Tokish, John M.

Abstract Incomplete healing and/or functional failure following rotator cuff tear repair remains a challenging problem for both patients and surgeons. Augmentation strategies are growing to increase healing through biologic and mechanical mechanisms to improve functional results after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. The majority of currently described augmentation techniques use allograft tissue. An alternative, low‐cost, autograft option for augmentation is the use of the long head of biceps tendon autograft as a free functional graft. Here, we describe the use of autograft biceps tendon as a viable option for augmentation of double‐row rotator cuff repair with knotless all‐suture suture anchors. Technique Video video See video under supplementary data.

Purpose To quantify and analyze public interest trends in platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) therapy for shoulder pathology between 2011 and 2020 using Google Trends data. Methods Google Trends data were queried for online search data ranging from January 2011 to December 2020. Various combinations of terms related to PRP and shoulder pathology were queried. Terms related to corticosteroid therapy in association with shoulder pathology were also generated for comparative analysis. Analyses were performed regarding trends in online search volumes. Results Linear models were generated to evaluated trends in the volume of online searches for PRP and corticosteroid therapy for shoulder pathology. For both the PRP and steroid groups, linear models showed a statistically significant increase in search volume for the period studied ( P < .001). The PRP group showed a significantly greater growth rate than the steroid group ( P < .001). There were no statistically significant differences in online search volume when compared between different geographic and socioeconomic locations. Conclusions This study indicates consistently increasing public interest in PRP injections in the shoulder. The rate of online search volume growth of PRP is significantly greater than that of corticosteroid injections for the period studied. Clinical Relevance Awareness of patient perceptions has value in informing shared decision making, aligning patient expectations, and guiding areas of future research. Each of these has an impact on patient care. Being aware of patient interest and expectations is particularly important in areas with controversial or emerging research.

Purpose To evaluate the superior to inferior glenoid height as a reliable reference in best‐fit circle creation for glenoid anatomy. Methods The morphology of the native glenoid was evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients without shoulder instability. Using T1 sagittal MRI images, 2 reviewers independently estimated glenoid size using the two‐thirds technique and the “best‐fit circle” technique at 2 different times. A Student t ‐test was used to determine significant difference between the two methodologies. Inter‐ and intra‐rater reliability were calculated using interclass and intraclass coefficients. Results This study included 112 patients. Using the results of glenoid height and “best‐fit circle” diameter, the diameter of the “best‐fit circle” was found to intersect the glenoid line at 67.8% of the glenoid height on average. We found no significant difference between the 2 measures of glenoid diameter (27.6 vs 27.9, P = .456). The interclass and intraclass coefficients for the two‐third method were 0.85 and 0.88, respectively. The interclass and intraclass coefficients for the perfect circle methods were 0.84 and 0.73, respectively. Conclusions We determined that the diameter of a circle placed on the inferior glenoid using the “best‐fit circle” technique corresponds to 67.8% of the glenoid height. Additionally, we found that constructing a perfect circle using a diameter equal to two‐thirds the height of the glenoid may improve intraclass reliability. Level of Evidence Level IV, retrospective cohort study.

AbstractPurposeAnterior cruciate ligament tears and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) are common in young athletes. The modifiable and non‐modifiable factors contributing to ACLR failure and reoperation are incompletely understood. The purpose of this study was to determine ACLR failure rates in a physically high‐demand population and identify the patient‐specific risk factors, including prolonged time between diagnosis and surgical correction, that portend failure.MethodsA consecutive series of military service members with ACLR with and without concomitant procedures (meniscus [M] and/or cartilage [C]) done at military facilities between 2008 and 2011 was completed via the Military Health System Data Repository. This was a consecutive series of patients without a history of knee surgery for two years prior to the primary ACLR. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were estimated and evaluated with Wilcoxon test. Cox proportional hazard models calculated hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) to identify demographic and surgical factors that influenced ACLR failure.ResultsOf the 2735 primary ACLRs included in the study, 484/2,735 (18%) experienced ACLR failure within four years, including (261/2,735) (10%) undergoing revision ACLR and (224/2,735) (8%) due to medical separation. The factors that increased failure include Army Service (HR 2.19, 95% CI 1.67, 2.87), > 180 days from injury to ACLR (HR 1.550, 95% CI 1.157, 2.076), tobacco use (HR 1.429 95% CI 1.174, 1.738), and younger patient age (HR 1.024, 95% CI 1.004, 1.044).ConclusionThe overall clinical failure rate of service members with ACLR is 17.7% with minimum four‐year follow‐up, where more patients are likely to fail due to revision surgery than medical separation. The cumulative probability of survival at 4 years was 78.5%. Smoking cessation and treating ACLR patients promptly are modifiable risk factors impacting either graft failure or medical separation.Level of evidenceLevel III.

