Assessment Of Shoulder Function Research Articles

Subacromial Impingement Syndrome. A Retrospective Analysis of Long-Term Outcomes of Surgical and Conservative Treatment

INTRODUCTION. Subacromial impingement syndrome (SAIS) is one of the most common reasons that makes patients seek treatment for shoulder pain.
 PURPOSE. To assess the effectiveness of surgical and conservative treatment of patients with subacromial impingement syndrome.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS. The clinical results of 48 patients with SAIS stage 1, 2 according to Neer, divided into 3 groups, were analyzed: 1) conservative group without rotator cuff tears (16 patients), 2) conservative group with partial rotator cuff tears (16 patients); 3) surgical group (16 patients). The patients of the conservative groups were treated according to the rehabilitation protocol including myofascial release techniques, physiotherapy, manual therapy, exercises. The patients of the surgical group underwent an arthroscopic subacromial decompression. The follow-up period was at least 24 months. The clinical condition of the patients was assessed using ASES, VAS scales and SANE questionnaire.
 RESULTS. The study did not reveal a statistically significant difference of the surgical and conservative treatment groups according to VAS and ASES. There was a statistically significant difference in the results of the SANE questionnaire (p = 0.008) with better results in the conservative groups. Longer rehabilitation was noted in patients of the surgical group.
 DISCUSSION. Ketola et al. compared clinical results of surgical group of patients who underwent the subacromial decompression and the conservative group who performed the exercises. There was no statistically significant difference found in VAS level results, subjective shoulder function assessment. Paavola et al. have not found statistically significant difference in VAS scale results between surgical group, group of diagnostic arthroscopy and conservative group of patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy.
 CONCLUSION. The conservative treatment of subacromial impingement syndrome with physiotherapy and manual therapy let achieve good and excellent results.

Consensus on the preoperative management of patients with chronic moderate to severe shoulder pain to improve postoperative outcomes: Delphi results

BackgroundAn appropriate preoperative management of patients with chronic moderate to severe shoulder pain who are candidates for surgery due to rotator cuff disease or glenohumeral osteoarthritis may improve surgery and patient outcomes, but published evidence in this regard is scarce. Therefore, the availability of recommendations on preoperative interventions based on expert consensus may serve as guidance. MethodsA Delphi study was conducted to develop a preoperative management algorithm based on a national expert consensus. A Delphi questionnaire was developed by a Scientific Committee following a systematic review using PRISMA criteria of the relevant literature published during the last 10 years. It consisted of 48 statements divided into five blocks (I. Assessment/diagnosis of preoperative pain; II. Preoperative function/psychosocial aspects; III. Therapeutic objectives; IV. Treatment; V. Follow-up/referral), and 28 experienced shoulder surgeons from across the country were invited to answer. ResultsAll participants responded to the Delphi questionnaire in the first round and 25 in the second round (89.3% of those invited). Overall, 46/49 final statements reached a consensus, based on which a final preoperative management algorithm was defined by the Scientific Committee. First, surgeons should assess shoulder pain intensity and characteristics, shoulder functionality and psychosocial aspects using specific validated questionnaires. Preoperative therapeutic objectives should include shoulder pain control, depression/nocturnal sleep improvement, opioid consumption adjustment and substance abuse cessation. Postoperative objectives regarding the degree of shoulder pain reduction or improvement in functionality/quality of life should be established in agreement with the patient. Treatment of preoperative chronic moderate to severe shoulder pain should comprise non-pharmacological as well as pharmacological interventions. Follow-up of shoulder pain levels, treatment adherence and mental health status of these patients may be carried out by the surgical team (surgeon and anesthesiologist) together with the Primary Care team. Patients with very intense shoulder pain levels may be referred to the Pain Unit, following specific protocols. ConclusionA preoperative management algorithm for patients with chronic moderate to severe shoulder pain who are candidates for surgery due to rotator cuff disease or glenohumeral osteoarthritis was defined based on a national expert consensus. Main points include a comprehensive patient management starting with an objective assessment of shoulder pain and function, quality of life, establishment of preoperative and postoperative therapeutic targets, prescription of individualized therapeutic interventions and multidisciplinary patient follow-up. Implementation of these recommendations to clinical practice may result in better preoperative shoulder pain management and more successful surgery outcomes and patient satisfaction.

