The Effect of Patient Characteristics and Comorbidities on the Rate of Revision Rotator Cuff Repair

The influence of sex is a neglected focus in rotator cuff repair: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Rotator cuff (RC) disorders are the most common cause of shoulder disability. The aim of this study was to quantify the evidence on the sex-related differences in RC repair.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was performed in January 2023 in PubMed, Wiley Cochrane Library and Web of Science on research articles on humans with RC tears treated surgically. A meta-analysis was performed to compare results in men and women. The Downs and Black score and the modified Coleman methodology score (MCMS) were used to assess the retrieved studies.

RESULTS

A total of 39,909 patients were enroled in the 401 studies analysed (45% women, 55% men). A trend toward more sex-balanced recruitment was observed over time. Only 4% of the studies on 1.5% of the documented patients presented disaggregated outcome data and were quantitatively analysed. A tendency for lower range of motion values after surgery was found for external shoulder rotation in women, with 39.9° ± 6.9° versus 45.3° ± 4.1° in men (p = 0.066). According to Downs and Black scores, four studies were good and 12 fair, with a main MCMS score of 69/100.

CONCLUSION

There is a lack of awareness on the importance to document women- and men-specific data. Only 4% of the articles disaggregated data, and it was possible to analyse only 1.5% of the literature population, a sample which cannot be considered representative of all patients. The lack of disaggregated data is alarming and calls for action to better study men and women differences to optimise the management of RC tears. This will be necessary to provide sex-specific information that could be of clinical relevance when managing RC repair.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV.

The Role of Perioperative Nutritional Status and Supplementation in Orthopaedic Surgery: A Review of Postoperative Outcomes

» Identification of malnourished and at-risk patients should be a standardized part of the preoperative evaluation process for every patient.» Malnourishment is defined as a disorder of energy, protein, and nutrients based on the presence of insufficient energy intake, weight loss, muscle atrophy, loss of subcutaneous fat, localized or generalized fluid accumulation, or diminished functional status.» Malnutrition has been associated with worse outcomes postoperatively across a variety of orthopaedic procedures because malnourished patients do not have a robust metabolic reserve available for recovery after surgery.» Screening assessment and basic laboratory studies may indicate patients' nutritional risk; however, laboratory values are often not specific for malnutrition, necessitating the use of prognostic screening tools.» Nutrition consultation and perioperative supplementation with amino acids and micronutrients are 2 readily available interventions that orthopaedic surgeons can select for malnourished patients.

The Influence of Obesity on Outcomes Following Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 118,331 Patients Internationally

Background

Given the rising prevalence of obesity, the number of patients with obesity undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR) will likely increase; however, there have been mixed results in the existing literature with regard to the effect of elevated body mass index (BMI) on functional outcomes and complications.

Methods

The patient-reported outcome measures included the visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, range of motion, and adverse events.

Results

Fourteen studies (118,331 patients) were included. There were significant decreases in VAS pain scores for both patients with obesity (mean difference, -3.8 [95% confidence interval (CI), -3.9 to -3.7]; p < 0.001) and patients without obesity (mean difference, -3.2 [95% CI, -3.3 to -3.1]; p < 0.001). There were also significant increases in ASES scores for both patients with obesity (mean difference, 24.3 [95% CI, 22.5 to 26.1]; p < 0.001) and patients without obesity (mean difference, 24.3 [95% CI, 21.4 to 26.0]; p < 0.001). There were also significant increases in ASES scores for both patients with obesity (mean difference, 24.3 [95% CI, 22.5 to 26.1]; p < 0.001) and patients without obesity (mean difference, 24.3 [95% CI, 21.4 to 26.0]; p < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences in final VAS pain scores, ASES scores, or range of motion between the groups. The mean rates of complications were higher among patients with obesity (1.2% ± 1.7%) than among patients without obesity (0.59% ± 0.11%) (p < 0.0001), and the mean rates of postoperative admissions were also higher among patients with obesity (5.9%) than patients without obesity (3.7%) (p < 0.0001). Although the mean rates of reoperation were similar between groups (5.2% ± 2.8% compared with 5.2% ± 4.2%), the meta-analysis revealed lower odds of reoperation in patients without obesity (odds ratio [OR], 0.76 [95% CI, 0.71 to 0.82]).

Conclusions

No significant or clinically important differences in postoperative pain, ASES scores, or range of motion were found between patients with and without obesity following arthroscopic RCR. However, populations with obesity had higher rates of complications, postoperative admissions, and reoperation following arthroscopic RCR.

Level of Evidence

Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Editorial Commentary: Biocomposite Implant Combined With Local Human Recombinant Parathyroid Hormone Enhances the Histological Quality and Biomechanical Strength of Rotator Cuff Repairs

Rates of rotator cuff repair retear remain unacceptably high and are frequently the source of diminished shoulder function and patient dissatisfaction. Endocrinopathies have been implicated in these processes. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) activates chondrogenesis and angiogenesis at the enthesis and prevents fatty infiltration and atrophy in rotator cuff musculature. These facts have spurred interest in the therapeutic benefits of PTH as a means to enhance tendon healing and strengthen the bone in and around tendon repairs. New research demonstrates that recombinant human PTH delivered locally through a process of coupling it to a bioengineered scaffold "sheath" may be beneficial. The growth factor, encased within polycaprolactone (PCL), is slowly released as the PCL degrades to extend drug delivery time. The augmentation of rotator cuff repairs with this biocomposite material improves short-term structural tissue integrity and promotes the formation of more organized and stronger tendon-to-bone interface in a rabbit model.

Smokers Achieved Minimal Clinically Important Difference for Visual Analog Scale and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Scores at a Lower Rate Than Nonsmokers Even When Repaired Supraspinatus Tendons Were Intact on Postoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Purpose

To investigate the impact of smoking on clinical outcomes after repair of supraspinatus tendon in patients who had an intact repair found on postoperative magnetic resonance imaging.

Methods

Patients who received primary complete repair of supraspinatus tendon tear between 2014 and 2020 were retrospectively identified. Patients were excluded if a postoperative magnetic resonance imaging scan was not available or if the follow-up was less than 2 years. Visual analog score (VAS), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and active forward flexion were assessed at the 2-year follow-up. The percentage of patients acquiring minimal clinically important difference (MCID) was reported.

