: To assess the clinical outcomes of unipolar versus bipolar hemiarthroplasty for displaced intracapsular femoral neck fractures in older patients and to report whether bipolar implants yield better long-term functional results. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO, and Cochrane Library for relevant randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and observational studies, comparing unipolar and bipolar hemiarthroplasty. Data were extracted from eligible studies and pooled as relative risk (RR) or mean difference (MD) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) using RevMan software for Windows. RESULTS: A total of 30 studies were included (13 RCTs and 17 observational studies). Analyses included 30,250 patients with a mean age of 79 years and mean follow-up time of 24.6 months. The overall pooled estimates showed that bipolar was superior to unipolar hemiarthroplasty in terms of hip function, range of motion and reoperation rate, but at the expense of longer operative time. In the longer term the unipolar group had higher rates of acetabular erosion compared to the bipolar group. There was no significant difference in terms of hip pain, implant related complications, intraoperative blood loss, mortality, six-minute walk times, medical outcomes, and hospital stay and subsequently cost. CONCLUSIONS: Bipolar hemiarthroplasty is associated with better range of motion, lower rates of acetabular erosion and lower reoperation rates compared to the unipolar hemiarthroplasty but at the expense of longer operative time. Both were similar in terms of mortality, and surgical or medical outcomes. Future large studies are recommended to compare both methods regarding the quality of life

Aerosol generating procedures in trauma and orthopaedics in the era of the Covid-19 pandemic: What do we know?

Purpose: COVID-19 pandemic has created havoc all over the globe and spared no one regardless of status, gender, location and ethnicity. There were questions raised if trauma and orthopaedic (T&O) procedures actually generated aerosols? The need for a review of literature highlighting the nature and impact of aerosol generation within T&O surgery was noted. Methods: A comprehensive online search was performed for all published articles in the English language, evaluating AGPs in T&O surgery and the relevant personal protection equipment used. Results: The search strategy populated 43 studies. Six studies were identified as duplicates. The shortlisted 37 studies were screened and nine studies were included in the review. An additional four studies were included from the bibliography review. Conclusion: Most Orthopaedic procedures are high-risk aerosol generating procedures (AGPs). Conventional surgical masks do not offer protection against high-risk AGPs. In the current era of COVID-19 pandemic, there is a significant risk to the transmission of infection to the theatre staff. For protection against airborne transmission, appropriate masks should be used. These need proper fitting and sizing to ensure full protection when used

The effect of type of femoral component fixation on mortality and morbidity after hip hemiarthroplasty:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Hip hemiarthroplasty is a well-established treatment of displaced femoral neck fracture, although debate exists over whether cemented or uncemented fixation is superior. Uncemented prostheses have typically been used in younger, healthier patients and cemented prostheses in older patients with less-stable bone. Also, earlier research has suggested that bone cement has cytotoxic effects and may trigger cardiovascular and respiratory adverse events. Questions/Purposes: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare morbidity and mortality rates after cemented and uncemented hemiarthroplasty for the treatment of displaced femoral neck fractures in elderly patients. Methods: Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we searched seven medical databases for randomized clinical trials and observational studies. We compared cemented and uncemented hemiarthroplasty using the Harris Hip Score (HHS), as well as measures of postoperative pain, mortality, and complications. Data were extracted and pooled as risk ratios or standardized mean difference with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals in a meta-analysis model. Results: The meta-analysis included 34 studies (12 randomized trials and 22 observational studies), with a total of 42,411 patients. In the pooled estimate, cemented hemiarthroplasty was associated with less risk of postoperative pain than uncemented hemiarthroplasty. There were no significant differences between groups regarding HHS or rates of postoperative mortality, pulmonary embolism, cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, acute cardiac arrhythmia, or deep venous thrombosis. Conclusions: While we found that cemented hemiarthroplasty results in less postoperative pain than uncemented hemiarthroplasty in older patients with femoral neck fracture, the lack of significant differences in functional hip scores, mortality, and complications was surprising. Further high-level research is needed

Clinical outcomes and structural integrity rate of arthroscopic augmented rotator cuff repairs using extracellular porcine matrix patch

Structural failure rate in rotator cuff repairs is still high. The purpose of the study is to assess the structural integrity of a series of augmented rotator cuff repairs with porcine matrix patch and report the functional outcomes