Algorithmic assessment of shoulder function using smartphone video capture and machine learning

Tears within the stabilizing muscles of the shoulder, known as the rotator cuff (RC), are the most common cause of shoulder pain—often presenting in older patients and requiring expensive advanced imaging for diagnosis. Despite the high prevalence of RC tears within the elderly population, there is no previously published work examining shoulder kinematics using markerless motion capture in the context of shoulder injury. Here we show that a simple string pulling behavior task, where subjects pull a string using hand-over-hand motions, provides a reliable readout of shoulder mobility across animals and humans. We find that both mice and humans with RC tears exhibit decreased movement amplitude, prolonged movement time, and quantitative changes in waveform shape during string pulling task performance. In rodents, we further note the degradation of low dimensional, temporally coordinated movements after injury. Furthermore, a logistic regression model built on our biomarker ensemble succeeds in classifying human patients as having a RC tear with > 90% accuracy. Our results demonstrate how a combined framework bridging animal models, motion capture, convolutional neural networks, and algorithmic assessment of movement quality enables future research into the development of smartphone-based, at-home diagnostic tests for shoulder injury.

Predictors of pain development for contralateral asymptomatic degenerative rotator cuff tears based on features of an ipsilateral painful cuff tear: a prospective longitudinal cohort study

Prior rotator cuff disease natural history studies have focused on tear-related factors that predict disease progression within a given shoulder. The purpose of this study is to examine both patient and tear-related characteristics of a painful rotator cuff tear that predict future pain development and functional impairment in a shoulder with a contralateral asymptomatic cuff tear. This is prospective longitudinal cohort study of subjects ≤65 years who underwent surgery for a painful degenerative rotator cuff tear and possessed an asymptomatic contralateral tear. Subjects were followed prospectively with shoulder ultrasound, physical examination and functional score assessment. Primary outcome was change in ASES score at 2 years. Secondary outcomes included WORC, PROMIS, HADS depression/anxiety, and VR-12 mental component scores. Sixty-five subjects were included with mean follow-up 37 (range 24-42) months. Seventeen (26%) developed contralateral shoulder pain at median 15.2(10.5) months. No difference in age, sex, CCI, occupational demand noted between subjects who did and did not develop pain. In the presenting painful shoulder there was no difference in baseline tear size, muscle degeneration, or biceps pathology between groups. The mean baseline tear length (8.6 vs. 3.8 mm, p=0.0008) and width (8.4 vs. 3.2 mm, p=0.0004) were larger in asymptomatic shoulders that subsequently developed pain compared to those that did not. However, there was no difference mean tear enlargement (length p=0.51, width p=0.90). There were no differences in baseline ASES, WORC, PROMIS scores or HADS depression/anxiety scores between shoulders that did and did not develop pain; however, subjects who developed pain reported lower baseline VR-12 MCS scores (53.3 vs 57.6, p=0.04). Shoulders that developed pain had higher VAS pain scores (2.9 [2.5] vs. 0.6 [1.0], p=0.016, lower ASES scores (7 [33] vs. 100[11.6], p=0.001) and significant changes in all WORC scales with pain onset compared to those that remained asymptomatic. There was no significant difference in changes of HADS anxiety/depression scores but a significant increase in VR-12 MCS scores in subjects who developed pain (7.1[12.6] vs. -1.9[8.7], p=0.036). A quarter of patients with painful cuff tear developed pain in a contralateral asymptomatic cuff tear that resulted in a measurable decline in function within 3 years. Analysis showed only baseline tear size of the asymptomatic shoulder was predictive of pain development. There were no tear-related features of the presenting painful rotator cuff tear or indices of mental health and physical function/occupational demand that were predictive of future pain development at short-term follow-up.

Paper 48: Association of 3D MRI Volumetric Assessment of Rotator Cuff Pathology with Preoperative Patient Reported Outcomes

Paper 48: Association of 3D MRI Volumetric Assessment of Rotator Cuff Pathology with Preoperative Patient Reported Outcomes

Should we separately measure the pain parameter of the Constant-Murley score in patients with chronic shoulder pain?

