Faculty Bibliography

Orthopedic surgery is associated with a significant risk of postoperative pulmonary embolism (PE) and/or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This study was performed to compare the clinical presentations of a suspected versus a documented PE/DVT and to determine the actual incidence of PE/DVT in the post-operative orthopedic patient in whom CT was ordered. All 695 patients at our institution who had a postoperative spiral CT to rule out PE/DVT from March 2004 to February 2006 were evaluated and information regarding their surgical procedure, risk factors, presenting symptoms, location of PE/DVT, and anticoagulation were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed using an independent samples t test with a two-tailed p value to examine significant associations between the patient variables and CT scans positive for PE. Logistic regression models were used to determine which variables appeared to be significant predictors of a positive chest CT. Of 32,854 patients admitted for same day surgery across all services, 695 (2.1%) had a postoperative spiral CT based on specific clinical guidelines. The incidence of a positive scan was 27.8% (193/695). Of these, 155 (22.3%) scans were positive for PE only, 24 (3.5%) for PE and DVT, and 14 (2.0%) for DVT only. The most common presenting symptoms were tachycardia (56%, 393/695), low oxygen saturation (48%, 336/695), and shortness of breath (19.6%, 136/695). Symptoms significantly associated with DVT were syncope and chest pain. A past medical history of PE/DVT was the only significant predictor of a positive scan. Patients who have a history of thromboembolic disease should be carefully monitored in the postoperative setting.

BACKGROUND: Retears of the rotator cuff are not uncommon after arthroscopic and mini-open rotator cuff repairs. In most studies, the clinical results in patients with persistent defects demonstrated significantly less pain and better function and strength compared with their preoperative state at an early follow-up. HYPOTHESIS: The clinical and structural outcomes of patients with known rotator cuff defects will remain unchanged after a longer period of follow-up. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: This study was performed in 15 patients (18 shoulders) from a previous study who had recurrent rotator cuff defects 3.2 years after repair. Each patient completed the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Scoring Survey, the Simple Shoulder Test, the L'Insalata Scoring Survey, and a visual analog scale for pain. Eleven patients (13 shoulders) were clinically reexamined at an average of 7.9 years for range of motion and strength, with targeted ultrasound. RESULTS: At the 7.9 year follow-up the average scores were 95 (American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons), 95 (L'Insalata), 11 (Simple Shoulder Test), and 0 (visual analog for pain), which were not statistically significantly different from the scores at 3.2 years. There was no change in the average range of motion; however, there was a statistically significant reduction in forward flexion strength and external rotation strength, as measured by a dynamometer. The average external rotation strength decreased by a mean of 42% and the mean forward flexion strength decreased by a mean of 45% (P < .001). Furthermore, there was a statistically significant increase in the mean size of the defect, from 273 mm(2) to 467 mm(2) (P < .001). Finally, the size of the defect increased in all patients, and no defects healed structurally. CONCLUSION: At an average of 7.9 years, patients with recurrent defects after rotator cuff repair still had an improvement in terms of pain, function, and satisfaction. However, the rotator cuff defect significantly increased in size, and there was a progression of strength deficits. These findings suggest that patients with recurrent defects can remain asymptomatic over the long term but will predictably lose strength in the involved extremity. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that defects after rotator cuff repair increase in size but often remain asymptomatic.

BACKGROUND: There has been limited in-vivo assessment of rotator cuff vascularity following repair. This study aims to characterize the vascularity of the shoulder 3 months following supraspinatus tendon repair. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients (average age, 61.4 years) underwent Perflutren lipid microsphere contrast-enhanced shoulder ultrasound examinations 3 months after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Each shoulder was scanned at rest and following exercise using linear phased array 9-MHz transducer optimized to detect the contrast agent. Blood flow was quantified off-line using ultrasound imaging quantification and analysis software (QLAB, Philips, Andover, MA). Peak enhancement (vascular volume) and rate of rise (perfusion) were determined for 3 regions of interest: peribursal area, supraspinatus tendon, and anchor site. RESULTS: Peak enhancement and rate of rise were greatest in the peribursal soft tissue and anchor site. Resting peak enhancement and rate of rise were significantly lower within the tendon compared to the other 2 regions (P < .001). Exercise resulted in increased enhancement and rate-of-rise to all 3 regions, but had a significant predilection towards increasing vascular volume within the peri-bursal region (P = .026). CONCLUSION: At 3 months following repair, the majority of blood flow to the repair is derived from the peribursal soft tissues and the anchor site. The tendon, particularly those with a defect at 3 months, is relatively avascular. Though limited by inclusion of only a single time point, this study introduces a new technique to quantify vascularity following supraspinatus repairs and suggests that the surrounding vascular milieu may play a role in tendon healing. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Basic Science.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have demonstrated predictable healing after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair at a single time point, but few studies have evaluated tendon healing over time. HYPOTHESIS: Rotator cuff tears that are intact on ultrasound at 1 time point will remain intact, and clinical results will improve regardless of healing status. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: The Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Registry was established to determine the effectiveness of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with clinical outcomes using the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score and ultrasound at 1 and 2 years, postoperatively. Patients were assigned to 1 of 3 groups based on ultrasound appearance: group 1, rotator cuff tendon intact at 1 and 2 years (n = 63); group 2, rotator cuff tendon defect at 1 and 2 years (n = 23); group 3, rotator cuff tendon defect at 1 year but no defect at 2 years (n = 7). RESULTS: The ultrasound appearance was consistent at 1 and 2 years for 86 of the 93 patients (92.5%). The patients in group 1 had a significantly lower mean age (57.8 +/- 9.8 years) than the patients of group 2 (63.6 +/- 8.6 years; P = .04). Group 2 had a significantly greater rotator cuff tear size (4.36 +/- 1.6 cm) than group 1 (2.84 +/- 1.1 cm; P = .00025). Each group had a significant improvement in American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores from baseline to 2-year follow-up. CONCLUSION All intact rotator cuff tendons at 1 year remained intact at 2 years. A small group of patients with postoperative imaging did not appear healed by ultrasound at 1 year but did so at 2 years. Patients demonstrated improvement in American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons shoulder scores, range of motion, and strength, regardless of tendon healing status on ultrasound.