Results

One hundred primary supraspinatus tendon repairs were included. The healing rate was 77% in smokers and 90% in nonsmokers. Smoking was the independent predictor of a poorer 2-year VAS (P < .001) and ASES (P < .001) scores. Significant improvement in clinical outcomes was observed between preoperation and the 2-year follow-up, regardless of the integrity of the repair or smoking status (P < .001). When the repaired tendon was intact, nonsmokers had a greater chance of achieving MCID in 2-year VAS and ASES scores than smokers. Ninety-nine percent of nonsmokers, compared with 82% of smokers, achieved MCID in VAS at the 2-year follow-up (P = .023). The corresponding figures for ASES were 98% and 71%, respectively (P = .004).

Conclusions

In this study, smoking was associated with poorer clinical outcomes, including a greater 2-year VAS pain score and a lower 2-year ASES score, when compared with nonsmokers, even in cases in which there was no full-thickness retear of the repaired supraspinatus tendon.

Level of Evidence

Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Elevated HbA1c is not associated with reoperation following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in patients with diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

Hyperglycemia is a known risk factor for tendon degeneration due to oxidative stresses from production of advanced glycosylation end products. In patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), analysis of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) provides a 3-month window into a patient's glucose control. No guidelines exist for ideal preoperative HbA1c and glucose control prior to arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. This study evaluated if a critical HbA1c level is associated with reoperation following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated patients with DM who underwent primary arthroscopic rotator cuff repair from January 2014 to December 2018 at a single institution. Patients required a preoperative HbA1c within 3 months of surgery. Medical records were queried to evaluate for reoperation and identify the subsequent procedures performed. Univariate statistical analysis was performed to assess factors associated with reoperation (P < .05 considered significant). Threshold, area under the curve (AUC), analysis was performed to assess if a critical HbA1c value was associated with reoperation.

RESULTS

A total of 402 patients met inclusion criteria. Patients had an average age of 65.5 years (range 40-89) at time of surgery; 244 (60.6%) patients were male; and average body mass index was 32.96 ± 5.81. Mean HbA1c was 7.36 (range 5.2-12). Thirty-three patients (8.2%) underwent subsequent reoperation. Six patients (1.5%) underwent capsular release and lysis of adhesions, 20 patients (5.0%) underwent a revision rotator cuff surgery, combination revision rotator cuff repair and lysis of adhesions, graft-augmented revision repair, or superior capsular reconstruction, and 7 patients (1.7%) underwent revision to reverse shoulder arthroplasty (1.7%). There were no cases of reoperation for infection. On AUC analysis, no critical HbA1c value was identified to predispose to reoperation. Interestingly, elevated preoperative American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification score (2.8 vs. 2.28, P = .001) was associated with a higher reoperation rate.

DISCUSSION

In patients with DM, preoperative HbA1c is not a predictive factor for surgical failure requiring reoperation. Stable glycemic control is important to a patient's overall health and may play a role in minimizing postoperative medical complications, but an elevated preoperative HbA1c should not be a strict surgical contraindication for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. In patients with DM, an elevated ASA score is associated with an increased rate of subsequent reoperation; diabetic patients should be counseled accordingly.

The Gluteus-Score-7 Predicts the Likelihood of Both Clinical Success and Failure Following Surgical Repair of the Hip Gluteus Medius and/or Minimus

PURPOSE

To identify patient preoperative history, examination, and imaging characteristics that increase the risk of postoperative failure of gluteus medius/minimus repair, and to develop a decision-making aid predictive of clinical outcomes for patients undergoing gluteus medius/minimus repair.

METHODS

Patients from 2012 to 2020 at a single institution undergoing gluteus medius/minimus repair with minimum 2-year follow-up were identified. MRIs were graded according to the "three-grade" classification system: grade 1: partial-thickness tear, grade 2: full-thickness tears with <2 cm of retraction, grade 3: full-thickness tears with ≥2 cm retraction. Failure was defined as undergoing revision within 2 years postoperatively or not achieving both a cohort-calculated minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and responding "no" to patient acceptable symptom state (PASS). Inversely, success was defined as reaching both an MCID and responding "yes" to PASS. Predictors of failure were verified on logistic regression and a predictive scoring model, the Gluteus-Score-7, was generated to guide treatment-decision making.

RESULTS

In total, 30 of 142 patients (21.1%) were clinical failures at mean ± SD follow-up of 27.0 ± 5.2 months. Preoperative smoking (odds ratio [OR], 3.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-8.4; P = .041), lower back pain (OR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.1-7.3; P = .038), presence of a limp or Trendelenburg gait (OR, 3.8; 95% CI, 1.5-10.2; P = .006), history of psychiatric diagnosis (OR, 3.7; 95% CI, 1.3-10.8; P = .014), and increased MRI classification grades (P ≤ .042) were independent predictors of failure. The Gluteus-Score-7 was generated with each history/examination predictor assigned 1 point and MRI classes assigned corresponding 1-3 points (min 1, max 7 score). A score of ≥4/7 points was associated with risk of failure and a score ≤2/7 points was associated with clinical success.

CONCLUSIONS

Independent risk factors for revision or not achieving either MCID or PASS after gluteus medius and/or minimus tendon repair include smoking, preoperative lower back pain, psychiatric history, Trendelenburg gait, and full-thickness tears, especially tears with ≥2 cm retraction. The Gluteus-Score-7 tool incorporating these factors can identify patients at risk of both surgical treatment failure and success, which may be useful for clinical decision-making.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, prognostic case series.

Interposition Grafting Using Fascia Lata Autograft for Failed Rotator Cuff Repairs

Massive rotator cuff tears are a huge challenge for orthopaedic surgeons, as the patients may be in need of multiple operations, even including reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. The various repair methods for the rotator cuff, such as partial rotator cuff repair, patch-augmented rotator cuff repair, bridging rotator cuff reconstruction with graft interposition, tendon transfer, and superior capsular reconstruction, have always been the focus of research. During surgical intervention for failed rotator cuff repairs, complexity of tears, poor tissue quality, retained hardware, and adhesions are the problems routinely encountered. In this Technical Note, we describe the technique of interposition grafting using fascia lata autograft to reconstruct the rotator cuff after failed primary repair.