BackgroundThe Constant-Murley Score (CMS) is a relatively unique shoulder assessment tool because it combines patient-reported outcomes (pain and activity), performance measurement and clinician-reported outcomes (strength and mobility). With these characteristics, the effect of patient-related psychological factors on the CMS remains debated. We aimed to investigate which parameters of the CMS are influenced by psychological factors by assessing the CMS before and after rehabilitation for chronic shoulder pain.MethodsThis retrospective study screened all patients (18–65 years old) who were admitted for interdisciplinary rehabilitation for chronic shoulder pain (≥ 3 months) between May 2012 and December 2017. Patients with unilateral shoulder injuries were eligible. Exclusion criteria were shoulder instability, concomitant neurological injuries, complex regional pain syndrome (including Steinbrocker syndrome), heavy psychiatric issues, and missing data. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Pain Catastrophizing scale, and Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia were administered before and after treatment. Regression models were used to estimate associations between psychological factors and the CMS.ResultsWe included 433 patients (88% male, mean age 47±11 years) with a median duration of symptoms of 392.2 days (interquartile range: 266.5-583.5). Rotator cuff issue was present in 71% of patients. During interdisciplinary rehabilitation, patients were followed for a mean of 33.6±7.5 days. The mean CMS at entry was 42.8 ±15.5. The mean gain in CMS after treatment was 10.6 ±10.9. Before treatment, psychological factors were significantly associated with only the pain CMS parameter: -0.37 (95% CI: -0.46 to -0.28), p <0.001. After treatment, psychological factors were associated with the evolution of the four CMS parameters: -0.12 (-0.23 to -0.01) to -0.26 (95% CI: -0.36 to -0.16), p<0.05.ConclusionsThis study raises the question of a distinct assessment of pain when assessing shoulder function with CMS in patients with chronic shoulder pain. The separation of the “pain parameter” from the overall CMS score seems illusory with this tool that is used worldwide. However, clinicians should be aware that psychological factors can negatively influence the evolution of all CMS parameters during follow-up, which argues for a biopsychosocial approach to patients with chronic shoulder pain.

Arthroscopic coracohumeral ligament release for patients with frozen shoulder

Background Frozen shoulder (FS) is one of the most common musculoskeletal problems and has an incidence of 3–5% in the general population. Aim This study aimed to assess the effects and outcomes of arthroscopic coracohumeral ligament (CHL) release and L-shaped incision of the rotator interval (RI) for patients with FS. Patients and methods Arthroscopic CHL release and L-shaped incision of RI and subacromial decompression (SAD) were done. Assessment of pain, shoulder function, and range of motion scores were measured according to the The University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder score. Results Arthroscopic CHL release and L-shaped incision of RI and SAD showed a significant improvement in pain, shoulder function, motion, and UCLA score. Conclusion Arthroscopic CHL release and L-shaped incision of RI and SAD is a good choice for FS treatment.

Combined effect of graded Thera-Band and scapular stabilization exercises on shoulder adhesive capsulitis post-mastectomy

PurposeThe main aim of the trial was to assess the combined impact of graded Thera-Band strengthening exercises and scapular stabilization exercises on shoulder pain, physical function, and quality of life (QoL) in post-mastectomy adhesive capsulitis (AC).MethodsSeventy females with unilateral post-mastectomy AC partook in the trial. Participants were subdivided equally into two groups at random. Both groups obtained the traditional physical therapy program; in addition, the intervention group received graded Thera-Band exercises for shoulder muscles and scapular stabilization exercises 5 days a week for 8 weeks. Range of motion (ROM) and muscle power of shoulder were assessed by digital goniometer and handheld dynamometer, respectively. Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire (DASH) was utilized for assessment of shoulder function and visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain measurement while short-form (SF-36) for QoL assessment. All evaluation data was recorded prior to the trial and at the eighth week of interventions for both groups.ResultsAll participants achieved improvements in shoulder ROM, muscle power, pain, and all aspects of QoL; however, higher statistical improvements were reported in all measurements with respect to strengthening exercises group (p < 0.001).ConclusionThe addition of graded Thera-Band strengthening exercises and scapular stabilization exercises in post-mastectomy AC rehabilitation program has significant benefits in shoulder function and patients’ QoL.Trial registration: This study is retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05311839.

Synthetic polytetrafluoroethylene patches for irreparable rotator cuff tears-how are they doing at 5 years?

