Criteria, Timing, and Factors Associated With Return to Competitive Sport After Rotator Cuff Surgery

Rotator cuff pathology in competitive athletes is common and may produce chronic symptoms and joint disability, impairing sports participation and leading to premature retirement. Athletes are a high-functioning patient population with unique characteristics. Decision-making for return to sport is a complex and multifactorial process. Literature is sparse and does not provide precise guidelines to assist physicians to make the right decision. This review aimed to highlight factors affecting outcome, timing, and criteria for return to competitive sport after rotator cuff surgery to help physicians to clearly counsel athletes and make high-quality decisions for return to sport.

One-Step Release Technique for Tendon Extraction During Biceps Tenodesis

All biceps tenodesis techniques involving extra-articular tendon preparation consist of 2 distinct steps for tenotomy and tendon grasping. These 2 maneuvers are performed by different instruments. A single-step tendon release technique is described for both arthroscopic and open shoulder surgery. This technique finds application in arthroscopic proximal suprapectoral tenodesis, open treatment of proximal humerus fractures, and suprapectoral mini-open tenodesis. Herein, we describe an arthroscopic biceps tenodesis technique that combines the actions of cutting and gripping the tendon in a single step.

Operational strategies of a trauma hub in early coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

Purpose

The “Spedali Civili”, one of the largest hospitals in the Italian region most affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection, is managing a large number of traumatic injuries. The objective of this article is to share our operational protocols to deliver an appropriate hospital trauma care in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We changed our work shifts, in consideration of the high number of patients; colleagues from smaller hospitals in the area joined us to increase the number of surgeons available. Thanks to the collaboration between orthopaedists, anaesthesiologists, and nurses, we created a flow chart and separate routes (in the emergency room, in the wards, and in the operating rooms) to optimize patient management. Our protocols allow us to always provide healthcare professionals with the correct personal protective equipment for the task they are performing.

Results

Our strategies proved to be practical and feasible. Having a well thought plan helped us to provide for the most robust response possible. We have not yet been able to study the effectiveness of our protocols, and our recommendations may not be applicable to all healthcare facilities. Nonetheless, sharing our early experience can help other institutions conducting and adapting such plans more quickly.

Conclusions

Having a clear strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic kept our systems resilient and effective and allowed us to provide high-quality trauma care. We offer this approach for other institutions to adopt and adapt to their local setting.

Varicocele: Ultrasonographic assessment in daily clinical practice

INTRODUCTION

Varicoceles are abnormal dilatations of the pampiniform venous plexus. They are classified as primary or secondary, depending on their cause, and staged clinically on the basis of their extension and on the presence or the absence of spontaneous or induced reversal of blood flow.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We examined 95 patients (age range: 3-77 years) using Color Doppler ultrasound with settings optimized for the study of slow flow. All patients found to have varicoceles underwent ultrasonographic assessment of the kidneys and retroperitoneum. Findings were classified with a simplified version of the Sarteschi system.

RESULTS

41 (43.1%) of the patients were found to have varicoceles, which were classified as grade 1 in 11 cases, grade 2 in 13, grade 3 in 10, and grade 4 in 7 according to the simplified Sarteschi classification.

DISCUSSION

Our results are with those reported in the literature. They confirm that varicoceles are a frequent finding and ultrasonography is currently the best imaging technique for its diagnosis and also for the post-surgery follow-up.