Nutrition in Surgery: An Orthopaedic Perspective

➤ Malnutrition is common among subsets of patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery and is associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications.➤ Serum proteins, in particular, albumin, may be used in the evaluation of nutritional status.➤ Anthropometric measurements and surveys also play a role in the evaluation of nutritional status.➤ Increased energy and nutrient requirements due to surgical procedures necessitate increased caloric and protein intake in the perioperative period, which may be achieved through diet or supplementation.➤ Evidence supports the use of protein-calorie, amino acid, and immunonutrition supplements. Vitamin D supplementation is an area of further consideration.➤ Diet restriction, activity alterations, pharmacotherapy, and bariatric surgery are all safe, effective approaches to weight loss, although the optimal timing and magnitude of preoperative weight loss require further investigation.

Preoperative vitamin D supplementation is a cost-effective intervention in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

BACKGROUND

This study investigates the potential role of preoperative 25(OH)D supplementation as a cost-effective strategy to decrease revision rotator cuff repair (RCR) rates and lower the total health care burden from patients undergoing primary arthroscopic RCR. Previous literature has emphasized the importance of vitamin D on bone health maintenance, soft tissue healing, and outcomes in RCR. Inadequate preoperative vitamin D levels may increase revision RCR rates following primary arthroscopic RCR. Although 25(OH)D deficiency is common in RCR patients, serum screening is not routinely performed.

METHODS

A cost-estimation model was developed to determine the cost-effectiveness of both preoperative selective and nonselective 25(OH)D supplementation in RCR patients in order to reduce revision RCR rates. Prevalence and surgical cost data were obtained from published literature through systematic reviews. Cost of serum 25(OH)D assay and supplementation were obtained from public-use data. Mean and lower and upper bounds of 1-year cost savings were calculated for both the selective and nonselective supplementation scenarios.

RESULTS

Preoperative 25(OH)D screening and subsequent selective 25(OH)D supplementation was calculated to result in a mean cost savings of $6,099,341 (range: -$2,993,000 to $15,191,683) per 250,000 primary arthroscopic RCR cases. Nonselective 25(OH)D supplementation of all arthroscopic RCR patients was calculated to result in a mean cost savings of $11,584,742 (range: $2,492,401-$20,677,085) per 250,000 primary arthroscopic RCR cases. Univariate adjustment projects that selective supplementation is a cost-effective strategy in clinical contexts where the cost of revision RCR exceeds $14,824.69 and prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency exceeds 6.67%. Additionally, nonselective supplementation is a cost-effective strategy in clinical scenarios where revision RCR cost is ≥$4216.06 and prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency is ≥1.93%.

CONCLUSIONS

This cost-predictive model promotes the role of preoperative 25(OH)D supplementation as a cost-effective mechanism to reduce revision RCR rates and lower the overall health care burden from arthroscopic RCR. Nonselective supplementation appears to be more cost-effective than selective supplementation, likely due to the lower cost of 25(OH)D supplementation compared to serum assays.

Association of obesity with high retears and complication rates, and low functional scores after rotator cuff repair: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Obesity influences the outcomes of orthopedic surgeries such as total knee arthroplasty and spinal surgery. However, the effect of obesity on the outcomes of rotator cuff repair is unknown. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the effect of obesity on rotator cuff repair outcomes.

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched to identify relevant studies published from their inception till July 2022. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts using the specified criteria. Articles were included if they indicated the effect of obesity on rotator cuff repair and the related outcomes after surgery. Review Manager 5.4.1 software was used to perform statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Thirteen articles involving 85,497 patients were included. Obese patients had higher retear rates than nonobese patients (odds ratio [OR] 2.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23-5.41, P = .01), lower American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores (mean difference [MD]: -3.59, 95% CI: -5.45 to [-1.74]; P = .0001), higher visual analog scale for pain (mean difference: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.29-1.17; P = .001), higher reoperation rates (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.21-1.42, P < .00001), and higher rates of complications (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.31-1.87, P = .000). Obesity did not affect the duration of surgery (MD: 6.03, 95% CI: -7.63 to 19.69; P = .39) or external rotation of the shoulder (MD: -1.79, 95% CI: -5.30 to 1.72; P = .32).

CONCLUSION

Obesity is a significant risk factor for retear and reoperation after rotator cuff repair. Furthermore, obesity increases the risk of postoperative complications and leads to lower postoperative American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores and higher shoulder visual analog scale for pain.

Perioperative complications and outcomes in patients with paraplegia undergoing rotator cuff repair

Background

Patients with paraplegia often experience chronic shoulder pain due to overuse. We sought to determine if these patients have an increased prevalence of perioperative complications and higher rates of re-admissions and rotator cuff re-tears relative to able-bodied controls following rotator cuff repair (RCR).

Methods

We queried the NRD (2011-2018) to identify all patients undergoing primary RCR (n = 34,451) and identified cohorts of matched paraplegic and non-paraplegic patients (n = 194 each). We compared demographic factors, comorbidity profiles, perioperative complication rates, length of stay, revision rates, and re-admission rates between the two groups.

Results

Patients with paraplegia had lower rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p = 0.02), hypertension (p = 0.007), congestive heart failure (p = 0.027), obesity (p < 0.001), and prior myocardial infarction (p = 0.01). Additionally, patients with paraplegia experienced higher rates of urinary tract infections (11.9% vs. 2.1%, p < 0.001), lower rates of acute respiratory distress syndrome (0% vs. 3.1%, p = 0.041), and had a longer length of stay (4-days vs. 1-day, p < 0.001). Revision rates were similar for the two groups.

Conclusions

Compared to matched controls, patients with paraplegia were found to have similar demographic characteristics, less comorbidities, similar perioperative complication rates, and similar revision rates. These findings address a gap in the literature regarding surgical management of shoulder pain in patients with paraplegia by providing a matched comparison with a large sample size.

Does timing matter? The effect of preoperative smoking cessation on the risk of infection or revision following rotator cuff repair

BACKGROUND

Nicotine in tobacco products is known to impair bone and tendon healing, and smoking has been associated with an increased rate of retear and reoperation following rotator cuff repair (RCR). Although smoking is known to increase the risk of failure following RCR, former smoking status and the timing of preoperative smoking cessation have not previously been investigated.