Treating massive and irreparable rotator cuff tears are problematic. Several studies have reported that polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) patches demonstrated excellent construct integrity and positive clinical and patient outcomes. However, these studies either had small sample sizes or short follow-up periods. To determine the survivorship, efficacy, and medium-term (2-19 years) outcomes of PTFE patch repairs. This retrospective study used prospectively collected data to establish the medium-term outcomes of PTFE interposition patch repairs for massive rotator cuff tears that could not be repaired by the standard technique. Patients included those who met the ≥2-year follow-up criteria post repair. Standardized assessments of patient-ranked shoulder pain and function and shoulder strength and passive range of motion (ROM) were performed preoperatively and at follow-up visits. Radiographs and ultrasonography were used to evaluate repair integrity, measure proximal humeral head migration, and determine glenohumeral arthritis scores. Forty-one shoulders formed the study cohort at a mean follow-up period of 5 years (range: 2-19 years). The mean age of this group was 72 (standard deviation: 10; range: 50-88) and had 14 cm2 tears at surgery. Twenty-five of 41 (61%) PTFE interposition patch repairs remained intact at an average of 5 years postrepair. Thirteen patches failed at the patch-tendon junction, 1 was removed, and 2 patients underwent reverse total shoulder replacement. Patient-ranked shoulder stiffness (P<.05), frequency of pain during activity and sleep (P<.001), pain levels during overhead activity and rest (P<.001), and overall shoulder function significantly improved from bad preoperatively to fair at the mean 5-year postoperative visit (P<.001). No significant improvements were demonstrated in dynamometer-measured shoulder strength maneuvers and passive ROM. All patients demonstrated proximal humeral head migration on shoulder radiographs regardless of repair integrity (mean Upper Migration Index=1.2). Failed repairs were associated with higher mean preoperative glenohumeral arthritis grades compared with intact repairs (grade 2 in failed repairs compared with grade 1 in intact repairs) (P<.01). PTFE interposition patch repairs for massive and irreparable tears had good construct integrity and clinical outcomes at 2 years. These outcomes were not maintained. PTFE patch repairs often failed at the patch-tendon junction at 4 years and beyond and were ineffective in (1) preventing proximal humeral head migration, (2) stopping progression of glenohumeral arthritis, and (3) improving shoulder strength and ROM.

POROUS METAL WEDGE AUGMENTS TO ADDRESS GLENOID RETROVERSION IN PRIMARY ANATOMICAL TOTAL SHOULDER ARTHROPLASTY: AN UPDATE

This paper presents an ongoing review of the use of a wedge-shaped porous metal augments in the shoulder to address glenoid retroversion as part of anatomical total shoulder arthroplasty (aTSA).Seventy-five shoulders in 66 patients (23 women and 43 men, aged 42 to 85 years) with Walch grade B2 or C glenoids underwent porous metal glenoid augment (PMGA) insertion as part of aTSA. Patients received either a 15º or 30º PMGA wedge (secured by screws to the native glenoid) to correct excessive glenoid retroversion before a standard glenoid component was implanted using bone cement. Neither patient-specific guides nor navigation were used. Patients were prospectively assessed using shoulder functional assessments (Oxford Shoulder Score [OSS], American Shoulder and Elbow Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form [ASES], visual analogue scale [VAS] pain scores and forward elevation [FE]) preoperatively, at three, six, and 12 months, and yearly thereafter, with similar radiological surveillance.Forty-nine consecutive series shoulders had a follow-up of greater than 24 months, with a median follow-up of 48 months (range: 24–87 months). Median outcome scores improved for OSS (21 to 44), ASES (24 to 92), VAS (7 to 0), and FE (90º to 140º). Four patients died, but no others were lost to follow-up. Apart from one infection at 18 months postoperatively and one minor peg perforation, there were no complications, hardware failures, implant displacements, significant lucency or posterior re-subluxations. Radiographs showed good incorporation of the wedge augment with correction of glenoid retroversion from median 22º (13º to 46º) to 4º. All but four glenoids were corrected to within the target range (less than 10º retroversion).The porous metal wedge-shaped augments effectively addressed posterior glenoid deficiency as part of aTSA for rotator cuff intact osteoarthritis, producing satisfactory clinical outcomes with no signs of impending future failure.