OBJECTIVE: Carpometacarpal osteoarthritis (CMC OA) is highly prevalent in older adults, and is often unresponsive to medical treatment. Intra-articular Hylan G-F 20 has been shown to improve pain and function in patients with knee OA; however, its effectiveness in CMC OA is less clear. METHODS: 32 patients with CMC OA were injected with Hylan G-F 20, once weekly for three consecutive weeks. Patients were assessed 4, 12, 20 and 26 weeks after the first injection. A last-value carried forward analysis was performed. RESULTS: Average age was 64 years, (range 46-79), 69% were female and 97% Caucasian. Fifty-three percent had at least one previous corticosteroid injection in the affected CMC joint. At 26 weeks, mean visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain had improved significantly (15.2 mm; p-value = 0.006). Disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand questionnaire (DASH) scores also improved significantly (12.6; p-value < 0.001). A DASH change of 10-14 is considered clinically meaningful. Neither key strength nor opposition grip strength improved. VAS scores for pain at 26 weeks showed good correlation with patient satisfaction (Spearman r = 0.52, p-value < 0.01). Adverse events potentially related to the injections included three episodes of post-injection pain and swelling, and one case of crystal proven pseudogout. CONCLUSION: Intra-articular Hylan G-F 20 injections reduced pain and improved function in patients with CMC OA at 26 weeks in this small open label study. Limitations of this study include its small, open label design. Larger randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these results, and to determine predictors of response to treatment. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA and registered at (www.ClinicalTrials.Gov)# NCT00198029.

The Achilles tendon is a frequent site of foot and ankle discomfort. Its superficial location lends it to excellent evaluation by ultrasonography. Continuing advances in US have enabled evaluation of Achilles pathology with unprecedented accuracy and efficiency in a cost-effective manner. For these reasons, radiologists are likely to be called on to evaluate Achilles tendinopathy with sonography. The purpose of this article was to provide an overview of the sonographic technique and appearance of the normal and abnormal Achilles tendon, including a short synopsis of ultrasound-guided therapy with pictoral examples.

BACKGROUND: The rotator cuff registry was established to evaluate prospectively the effectiveness of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. The purpose of the present study is to report the preliminary data at the 1- and 2-year time point and perform subgroup analysis to identify factors that may affect outcome. METHODS: A total of 193 patients underwent all-arthroscopic repair of a rotator cuff tear and met the inclusion criteria and 127 (65.8%) completed 2-year follow-up. The outcome measurements included physical examination, manual muscle testing, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and ultrasonography. RESULTS: The pre-operative ASES score was 52.37 +/- 24.09 and improved to 83.88 +/- 19.28 at 1 year (P < .0001) and 92.65 +/- 11.36 at 2 years (P < 0.0001). The percent healing for all patients was 64.10% at 3 months and 64.34% at 1 year (P = .4080). At 2 years, there was a significant increase in the percentage of healed tendon at 75.42% compared to the 3-month (P (1/4) .0001) and 1-year (P = 0.0332) time points. Patients with intact tendons had an ASES score of 93.9 +/- 10.2 compared to tendon defects with a score of 88.0 +/- 15.6 (P = .0623). Gender, tear size, and acromioclavicular joint involvement have a significant effect on ASES score. Rotator cuff characteristics such as tear size, biceps pathology, acromioclavicular joint pathology, and tissue quality have a significant effect on postoperative tendon integrity. CONCLUSION: Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair demonstrates significant improvement in clinical outcomes and good rate of healing by postoperative ultrasound. Longer-term studies are necessary to determine the efficacy over time.

The lack of precise measures of disease activity may complicate the care of patients with inflammatory myopathies (IM). Techniques currently available to physicians in practice rely on measurement of function, strength, laboratory indices, muscle biopsy, and imaging techniques. Although MRI has become the method of choice to assess IM, it is expensive, difficult for some patients to tolerate, and contraindicated in those with pacemakers, aneurysm clips, and other ferromagnetic biomedical implants. Ultrasonography is an alternative approach to image the muscular system. Newer applications of ultrasound, such as power Doppler sonography (PDS), contrast-enhanced ultrasound, and sonoelastography, show some promising results in further characterizing normal and pathologic states. Technical improvements, including extended field-of-view, compound imaging, and harmonic imaging, further enhance one's ability to display changes in muscle morphology. This article reviews the sonographic appearances of normal and pathologic muscle with respect to inflammatory myopathies.