METHODS

A national all-payer database was queried for patients undergoing RCR between 2010 and 2020. Patients were stratified into 5 mutually exclusive groups according to smoking history: (1) never smokers (n = 50,000), (2) current smokers (n = 28,291), (3) former smokers with smoking cessation 3-6 months preoperatively (n = 34,513), (4) former smokers with smoking cessation 6-12 months preoperatively (n = 786), and (5) former smokers with smoking cessation >12 months preoperatively (n = 1399). The risks of postoperative infection and revision surgery were assessed at 90 days, 1 year, and 2 years following surgery. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to isolate and evaluate risk factors for postoperative complications.

RESULTS

The 90-day rate of infection following RCR was 0.28% in never smokers compared with 0.51% in current smokers and 0.52% in former smokers who quit smoking 3-6 months prior to surgery (P < .001). Multivariate logistic regression identified smoking (odds ratio [OR], 1.49; P < .001) and smoking cessation 3-6 months prior to surgery (OR, 1.56; P < .001) as risk factors for 90-day infection. The elevated risk in these groups persisted at 1 and 2 years postoperatively. However, smoking cessation >6 months prior to surgery was not associated with a significant elevation in infection risk. In addition, smoking was associated with an elevated 90-day revision risk (OR, 1.22; P = .038), as was smoking cessation between 3 and 6 months prior to surgery (OR, 1.19; P = .048). The elevated risk in these groups persisted at 1 and 2 years postoperatively. Smoking cessation >6 months prior to surgery was not associated with a statistically significant elevation in revision risk.

CONCLUSION

Current smokers and former smokers who quit smoking within 6 months of RCR are at an elevated risk of postoperative infection and revision surgery at 90 days, 1 year, and 2 years postoperatively compared with never smokers. Former smokers who quit >6 months prior to RCR are not at a detectably elevated risk of infection or revision surgery compared with those who have never smoked.

Determining the Time Required to Achieve Clinically Significant Outcomes on the PROMIS Upper Extremity Questionnaire After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair

Background

Clinically significant outcome (CSO) thresholds for the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System-Upper Extremity (PROMIS-UE) score have been previously defined after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR). However, the time required to achieve CSOs for the PROMIS-UE score is unknown.

Purpose

To (1) determine the time required to achieve the minimal clinically important difference (MCID), substantial clinical benefit (SCB), and Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) score thresholds after RCR for the PROMIS-UE questionnaire and (2) identify patient factors associated with earlier or delayed achievement of these clinical benchmarks.

Study Design

Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods

A prospectively maintained institutional database was retrospectively reviewed for consecutive patients who underwent RCR between January 2018 and January 2019. Patients were included if they completed the PROMIS-UE questionnaire both preoperatively and at standardized postoperative time intervals: 5 to 7 months (6-month time point), 11 to 13 months (1-year time point), and ≥23 months (2-year time point). Kaplan-Meier survival curves with interval censoring were used to define the cumulative percentage of patients who achieved the MCID, SCB, and PASS. Patient variables associated with earlier or delayed achievement of the MCID, SCB, and PASS were determined using Weibull parametric survival regression analysis.

Results

Included were 105 patients undergoing RCR (age, 57.3 ± 10.3 years; body mass index, 31.5 ± 6.1 kg/m²). By 2-year follow-up, the cumulative percentage of patients achieving the MCID, SCB, and PASS was 86.7%, 76.2%, and 74.3%, respectively. The mean time required to reach the MCID, SCB, and PASS score thresholds was 9.5 ± 3.8, 10.3 ± 4.4, and 9.8 ± 4.6 months, respectively. Factors associated with delayed achievement of CSOs included greater baseline PROMIS-UE score (MCID and SCB) and workers' compensation insurance (PASS). Greater baseline PROMIS-UE scores were associated with earlier achievement of the PASS.

Conclusion

Most patients achieved CSOs for the PROMIS-UE within 12 months of RCR. Patient-specific factors found to be associated with earlier or delayed achievement of CSOs can be used to inform patient discussions on the expected timeline for recovery after RCR.

Return to Sport after Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair of Full-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

Perform a systematic literature review regarding return to sport (RTS) outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (aRCR) for full-thickness rotator cuff tears (FTRCTs).

DATA SOURCES

Systematic review of all articles in PubMed, Medline, and Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE) was conducted in April 2022 using a combination of keywords: "rotator cuff repair," "RCR," "complete," "full-thickness," "tear," "RCT," "injury," "shoulder," "arthroscopic," "return to sport," "RTS," "sport," "return to play," and "athlete." Cohorts were included from all articles reporting RTS after aRCR for FTRCTs. Studies that were non-English, failed to distinguish between partial and FTRCT outcomes, or treated FTRCTs by open RCR, mini-open RCR, debridement, or nonsurgical management were excluded. Abstracted data included study design, surgical techniques, concomitant procedures, demographics, FTRCT type and size, patient-reported outcomes, type of sport, competition level, time to return, and reasons for failing to RTS.

MAIN RESULTS

11 studies were reviewed, with inclusion of 463 patients (385 athletes; mean age 47.9). RTS varied considerably in rate and timing, with 50.0% to 100% of patients returning on average between 4.8 to 14 months. In addition, 31 patients returned to a higher level of sport, 107 returned to or near preinjury level, and 36 returned to a lower level of competition or failed to RTS entirely.

CONCLUSIONS

The ability for athletes to RTS after aRCR for FTRCTs is likely multifactorial, demonstrating high variability in return rates and time to RTS. Given the paucity of available literature, future studies are warranted to provide a more definitive consensus.

Repair of rotator cuff tears in patients aged 75 years and older: Does it make sense? A systematic review

Background

Rotator cuff injuries are common, and morbidity increases with age. The asymptomatic full-thickness tear rate is 40% in the over 75-year-old population.

Purpose

This study aimed to systematically review the literature on the outcomes of rotator cuff repair among >75 years old patients.

Study design

Systematic review.

Methods

A systematic review of the literature was performed following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. A literature search was performed in the electronic databases of PubMed, Medline, Embase, and The Cochrane Library. Studies in English evaluating repair of full-thickness rotator cuff tears in patients aged >75 years were included.