Validity and Reliability of Wearable Motion Sensors for Clinical Assessment of Shoulder Function in Brachial Plexus Birth Injury

The modified Mallet scale (MMS) is commonly used to grade shoulder function in brachial plexus birth injury (BPBI) but has limited sensitivity and cannot grade scapulothoracic and glenohumeral mobility. This study aims to evaluate if the addition of a wearable inertial movement unit (IMU) system could improve clinical assessment based on MMS. The system validity was analyzed with simultaneous measurements with the IMU system and an optical camera system in three asymptomatic individuals. Test-retest and interrater reliability were analyzed in nine asymptomatic individuals and six BPBI patients. IMUs were placed on the upper arm, forearm, scapula, and thorax. Peak angles, range of motion, and average joint angular speed in the shoulder, scapulothoracic, glenohumeral, and elbow joints were analyzed during mobility assessments and MMS tasks. In the validity tests, clusters of reflective markers were placed on the sensors. The validity was high with an error standard deviation below 3.6°. Intraclass correlation coefficients showed that 90.3% of the 69 outcome scores showed good-to-excellent test-retest reliability, and 41% of the scores gave significant differences between BPBI patients and controls with good-to-excellent test-retest reliability. The interrater reliability was moderate to excellent, implying that standardization is important if the patient is followed-up longitudinally.

Application of statistical parametric mapping for comparison of scapular kinematics and EMG

Scapular kinematics and EMG are frequently measured as a functional assessment of the shoulder. Previous studies have compared interval averaging for these time series data, but it is not clear whether this method exactly captures the dynamics of scapular kinematics and muscle activity. Statistical parametric mapping (SPM) can be used to compare time series data. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there is a difference between the results of SPM and interval averaging (every 10° or 30°) in comparing scapular kinematics, EMG, and EMG ratio. Scapular kinematics and EMG of the upper trapezius (UT), middle trapezius (MT), and lower trapezius (LT) and serratus anterior (SA) were measured in 21 healthy males. Tasks included arm raising and lowering with or without load, and we compared scapular kinematics, EMG, and EMG ratio in the loaded and unloaded conditions. Results suggest disagreement between SPM and interval averaging. Characteristic results are that for scapular kinematics during lowering SPM showed a decrease in upward rotation in only the regions 113-65° and 42-30°, while interval averaging showed a decrease in all range. For EMG during lowering, SPM results were not significantly different in SA over 50–48 and 45-30°, while interval averaging suggested increased activity in all ranges. For EMG ratio during raising, SPM showed no significant difference, while interval averaging showed a decrease in UT/LT during the latter period. These results indicate that SPM provides better resolution regarding effect regions than interval averaging, and suggest that SPM may improve shoulder function assessment accuracy.

Characteristics and Rehabilitation Training Effects of Shoulder Joint Dysfunction in Volleyball Players under the Background of Artificial Intelligence.

With the development of volleyball technology, the frequent competition, the fierce competition, and the increase of sports load, the requirements for the athletes' own body, intelligence, combat, heart, and skills are getting higher and higher. Volleyball is one of the most popular sports in the world. It attracts people all over the world with its strong team appeal and its own unique charm. This study mainly discusses the characteristics of shoulder joint dysfunction in volleyball players and the effect of rehabilitation training under the background of artificial intelligence. By sorting out the development process of artificial intelligence technology, it can be analyzed that artificial intelligence technology already has a certain knowledge reserve, can make corresponding mechanized feedback, and can make correct judgments based on experience in more complex situations. This study compared volleyball athletes with handicap and barrier-free shoulder joints and observed the characteristics of shoulder pain, stability, and flexibility caused by subacromial impingement syndrome. It also looked at whether subacromial impingement syndrome athletes differ in volleyball spiking sequence and mobilization and recruitment of muscle power during swing spikes compared to athletes with normal shoulder function in the full kinetic chain. According to the volleyball intelligent competition platform, the implementation and application of ideas such as data collection, result feedback, adjustment of training plan, implementation of training plan, and real-time monitoring are regularly monitored. On the one hand, through timely assessment and detection of shoulder function of volleyball players, functional training is carried out for weaknesses to prevent injury; on the other hand, after a mild injury occurs, timely targeted training should be taken to find and correct wrong actions, and strengthen the weak part of muscle strength, so as to reduce the probability of repeated injury and improve sports performance and athletic ability. In the new system, after collecting and sorting, testers can directly upload to the web page in the form of Excel for automatic filling, grasp the test information of athletes in time, generate automatic warning, and save time. The monitoring content determined by this study mainly includes three index systems, including load, training preparation performance, and recovery. According to the self-provided evaluation system of relevant test equipment and the experience of expert coaches, the evaluation standards for each index are formulated. There was a statistically significant difference in the scores between the rehabilitation group and the pre-rehabilitation group during the study (P < 0.05). This study attempts to find the characteristics and rules of FMS scores of women's volleyball players of different levels, so as to provide more targeted physical training for volleyball players, promote the all-round development of physical fitness, and avoid the risk of sports injuries. This study provides more effective and comprehensive recommendations for the prevention and recovery of shoulder injuries in volleyball players. This study provides more effective and comprehensive recommendations for the prevention and recovery of shoulder injuries in volleyball players. The results of the study can provide reference for the scientific training and rehabilitation of volleyball players and make suggestions for the treatment and prevention of subacromial impingement syndrome.

