Project description:Our technique for acromioclavicular joint reconstruction provides a variation on coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction to also include acromioclavicular ligament reconstruction. An oblique acromial tunnel is drilled, and the medial limb of the gracilis graft, after being crossed and passed beneath the coracoid and through the clavicle, is passed through this acromial tunnel and sutured to the trapezoid graft limb after appropriate tensioning. Tenodesis screws are not placed in the bone tunnels to avoid graft fraying, and initial forces on the graft are offloaded with braided absorbable sutures passed around the clavicle.
Project description:The existing literature agrees on surgical management for Rockwood grade IV and V injuries, but there is no consensus which type of surgery is the most appropriate one. More than 150 surgeries have been described for this condition in the literature. In an injury of less than 3 weeks, most surgeons prefer suture-button devices for coracoclavicular stabilization. Recent biomechanical studies have demonstrated that coracoclavicular stabilization provides good vertical stability but poor horizontal stability of acromioclavicular joint. Hence, they recommend acromioclavicular stabilization along with coracoclavicular stabilization. The use of a suture-button device for coracoclavicular stabilization requires special implants and instruments along with high surgical skills to drill precisely placed holes in the clavicle and the coracoid in order to avoid fractures from the drill hole. Due to relatively smaller clavicle and coracoid in Asian population, making holes in the clavicle and the coracoid has increased risk of fracture. We describe a technique in which no drill holes are made in the clavicle or the coracoid. In our technique, suture tape is used, which is looped around the coracoid and the clavicle, and the limbs are tied over the clavicle to maintain the coracoclavicular distance. The remaining limbs of suture tape is further looped through the tunnels made in acromion and tied over the acromion to augment the acromioclavicular ligament. The potential advantages of this technique are no costly implant and instruments are required, avoidance of complications associated with drill holes in coracoid and clavicle, both coracoclavicular and acromioclavicular joints are stabilized, direct repair of the acromioclavicular ligament can be performed, and no need of second surgery for implant removal.
Project description:Acromioclavicular (AC) joint arthropathy remains one of the most common causes of shoulder pain. In the case of AC joint arthropathy resistant to conservative treatment, most authors have recognized distal clavicle resection as the gold-standard treatment. However, some challenges remain to be solved. One is the difficulty in visualization of the superior and posterior part of the distal clavicle from the midlateral portal, causing an incomplete resection of the distal clavicle. This could potentially lead to unresolved pain and therefore surgical failure. We propose a technique for arthroscopic resection of the distal clavicle and the medial portion of the acromion, without any added portal: bipolar AC joint resection. The term "bipolar" is used because both the acromion and the clavicle are resected, without injuring the superior capsule.
Project description:Loss of reduction is the most common complication following acromioclavicular dislocations treatment, with literature showing greater postoperative coracoclavicular distances associated with worse clinical results. We present a surgical gesture that aims to help surgeons achieve and secure an anatomic acromioclavicular reduction during coracoclavicular fixation. This technique has the possibility to improve radiological and functional results of acromioclavicular dislocation treatment.
Project description:Acromioclavicular (AC) joint injuries are common injuries, especially in the young and active, male population. AC joint injuries account for 12% of all injuries of the shoulder girdle in the overall population. Although conservative treatment is recommended for Rockwood type I and type II injuries, there is controversial debate about optimal treatment for type III injuries. High-grade injuries are typically treated operatively to avoid painful sequelae. A vast number of different surgical methods have been described over the past few decades. Recent advances in arthroscopic surgery have enabled the shoulder surgeon to treat acute and chronic AC lesions arthroscopically assisted. Clinical studies have already shown good and reliable results. Although surgeons agree that a biological augmentation is required to minimize the risk of recurrent instability in chronic cases, a gold standard still needs to be defined. We present an arthroscopically assisted biological augmentation technique to reconstruct the AC and coracoclavicular ligaments, protected by a button-suture tape construct for chronic AC joint instability. The presented arthroscopic biological augmentation technique uses less and/or smaller drill holes in the clavicle and coracoid than previously described, thus reducing weakening of the bony structures. At the same time it enhances both horizontal and vertical stability.