Results

Six studies were reviewed, including 311 patients (313 shoulders) treated with arthroscopic and/or open rotator cuff repair. Sixty-one patients were lost to follow-up, leaving 252 shoulders with outcome data. Patients in this age group demonstrated a significant improvement in the clinical and functional scores after rotator cuff repair, with a high satisfaction rate. The mean American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores improved from 43.8 (range, 42.0-45.5) preoperatively to 85.3 (range, 84.0 to 86.5) postoperatively, and the mean Constant scores improved from 45.4 (range, 34.7-55.5) to 78.6 (range, 67.0-91.6). Pain, evaluated in all studies by the visual analog scale for pain, showed a significant improvement at the last follow-up compared with the mean preoperative score. Furthermore, range of motion and return to daily activities and sports gained marked improvements.

Conclusion

Rotator cuff repair in patients aged >75 years could achieve high clinical success rates with good outcomes and pain relief. Although patients in this age group are at a high risk of retear, rotator cuff repair may offer a good option with significant functional and clinical improvement.

Tear size, general health status and smoking influence functional outcome at 5 years following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

Introduction

There is limited medium-term outcome data regarding the predictors of functional outcome and patient satisfaction after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Methods

287 patients that underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair under a high-volume single surgeon were contacted at a minimum of 4 years following surgery. Patient demographics, tear size and co-morbidities were pre-operatively recorded. The Oxford shoulder score, EuroQol 5-dimensional score and patient satisfaction were recorded at final follow-up.

Results

234 (81.5%) patients completed follow-up at a mean of 5.5 (4-9) years. There were 126 males and 108 females with a mean age of 60 (range 25-83) years. The majority of patients (n = 211, 90%) were satisfied with their final outcome. Multivariate linear regression analysis (R 2 = 0.64) identified that increasing tear size (p = 0.04), worsening general health assessed by the EuroQol 5-Dimensional (p < 0.001), and smoking (p = 0.049) were associated with a worse Oxford shoulder score. Logistic regression analysis (R 2 = 0.13) identified that worsening general health assessed by the EuroQol 5-Dimensional (p < 0.001), and smoking (p = 0.01) were associated with an increased risk of patient dissatisfaction.

Conclusion

General health status and smoking are independent predictors of functional outcome and patient satisfaction at medium-term follow-up following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Association of Preoperative Vitamin D Deficiency With Retear Rate and Early Pain After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background

Although the function of vitamin D in bone metabolism has been well studied, the question remains whether vitamin D deficiency impairs tendon healing after rotator cuff repair.

Purpose

To investigate the correlation between preoperative vitamin D deficiency and the retear rate and pain after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Study Design

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods

Patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair between January 2018 and August 2019 were enrolled. Included patients were divided into a control group (vitamin D level ≥20 μg/L) and a deficiency group (vitamin D level <20 μg/L). We investigated the association between preoperative vitamin D level and patient characteristics, MRI findings, pain and function scores (visual analog scale [VAS] for pain; Constant-Murley; University of California, Los Angeles; and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores), and healing status using the Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficient. The clinical characteristics were compared between the groups using the chi-square test or Fisher exact test.

Results

Included were 89 patients (control group, 44 patients; deficiency group, 45 patients). The mean vitamin D levels were 25.07 ± 5.38 and 14.61 ± 3.43 μg/L in the control and deficiency groups, respectively (P < .001); otherwise, there were no significant differences between the groups in the variables under study. Vitamin D levels were not related to age, symptom duration, tear size, extent of retraction, VAS pain score preoperatively and at 6 and 24 months postoperatively, or any function scores. Supraspinatus fatty infiltration and VAS scores at 1 and 3 months postoperatively were significantly associated with vitamin D level (r = -0.360, -0.362, and -0.316, respectively; P < .05 for all). VAS scores were significantly lower in the control group than in the deficiency group at postoperative 1 month (1.09 ± 0.56 vs 1.47 ± 0.66, respectively) and 3 months (1.14 ± 0.77 vs 1.44 ± 0.66) (P < .05 for both). The retear rate was significantly lower in the control group than in the deficiency group (9.09% vs 26.67%, respectively; P < .05).

Conclusion

Our study revealed that preoperative vitamin D deficiency was associated with a higher retear rate and early pain (1 and 3 months) after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Does the critical shoulder angle influence retear and functional outcome after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair? A systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the correlation between increased critical shoulder angle (CSA) and higher retear rates and functional outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR).

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases published before January 2022 were comprehensively searched. Two reviewers independently reviewed the titles and abstracts using the specified criteria. Studies were included if the authors clearly described the correlation between the CSA and rotator cuff repair. Data on patient characteristics, mean CSA, retear rate, and the functional score was pooled from the selected articles. A meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager (RevMan) 5.4.1 software, 2020 (Cochrane Collaboration, Copenhagen, Denmark).

RESULTS

Eleven articles involving 1449 patients from 7 countries were included. The ages of the patients ranged from 45 to 75 years. The follow-up period ranged from 6 to 96 months. The mean CSA was greater in the retear group than in the non-retear group after ARCR (mean difference 2.73°; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.69-4.77) (p = 0.009). Three studies evaluated the association between increased CSA and the postoperative retear rate. All three studies showed a higher postoperative retear rate in patients with an increased CSA (odds ratio 5.35; 95% CI 2.02-14.15; p = 0.0007). No association was found between CSA and Constant-Murley (Constant), the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), or Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores during the follow-up period of 24-96 months (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review and meta-analysis showed that CSA correlates highly with rotator cuff retear after ARCR. In addition, the postoperative retear rate of the rotator cuff increased with increased CSA. CSA appeared to not affect worse functional outcomes in patients after ARCR.

Pharmacologic Enhancement of Rotator Cuff Repair: A Narrative Review

INTRODUCTION

As rotator cuff repairs (RCRs) are among the most common procedures in upper extremity orthopedics, healing augmentation using pharmacologic enhancement of the repaired rotator cuff muscle is of particular interest.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to review the current understanding of Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs), Doxycycline, Testosterone, Estrogen, Growth hormone/ IGF-1, Vitamin D, and Vitamin C as a means to mitigate deleterious effects and propagate factors that support healing following RCR.