Validity and reliability of a smartphone application for self-measurement of active shoulder range of motion in a standing position among healthy adults.

BackgroundShoulder range of motion (ROM) is one of the most important indicators of shoulder disease severity, function, and physical assessment. A universal goniometer (UG) was used as a gold standard for ROM measurement. Recently, smartphone applications for ROM measurement have attracted attention as alternatives to UG. This study aimed to investigate the validity and reliability of active ROM measurements using a smartphone application goniometer that can be used by patients in a standing position.MethodsThe dominant shoulders of 19 healthy participants were included in the study. The 2 observers who were physical therapists used the UG, whereas the participants used a smartphone application goniometer to measure the shoulder ROM. A recorder, who is a physical therapist independent of the observer and participant, read and recorded the shoulder ROM measurements. The order of the measurement movements and devices used was randomized.ResultsAgreement between the smartphone application goniometer and UG (percentage of participants for whom the difference between the UG and application measurements was within ±20% of the mean of the goniometer and application measurements) ranged between 42% and 100%. The intraclass correlation coefficient values (3, 1) for the agreement between the smartphone application goniometer and UG was between 0.72 and 0.97, showing significant and approximately perfect correlations.ConclusionHigh agreement with the UG showed excellent validity, indicating that the smartphone application goniometer used by the participants in the standing position is an excellent method and instrument. The results suggest a simpler, more reliable, practical, and inexpensive method for measuring ROM required for telerehabilitation.

ULTRASOUND-GUIDED PLATELET-RICH PLASMA INJECTION THERAPY IN PARTIAL THICKNESS ROTATOR CUFF TEARS: LONG-TERM RESULTS

Introduction: Rotator cuff tendinopathy/partial tear is the most common cause of shoulder pain encountered in clinical practice. The treatment varies from conservative to surgical options. Recently there has been extensive use of blood-derived products for the healing of tendon injuries. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is hypothesized to augment tendon healing due to various growth factors including PDGF, VEGF and TGF-b. While the theoretical explanations look promising, the clinical efficacy of PRP is conflicting, thus establishing a clear need for extensive studies. Aim: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the results of the use of PRP in patients having partial rotator cuff tears. Material and Methods: Fifty patients of the age group 25–50 years who had partial cuff tears ([Formula: see text] involvement) identified on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and had continuous pain for a minimum three months were studied. They were treated with PRP therapy and the results of their function were evaluated over time. Results: Shoulder function assessment was done was UCLA and Quick DASH score. Each of these scores showed a statistically significant improvement at 6 and 12 months. The Mean UCLA score pre-procedure was [Formula: see text] and at final follow-up was [Formula: see text]. There was reduction in the average Quick DASH score from [Formula: see text] pre-therapy to [Formula: see text] at 12 months follow-up. Conclusion: After the final follow-up, most of the patients were able to resume their daily activities. The world of PRP therapy looks promising and is needed to be explored further in orthopedics as a lot of controversy over its benefits exists in the literature.

PROMIS Upper Extremity underperforms psychometrically relative to American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score in patients undergoing primary rotator cuff repair.

