An additional pathology should be considered for Achillodynia differentials – the intratendinous tear (ITT) – for which we describe symptoms, ultrasound findings and co-presenting pathology. Examinations of 740 Achillodynic patients in one specialist centre were reviewed. ITTs were defined as a clearly visualised echopoor area situated centrally and extending to, but not through the tendon periphery, with pain on palpation and no clinical findings consistent with Achilles rupture. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse differences between pathological sub-groups, and images described qualitatively.Introduction
Materials and Methods
The use of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) has been increasing around the world. However, because of concerns over lack of internal rotation with the reverse prosthesis and the resultant difficulties with activities of daily living (ADLs), many have recommended against performing bilateral RTSA. We performed a retrospective review of prospectively obtained clinical data on 15 consecutive patients (30 shoulders) that underwent staged bilateral primary RTSA for the diagnosis of cuff tear arthropathy (CTA) between 2004 and 2012. All operations were performed by a single surgeon. The mean follow-up was 29.6 months from the second RTSA (range 12–65 months). The mean age of the patients at the time of the first operation was 72.9 years (range 63–79 years), and the mean duration between arthroplasties was 21.6 months (range 8–50 months). Patients were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and yearly with standardized clinical exams and outcome measures questionnaires including Constant, ASES, UCLA, Simple Shoulder Test, SPADI, and SF-12 scores.Background:
Methods:
While the use of press-fit humeral components has been accepted in total shoulder arthroplasty, few studies focus on the outcomes after uncemented reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. The purpose of this study is to compare the radiographic and functional results of uncemented and cemented humeral fixation in reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. A retrospective review was performed identifying all patients that underwent reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) between May 2007 and December 2010. Medical records and a prospective research database were reviewed for demographic, operative, and clinical information. Inclusion criteria were a primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty from one manufacturer with a grit-blasted humeral metaphyseal stem and minimum follow-up of 2 years. Exclusion criteria included shoulder arthroplasty for fractures, fracture sequelae, or inflammatory arthropathy. Antibiotics were not routinely added to the cement. The radiographic and functional outcomes were compared between the uncemented and cemented groups. Statistical analysis was performed using the Fisher Exact test to compare the dichotomous variables between the groups. The functional outcome data between the groups was calculated using the two-tailed Wilcoxon Rank Sum test.Purpose:
Materials/Methods:
We evaluated sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility and predictive value of palpation, of the painful arc sign, and of the ‘Royal London Hospital test’ in 10 patients with Achilles tendinopathy, and in 14 asymptomatic subjects using a test-retest study design. Ten male athletes on the waiting list for exploration of one of their Achilles tendons for tendinopathy of the main body of the tenon attended a special clinic. Each was invited to bring at least one athlete of the same sex in the same discipline aged within two years of themselves, with no history and no symptoms of AT. A total of 14 controls were thus recruited. Pain and tenderness following performance of palpation, the painful arc sign, and the ‘Royal London Hospital test’ were recorded. There were no statistically significant differences at the 5% level among the effects of investigator or between morning and afternoon measurements for any of the three assessment methods. There was no evidence of a difference of the three assessment methods (p>
0.05). When the three methods were combined, the overall sensitivity was 0.586 (CI 0.469 – 0.741) and the overall specificity was 0.833 (CI 0.758 – 0.889). In patients with tendinopathy of the Achilles tendon with a tender area of intratendinous swelling which moves with the tendon and whose tenderness significantly decreases or disappears when the tendon is put under tension, a clinical diagnosis of tendinopathy can be formulated, with a high positive predictive chance that the tendon will show ultrasonographic and histological features of tendinopathy.
We made a prospective arthroscopic study of 106 skeletally mature male sportsmen with an average age of 28.35 years (16.8 to 44) who presented with an acute haemarthrosis of the knee due to sporting activities. We excluded those with patellar dislocations, radiographic bone injuries, extra-articular ligamentous lesions or a previous injury to the same joint. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) was intact in 35 patients, partially disrupted in 28 and completely ruptured in 43. In the patients with an ACL lesion, associated injuries included meniscal tears (17 patients), cartilaginous loose bodies (6), and minimal osteochondral fractures of the patella (2), the tibial plateau (3) or the femoral condyle (9). We found no age-related trend in the pattern of ACL injuries. Isolated injuries included one small osteochondral fracture of the patella, and one partial and one total disruption of the posterior cruciate ligament. Three patients had cartilaginous loose bodies, and no injury was detected in five. Acute traumatic haemarthrosis indicates a serious ligament injury until proved otherwise, and arthroscopy is needed to complement careful history and clinical examination. All cases with a tense effusion developing within 12 hours of injury should have an aspiration. If haemarthrosis is confirmed, urgent admission and arthroscopy are indicated.
We report 18 cases of pain and tenderness in the mid-part of the patellar ligament in athletes. The condition may be disabling, but it responds to surgery. Ultrasound and CT scans were positive in all 17 confirmed cases, but ultrasound gave a better distinction between the cysts, granulation tissue, metaplasia, mucoid degeneration and congenital defects found at operation.
Adults with deformities of the lower limb due to spasticity may be considerably improved by operation, but thorough pre-operative assessment as an inpatient is essential in order to pinpoint the disability. The commonest deformity is equinovarus which often responds to simple operative procedures. The results of seventy-seven operative procedures in fifty patients are recorded. Correction once achieved is stable and the deformity does not recur.