METHODS

A review of English language articles in PubMed and Medline was conducted in December of 2020. All articles describing the current understanding of the aforementioned therapies were reviewed. Studies were excluded if they were non-English or reported incomplete results.

RESULTS

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP's) are fundamental to the healing process after rotator cuff tears through a delicate balance of various proteases that can be modulated by doxycycline through inhibition. While testosterone has shown to induce replication and differentiation of the tendon stem-cells, estrogen agonists have been shown to decrease inflammation and muscle atrophy. Though growth hormone being associated with elevated collagen synthesis and decreased anoxic damage when present, clinical studies have shown inconclusive and adverse effects on rotator cuff healing. Patients with Vitamin D deficiency have shown to have increased fatty infiltration in rotator cuff muscle while Vitamin C functions as an antioxidant that increases collagen and fibroblast proliferation.

CONCLUSION

As manipulation of pharmacologic factors shows potential for enhancing healing following RCRs, future studies are needed to establish a viable augmentation strategy to improve patient outcomes.

Conservatively Treated Symptomatic Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy May Progress to a Tear

Purpose

To determine the likelihood of, and risk factors for, progression of rotator cuff tendinopathy to tear on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients treated conservatively for minimum 1 year.

Methods

Patients in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Corporate Data Warehouse with a diagnosis of rotator cuff injury and sequential MRI of the same shoulder at least 1 year apart were identified. Presenting MRIs were reviewed to select patients with tendinopathy, while excluding those with a normal appearing cuff, tear, or prior repair. Tear progression was defined as development of a partial or full-thickness tear on follow-up MRI. Chart review was performed for demographic and clinical data. Descriptive statistics and inter-observer and intra-observer reliability were calculated. Discrete and continuous variables were compared between patients who progressed and those who did not using chi-square, Fisher’s Exact, Student’s t, and Mann-Whitney U-test.

Results

In the VHA database, 135 patients had an initial MRI demonstrating rotator cuff tendinopathy. On subsequent MRI at mean 3.4 year follow-up, 39% of patients had progressed to a tear. When grouped on the basis of time between scans as 1 to 2 years, 2 to 5 years, or over 5 years, the rate of progression was 32%, 37%, and 54% respectively. No factors were associated with progression.

Conclusions

Among patients with symptomatic rotator cuff tendinopathy that remained symptomatic at a minimum of 1 year and obtained a follow-up MRI, 39% progressed to a partial or full-thickness tear. None of the factors evaluated in this study correlated with progression from tendinopathy to tear. When patients were grouped based on time between scans as 1 to 2 years, 2 to 5 years, or more than 5 years, the rate of progression from tendinopathy to tear was 32%, 37%, and 54%, respectively.

Dyslipidemia is associated with risk for rotator cuff repair failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Lipid deposition secondary to dyslipidemia (DLD) is shown to have a significant impact on tendon pathology, including tendon elasticity, fatty infiltration, and healing properties. Rotator cuff repair is a common procedure, susceptible to influence from many tear-related and patient-related characteristics. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between DLD and rotator cuff repair outcomes with analysis of retear risk and function.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, and SPORTDiscus were searched for all English-language, peer-reviewed studies between 2000 and the present, which analyzed relationships between patient-related factors and outcomes of rotator cuff repair. Studies that explicitly examined the effect of DLD on rotator cuff repair outcomes were chosen for inclusion. Included studies were assessed for methodological quality, and data were extracted for meta-analysis.

Results

Of the 3087 titles, 424 were screened by abstract, and 67 were reviewed in full. Inclusion criteria were met by 11 studies. Of these studies, 5 studies assessed retear, 2 studies measured function, 3 studies reported both retear and function, and 1 study evaluated the risk of retear necessitating a revision surgery. The studies report no significant difference in functional outcomes. Meta-analysis revealed that DLD patients had a significantly higher risk of retear after primary rotator cuff repair (odds ratio 1.32, 95% confidence interval 1.06-1.64).

Conclusion

DLD leads to an increased risk of retear after rotator cuff repair, although function appears to be unimpaired. DLD should be considered among other risk factors when counseling patients regarding expected rotator cuff repair outcomes.

Tripod Technique to Augment Transosseous Equivalent Rotator Cuff Repair

The transosseous-equivalent Speedbridge™ technique is commonly used during rotator cuff repair; however, the soft bone of the lateral humerus may result in toggling of the lateral row anchors with subsequent de-tensioning of the repair. The technique presented here uses an additional third-row anchor, in a tripod fashion, that reduces the forces on the lateral humerus anchors and protects the repair.

The Effects Of Obesity On 1 Year Functional Outcomes Following Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Tear Repair

Background

The purpose of our study was to examine the impact that an increased body mass index (BMI) has on arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (aRCR) outcomes.

Methods

We identified a sample of 313 patients who underwent aRCR at our institution from 2017 to 2020. Patients were classified into cohorts by BMI: normal BMI (<25), overweight (25-30), and obese (≥30). Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scores (Pain Interference, Pain Intensity, and Upper Extremity) and Clinical Global Impressions scale rating of pain and functional improvement after surgery were obtained at 1 year postoperatively. The significance of the BMI category as a predictor for outcomes was evaluated using multiple linear and multivariable logistic regressions. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis with Youden’s J-statistic was used to determine optimal BMI cutoff for predicting likelihood of achieving minimum clinically important difference (MCID) and substantial clinical benefit (SCB) on the Clinical Global Impressions scales.

Results

Obesity was a significant predictor of reduced preoperative-to-postoperative improvement in the PROMIS Upper Extremity score (P = .04). However, BMI was not predictive of other preoperative-to-postoperative differences in outcome scores or the size and number of cuff tendons torn (P > .05). Optimal BMI cutoffs were determined for pain MCID (40.8), pain SCB (26.8), function MCID (27.4), and function SCB (26.8), but all cutoffs had low correct classification rates (≤13%).

Discussion and Conclusion

Obesity was not found to be an independent risk factor for increased rotator cuff tear size or tendon involvement but was nonetheless associated with worse upper extremity function and pain after aRCR.

A high acromion-greater tuberosity impingement index increases the risk of retear after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

BACKGROUND

No evaluation has been done on the relationship of the acromion-greater tuberosity impingement index (ATI) with retear after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR). Our purpose was to evaluate whether a higher ATI is associated with retear after ARCR.