A number of patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) instruments are used to assess shoulder pain, function, and postoperative satisfaction. Computer adaptive tests (CATs) have been developed in an effort to tailor question delivery, decrease time to completion and floor/ceiling effects, and increase compliance. Previous investigations have demonstrated excellent correlation between Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Upper Extremity CAT (UE-CAT) and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) instruments, indicating that the PROMIS UE-CAT may be an acceptable alternative to the ASES. Prior to widespread adoption, however, rigorous psychometric validation must be performed. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of PROMIS UE-CAT relative to the ASES score in patients undergoing primary rotator cuff repair (RCR). A retrospective study of an institutional RCR registry was performed from July 2018 through March 2019. Preoperative PROMIS UE-CAT and ASES scores were collected. Floor and ceiling effects were determined, and convergent validity was established through Pearson correlations. Rasch partial credit modeling was used for psychometric analysis of the validity of PROMIS UE-CAT and ASES question items, a previously established methodology for assessing shoulder PROMs. Person-item maps were generated to characterize the distribution of question responses along the latent dimension of shoulder disability. Responses from 107 patients (107 shoulders) were included. PROMIS UE-CAT had a strong correlation to ASES (r = 0.684; P < .001), with a 3.7% floor effect and no ceiling effect; ASES had no floor or ceiling effects. PROMIS UE-CAT person-item maps revealed excellent test item coverage between floor and ceiling effects; however, all PROMIS UE-CAT items except "Difficulty putting on a jacket" demonstrated nonsequentially ordered responses, indicating poor reliability of item responses corresponding to shoulder function. Although PROMIS UE-CAT initially demonstrated superior instrument efficiency with fewer test items for overall equivalent coverage of shoulder function assessment, final models after recursive item elimination revealed the ASES instrument to have more well-fitting items over a broader range of shoulder function. Despite its overall strong correlation with ASES and equivalent coverage between floor and ceiling effects, the psychometric properties of PROMIS UE-CAT indicate a need for optimization of individual test items to correspond to shoulder function. Until further refinements in the PROMIS UE-CAT instrument are made, it should not replace the ASES instrument in patients undergoing primary RCR.

A study of the role of locking plates in management of fracture of scapula in adults at tertiary health care center

This study aimed to evaluate the functional outcome of displaced scapular neck, glenoid and body fractures treated by open reduction and internal fixation by locking plate. In this study 10 patients of scapular fracture (neck, glenoid and body) were treated with locking plate at Dr. Hedgewar hospital, Aurangabad from January 2014 to December 2020 with age from 18 to 60 years. Functional outcome was evaluated by Constant-Murley scoring system. Total 10 patients were included in present study. Mean age of the patients was 44.9±11.06 years. Male patients (80%) were common than female patients (20%). Road traffic accident (80%) was most common mode of injury. In fracture type distribution, neck and body of scapula (90%) fracture was most common. Assessment of shoulder function was done using Constant and Murley scoring system. Good function was noted in 80% patients, followed by excellent function in 10% patients and fair function was noted in 10%. Open reduction and internal fixation of displaced scapular (neck, glenoid or body) fracture with locking plate provides good functional outcome.

Metallic humeral and glenoid lateralized implants in reverse shoulder arthroplasty for cuff tear arthropathy and primary osteoarthritis

Metallic humeral and glenoid lateralized implants have been developed to prevent common problems that can emerge using Grammont's concept (ie, medialization of center of rotation, decreased humeral offset, scapular notching) in reverse shoulder arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological results of metallic humeral and glenoid lateralized implants for cuff tear arthropathy (CTA) and primary osteoarthritis (OA). In this prospective study, patients with CTA or OA who underwent reverse shoulder arthroplasty using augmented base plates for glenoid lateralization and a "curved stem" design for the humeral side were included. The Constant-Murley score and Subjective Shoulder Value were documented at 1- and 2-year follow-ups. Radiographs were reviewed for scapular notching, instability, loosening, osteolysis, ossification, bone resorption, or fractures. Lateralization and distalization shoulder angles were evaluated at the final follow-up. There were 23 patients with CTA and 19 patients with OA (27 women; mean age, 76 years; range, 59-85) available for examination at 2 years. Both groups increased significantly in all outcome measures compared with baseline (P<.01). Although patients with OA generally had lower baseline scores, the outcome scores were similar and did not show any statistically significant differences. The mean Constant-Murley score and Subjective Shoulder Value at the final follow-up were 78 points (standard deviation [SD] 10) and 84% (SD 11) for patients with CTA, respectively, and corresponding values were 80 points (SD 16) and 92% (SD 12) for the OA group. No scapular notching was observed. The mean value of the lateralization shoulder angle was 81.5° (SD 9.7) and for the distalization shoulder angle was 54.8° (SD 9.4). Neither scapular spine fractures nor instability was observed in this patient cohort. Metallic humeral and glenoid lateralization achieves excellent clinical results in terms of shoulder function, pain relief, muscle strength, and patient-reported subjective assessment without instability or radiographic signs of scapular notching. Patients with primary OA showed an overall trend toward better clinical improvement than patients with CTA.