Project description:Acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) injury is a common shoulder injury. There are various techniques of ACJ reconstruction. Superficial infection after ACJ reconstruction is not an uncommon complication. However, osteomyelitis post ACJ reconstruction has never been highlighted as a possible complication. Our patient is a 31-year-old male who sustained a Rockwood 5 ACJ dislocation and had anatomical ACJ reconstruction with autogenous gracilis and semitendinosus graft. Our technique involved the anatomical reconstruction of the ACJ and the coracoclavicular ligament with the usage of two bioscrews and the temporary stabilisation of the ACJ with two k-wires. As in any orthopaedic surgery, infection is often disastrous especially when the surgery involves implants. It can be disastrous with high morbidity to the patient as well as a costly complication to treat. Therefore, we wish to highlight this case as despite its rarity, osteomyelitis can be devastating to the patient and should be prevented if possible.
Project description:PurposeDistinguishing non-neoplastic pituitary stalk lesions (non-NPSLs) from neoplastic pituitary stalk lesions (NPSLs) is a major concern in guiding treatment for a thickened pituitary stalk. Our study aimed to aid provide preoperative diagnostic assistance by combining clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings to distinguish non-NPSLs from NPSLs.Materials and methodsWe recruited 158 patients with thickened pituitary stalk lesions visible on MRI. Laboratory findings included hypopituitarism, diabetes insipidus (DI), and hyperprolactinemia. MR images were assessed for anterior-posterior thickness (mm), diffuse pituitary stalk thickening, cystic changes, a high T1 signal, and glandular or extrasellar involvement. A diagnostic model was developed using a recursive partitioning logistic regression analysis. The model was validated in an independent dataset comprising 63 patients, and its diagnostic performance was compared with that of the original radiological reports.ResultsA univariate analysis found significant associations of DI (P = 0.006), absence of extrasellar involvement (P = 0.002), and lower stalk thickness (P = 0.031) with non-NPSLs. A diagnostic model was created using the following parameters (in order of priority): 1) lack of extrasellar involvement, 2) stalk thickness < 5.3 mm, and 3) presence of DI. The diagnostic performance (area under the curve; AUC) of this model in the independent set was 0.813, representing a significant improvement over the original radiological reports (AUC: 0.713, P = 0.029).ConclusionThe joint diagnostic approach based on clinical and imaging-based factors robustly distinguished non-NPSLs from NPSLs. This approach could guide treatment strategies and prevent unnecessary surgery in patients with non-NPSL.
Project description:Arthroscopic stabilization of acute acromioclavicular joint dislocations using coracoclavicular suspension techniques has become more popular, but lack of horizontal stability is a major concern that furthermore affects the final outcome. We present an arthroscopic technique to stabilize acute acromioclavicular joint dislocations in both the vertical and horizontal planes, with better results than conventional coracoclavicular suspension techniques.
Project description:Acute acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocations are common and difficult to manage. The physiopathologic pattern begins with the rupture of the AC ligaments, then the coracoclavicular (CC) ligaments, and with an invasion of the clavicle through the deltotrapezial fascia. Therefore, we tend to perform a true suture of the CC ligaments, along with a release of the AC ligaments from the joint. We thus propose an all-endoscopic CC ligament suture and AC joint release. It starts with glenohumeral exploration enabling a repair of concomitant lesions when necessary. Dissection of the coracoid process is made, along with the lateral border of the conjoint tendon, medially the pectoralis minor tenotomy, and plexus brachial exposition and protection. Superiorly the CC ligaments are tagged and exposed. A major difference with others procedure then arises. We dissect the inferior and superior surfaces of the clavicle and the AC joint, although we maintain the continuity between the deltotrapezoid fascia and the AC ligaments. The AC dislocation is reduced under endoscopic control performing a true suture of the CC ligaments by the mean of 2 suture tapes and dog bones. After surgery, a shoulder brace is used for 6 weeks. Physiotherapy then begins.
Project description:Injuries to the acromioclavicular (AC) joint are common and comprise ∼12% of shoulder injuries. Stability to the AC joint depends on the coracoclavicular (CC) ligaments for vertical stability and AC ligaments and capsular structures for horizontal stability. Injuries to the AC ligaments can lead to horizontal instability of the AC joint. There is no gold standard technique for treating these injuries surgically, and many of the described procedures focus on vertical instability rather than horizontal instability. This article describes an open AC ligament reconstruction with semitendinosus allograft to restore horizontal stability of the AC joint.