METHODS

132 patients received ARCR and underwent MRI scan at a one year follow-up to assess tendon healing, and the findings were graded no retear (NR), partial-thickness retear (PR) or full-thickness retear (FR). The ATI, the critical shoulder angle (CSA), acromion index (AI) and lateral acromial angle (LAA) were measured with postoperative radiographs. Functional scores were obtained preoperatively and at a one year follow-up.

RESULTS

Postoperative Constant scores and ASES scores were significantly different between groups with inferior outcomes in the FR group (p < 0.05 for all). The UCLA score was significantly better in the NR group compared with the PR and FR groups (p < 0.05), and in the PR group compared with the FR group (p < 0.05). For ATI and CSA, the values of the PR and FR groups were larger than the NR group (p < 0.05 for all), but there were no significant differences between the PR and FR groups (p > 0.05 for all). No significant differences were observed with regard to the AI and LAA (p > 0.05, respectively). The repair integrity was positively related to the ATI (0.304, p < 0.05) and CSA (0.252, p < 0.05), but not related to the AI or LAA (p > 0.05 for both). ATI was not related to any functional scores (p > 0.05 for all).

CONCLUSION

This study revealed that the ATI was positively related to rotator cuff retear. Patients with retears had significantly greater ATIs after ARCR. Level of Evidence: III, case-control study.

The effects of smoking on clinical and structural outcomes after rotator cuff repair: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Several factors have been reported to adversely affect clinical and structural outcomes after rotator cuff repair (RCR). However, the effects of smoking on rotator cuff healing and clinical outcomes remain controversial. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical and structural outcomes after RCR between smokers and nonsmokers. We hypothesized that there would be no significant difference in the clinical scores after RCR and that smoking would be associated with a significantly increased risk of retear and reoperation.

METHODS

This systematic review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines using the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases. We included only articles in which patients underwent arthroscopic and open RCR, the clinical outcome scores were reported for smokers and nonsmokers, and the number of rotator cuff retears and reoperations were reported. Data relevant to this study were extracted and statistically analyzed. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale to assess the risk of bias in each study and calculated the I² value to quantify the effect of heterogeneity.

RESULTS

Fourteen eligible articles were identified, with 73,817 participants (8553 smokers and 65,264 nonsmokers). The meta-analysis demonstrated that there were no significant differences in the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score (P = .10), Simple Shoulder Test score (P = .19), University of California-Los Angeles score (P = .09), or visual analog scale score (P = .19) between smokers and nonsmokers after surgery, but the Constant score was significantly lower (P = .005) for smokers. Smoking was significantly associated with an increased risk of retear (P = .002; risk ratio, 2.06 [95% confidence interval, 1.30-3.28]; I² = 31%) and reoperation (P < .001; risk ratio, 1.29 [95% confidence interval, 1.20-1.40]; I² = 36%) in patients after RCR.

CONCLUSION

Besides the Constant score, which was lower in smokers, there were no significant differences in the clinical scores after RCR between smokers and nonsmokers. However, smoking was associated with a significantly increased risk of retear and reoperation.

Management of the failed rotator cuff repair

Rotator cuff repair is increasingly being performed, and this is likely to continue to given the ageing population. An improvement in functional outcome can be achieved, with the best results noted in those tendons that go on to heal. Failure of repair following surgery can be associated with debilitating symptoms that are not always amenable to non-operative measures, so further surgery may be indicated for these patients. Several operative strategies have been described, but careful evaluation is required to determine the most suitable option. This review describes the decision-making strategies and treatment options available during management of a failed rotator cuff repair.

Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Results in Lower Two-Year Reoperation Rates Compared With Open Rotator Cuff Repair in a Large Cross-sectional Cohort

PURPOSE

To use a large, contemporary database to perform a cross-sectional analysis of current practice trends in rotator cuff repair (RCR) for the treatment of full-thickness rotator cuff tear (RCT) and determine outcomes of arthroscopic and open RCR, including hospital readmissions and 2-year reoperation rates with accurate laterality tracking using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes.

METHODS

The PearlDiver Mariner dataset was used to query patients with full-thickness RCTs from 2010 to 2017. Propensity-score matching was performed to account for differences in age and comorbidities and allow for comparison between those undergoing open RCR and arthroscopic RCR. Subsequent procedures were tracked using ICD-10 codes to identify ipsilateral surgery within 2 years of index surgery. Hospital and emergency department admission within 30 days of surgery were investigated.

RESULTS

Of 534,076 patients diagnosed with full-thickness RCT, 37% underwent RCR; 73% of which were arthroscopic. From 2010 to 2017, arthroscopic RCRs increased from 65% to 80%, whereas open RCRs decreased from 35% to 20% (P < .0001). Younger patients underwent arthroscopic RCR more frequently, and patients who underwent open RCR had greater rates of 30-day emergency department (7.0%) and hospital readmission (2.0%) compared with arthroscopic RCR (6.3%, 1.0%, respectively) (P < .0001). For 24,392 patients with ICD-10 coding and 2-year follow-up, 10.4% of patients required reoperation, with the most common procedure being revision RCR, and 1.3% required conversion to arthroplasty. Open RCRs were more likely to require subsequent surgery (11.3%) compared with arthroscopic RCR (9.5%) (P < .0001). Patients aged 50 to 59 had the greatest rate of reoperation (14.0%), but no patients younger than age 40 years required reoperation, and no patients younger than age 50 years required conversion to arthroplasty.

CONCLUSIONS

The frequency of arthroscopic RCR has continued to increase compared to open RCR. In this large cross-sectional analysis, arthroscopic RCR demonstrated lower 2-year reoperation rates and 30-day readmission rates compared to open RCR.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III, cross-sectional study.

Risk factors affecting rotator cuff retear after arthroscopic repair: a meta-analysis and systematic review

BACKGROUND

Retear after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) consistently challenges medical staff and patients, and the incidence of retear after surgery is 10%-94%. The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors that cause retear after ARCR and provide theoretical guidance for clinical intervention to reduce the occurrence of postoperative rotator cuff retear.