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy as an Adjunctive Therapy for Frozen Shoulder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background:The best nonsurgical treatment for frozen shoulder is still unclear. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is an innovative adjunctive treatment for frozen shoulder, but its effect is still unclear.Purpose:To evaluate the published literature regarding the potential of ESWT as an adjunctive therapy for frozen shoulder.Study Design:Systematic review; Level of evidence, 1.Methods:Searches were conducted in the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and VIP Information databases for relevant studies between inception and November 2020. Included were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for frozen shoulder that compared ESWT with routine treatments to controls. There were no restrictions on the treatment period, type of ESWT, or severity of symptoms. At least 1 of the following outcome indices was assessed: visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, Constant-Murley score (CMS) for shoulder function assessment, or external rotation range of movement (ER ROM). RevMan 5.3 software was used to evaluate the bias and quality of the included studies. For continuous variables, the mean difference (MD) or standardized MD (SMD) with the 95% CI was extracted. For dichotomous data, event ratios and sample sizes were extracted.Results:Overall, 20 studies were included. The ESWT used as an adjunct to other interventions had better outcomes compared with control groups regarding immediate and short-term analgesic effects (immediate: MD, –1.10 [95% CI, –1.27 to –0.92], P < .00001; short-term: MD, –0.72 [95% CI, –0.94 to –0.50], P < .00001) as well as immediate function (SMD, 1.54 [95% CI, 1.19 to 1.89], P < .00001], I 2 = 0%). There was significant heterogeneity between studies for long-term analgesia (MD, –0.90 [95% CI, –1.40 to –0.41], P < .00001, I 2 = 89%) and ER ROM (MD, 10.31 [95% CI, 3.46 to 17.17], P < .003, I 2 = 93%).Conclusion:ESWT seems to be beneficial to patients with frozen shoulder by alleviating pain and improving function. ESWT could be used as an adjunct therapy to routine treatments, although the quality of the included RCTs was hampered by significant heterogeneity regarding long-term analgesia and joint ROM.

A comparison between measurement properties of four shoulder-related outcome measures in Nepalese patients with shoulder pain

PurposeThe Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS), Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), Quick-DASH, and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) are frequently used instruments in shoulder functional assessment. They are available in Nepali and all but the PSFS has been validated for shoulder assessment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to validate the Nepali PSFS in shoulder pain patients and to compare validity, reliability, and responsiveness of all four instruments to provide a recommendation for their use.MethodPatients attending physiotherapy completed the Nepali PSFS at baseline and follow-up (1–3 weeks). It was tested for reliability using internal consistency (Cronbach’s α), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), construct validity by hypothesis testing and responsiveness by anchor-based method using Area Under the Curve (AUC). The instruments were compared based on reported measurement properties and patients’ preference.Results156 patients enrolled at baseline and 121 at follow-up. The PSFS showed sufficient reliability (α = 0.70, ICC = 0.82), construct validity (all three hypotheses met) and responsiveness (AUC = 0.83). Measurement property comparison demonstrated adequate reliability and validity, while PSFS was the most responsive instrument. Patients favoured the verbal rating scale of the DASH/Quick-DASH. The DASH had a lower completion rate for ‘culturally sensitive’ and ‘uncommon’ activities.ConclusionThe Nepali PSFS is a reliable, valid, and responsive instrument in shoulder functional assessment. The combined use of the Quick-DASH or SPADI with the PSFS is recommended for a comprehensive assessment of Nepali shoulder pain patients in clinical and research settings. They are shorter, more appropriate to the Nepali context and provide balanced self-evaluation.