METHODS

The protocol for this meta-analysis was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021225088). PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were searched for observational studies on risk factors for rotator cuff retear after arthroscopic repair. Meta-analytical methods were used to determine the odds ratio or weighted mean difference of potential risk factors related to postoperative rotator cuff retear. Stata 15.1 was used to quantitatively evaluate the publication bias of the statistical results.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies from 6 countries with a total of 5693 patients were included. The meta-analysis revealed that the risk factors for retear after rotator cuff repair were age, body mass index, diabetes, subscapularis and infraspinatus fatty infiltration, symptom duration, bone mineral density, tear length, tear width, tear size area, amount of retraction, critical shoulder angle, acromiohumeral interval, distance from the musculotendinous junction to the glenoid, operative duration, biceps procedure, and postoperative University of California Los Angeles shoulder score.

CONCLUSION

These findings can help clinical medical staff identify patients who are prone to retear early after arthroscopic repair and develop targeted prevention and treatment strategies for modifiable risk factors, which are of great significance for reducing the occurrence of rotator cuff retear after ARCR.

Analysis of Patient Factors Affecting In Vitro Characteristics of Subacromial Bursal Connective Tissue Progenitor Cells during Rotator Cuff Repair

Unsatisfactory failure rates following rotator cuff (RC) repair have led orthopaedic surgeons to explore biological augmentation of the healing enthesis. The subacromial bursa (SB) contains abundant connective tissue progenitor cells (CTPs) that may aid in this process. The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of patient demographics and tear characteristics on the number of colony-forming units (CFUs) and nucleated cell count (NCC) of SB-derived CTPs. In this study, we harvested SB tissue over the supraspinatus tendon and muscle in 19 patients during arthroscopic RC repair. NCC of each sample was analyzed on the day of the procedure. After 14 days, CFUs were evaluated under a microscope. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was then used to determine the relationship between CFUs or NCC and patient demographics or tear characteristics. The study found no significant correlation between patient demographics and the number of CFUs or NCC of CTPs derived from the SB (p > 0.05). The study did significantly observe that increased tear size was negatively correlated with the number of CFUs (p < 0.05). These results indicated that increased tear size, but not patient demographics, may influence the viability of CTPs and should be considered when augmenting RCrepairs with SB.

The role of vitamin D and vitamin D deficiency in orthopaedics and traumatology-a narrative overview of the literature

Vitamin D is considered to play an important role in musculoskeletal health. It’s classical function is the regulation of calcium and phosphate homeostasis, thus ensuring a balanced bone metabolism that is characterised by an equal amount of bone resorption and bone formation. In the past decades, a plethora of pre-clinical and clinical studies reporting on potential health-beneficial properties of vitamin D have emerged. Moreover, there is an abundance of reports highlighting vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in patients with almost innumerable diseases. Further, it is estimated that more than one billion people globally are affected by insufficient vitamin D levels. As such, research on vitamin D has been particularly popular over the past years. In orthopaedics and traumatology, most studies describe favourable effects of vitamin D in general. However, the relative importance of vitamin D is oftentimes debated. In this narrative review of the literature, we consider first, the properties of vitamin D and how vitamin D, vitamin D deficiency and the vitamin D receptor (VDR) impact on musculoskeletal health. Secondly, we provide an overview of studies reporting the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in traumatology and diverse orthopaedic diseases including bone oncology. Lastly, we emphasise recent findings and touch on future perspectives in vitamin D research.

Misinterpretation of P Values and Statistical Power Creates a False Sense of Certainty: Statistical Significance, Lack of Significance, and the Uncertainty Challenge

Despite great advances in our understanding of statistics, a focus on statistical significance and P values, or lack of significance and power, persists. Unfortunately, this dichotomizes research findings comparing differences between groups or treatments as either significant or not significant. This creates a false and incorrect sense of certainty. Statistics provide us a measure of the degree of uncertainty or random error in our data. To improve the way in which we communicate and understand our results, we must include in reporting a probability, or estimate, of our degree of certainty (or uncertainty). This will allow us to better determine the risks and benefits of a treatment or intervention. Approaches that allow us to estimate, account for, and report our degree of uncertainty include use of confidence intervals, P-value functions, and Bayesian inference (which incorporates prior knowledge in our analysis of new research data). Surprise values (S values, which convert P values to the number of successive identical results of flips of a fair coin) express outcomes in an intuitive manner less susceptible to dichotomizing results as significant or not significant. In the future, researchers may report P values (if they wish) but could go further and provide a confidence interval, draw a P-value function graph, or run a Bayesian analysis. Authors could calculate and report an S value. It is insufficient to mindlessly report results as significant versus not significant without providing a quantitative estimate of the uncertainty of the data.

Editorial Commentary: Balloons for Rotator Cuff Tears: A Viable Treatment or Just a Bunch of Hot Air?

Rotator cuff tears are very common. They can be either traumatic or degenerative in nature. Many tears can be successfully treated nonoperatively with physical therapy or home exercises. For patients in whom conservative measures fail, there are a variety of ways to repair the rotator cuff. Despite our advances in knowledge about rotator cuff tears, improved technology, and advanced repair techniques, failure rates after surgery are still high. Large tears that are deemed irreparable can be treated with partial repair, debridement, tendon transfers such as a latissimus dorsi transfer or lower trapezius transfer, biceps tenotomy or tenodesis, superior capsular reconstruction, bridge grafting, or even arthroplasty options such as a hemiarthroplasty or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. No technique has proved vastly superior to another, and there are many advantages and disadvantages of each surgical procedure. Add balloon spacer implantation to that list. A surgeon can now place a subacromial balloon spacer to help improve functional outcomes and reduce pain in patients with irreparable rotator cuff tears. Studies have shown promising results, with improvements in strength and range of motion, as well as reductions in pain. Outcomes have only been studied in the short term, so much is still unknown about the full effects of this treatment. More studies are needed to find out whether the results persist into the long term and to confirm that complications do not arise that may complicate future procedures such as a reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.

Editorial Commentary: Go Ahead and Repair My Rotator Cuff. I Dare You

A national database in the United States was used to identify increasing age, male sex, smoking, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and vitamin D deficiency as significant independent patient-specific risk factors for rotator cuff repair failure requiring revision repair. Understanding risks for repair failure can help counsel patients, inform treatment strategies, and consider treatment alternatives for patients with symptomatic rotator cuff tears.