Introduction: Traumatic anterior glenohumeral instability events result in a capsulolabral (Bankart lesion) and/or osseous injury with subsequent attritional bone loss, particularly with recurrence. Up to 88% of patients with recurrent instability experience glenoid bone loss, which predisposes to future dislocations and subluxations, even with arthroscopic capsulolabral repair. The surgical management of glenoid bone loss includes a number of different techniques such as the Latarjet or coracoid transfer as well as other osseous and osteoarticular autografts and allografts. However, operative management of shoulder instability has increasingly shifted toward arthroscopic approaches with preservation of anatomy when possible. Indications: Arthroscopic-assisted allograft distal tibia bone block augmentation to the anterior glenoid is indicated for revision anterior glenohumeral instability procedures with anterior bone loss and in primary cases of anterior instability with critical bone loss. Technique: Our technique for nonrigid arthroscopic anterior glenoid reconstruction with allograft distal tibia and anterior labral repair is performed preferentially in the lateral position without necessitating patient repositioning. The preplanned tibial bone block is prepared on a back table prior to the arthroscopic procedure. After creation of portals and elevation of labral tissue, a guide and drill are used to introduce a retrograde reamer which is deployed to create a perpendicular edge for apposition of the allograft tibia. The bone block is then introduced through a rotator interval portal by pulling sutures retrograde through glenoid bone tunnels and is secured to the prepared surface medial to the liberated labrum. The articular surface of the graft and glenoid are aligned and suture-based fixation is used to compress the bone block against the native glenoid. The anterior labral tissue is then mobilized over the graft and repaired to the native glenoid when possible. Description/Conclusion: The benefits of allograft tibia augmentation for anterior instability with glenoid bone loss include an anatomic joint surface restoration including articular cartilage, lack of donor site morbidity, and a minimally invasive arthroscopic approach. When performed arthroscopically and with nonrigid fixation, this technique permits concurrent anterior labral repair and anatomic reconstruction, safe graft passage without necessity of a far medial portal, and expeditious return to function.

Abstract Elbow injuries are a significant and increasing issue in baseball. Elbow injuries account for 16% of all injuries sustained at the professional level and collegiate level. Because of the continued rise in injury rates, loss of performance value, and medical burden, sports medicine clinicians have attempted to research the causes underlying this injury epidemic in an attempt to help mitigate baseball elbow injuries. Shoulder range of motion (ROM) is the most researched clinical metric related to elbow injuries in baseball and has the greatest consensus as a viable prognostic factor specifically for medial elbow injury. Shoulder ROM is easy to measure, can be modified through stretching and manual therapy interventions, and can be easily assessed during preseason screening throughout all baseball levels. Despite a large number of studies and the widespread use of shoulder ROM in injury risk screening, current findings are unclear as to whether there is a true cause‐effect relation with baseball elbow injuries. We argue that the conflicting findings revolving around the value of shoulder ROM measurements associated with baseball elbow injuries are the result of 4 gaps in the research approaches implemented to date: ambiguous research questions, mixed study populations, statistical models used, and shoulder ROM methodology. Specifically, there is a mismatch of methods, statistical models, and conclusions such as (1) investigating the association (i.e., correlation) between shoulder ROM measurements and injury and (2) investigating the cause‐effect relation of shoulder ROM to baseball injuries. The purpose of this article is to detail the required scientific steps to evaluate whether preseason shoulder ROM is a potential causal factor for pitching elbow injury. We also provide recommendations to allow for future causal inferences to be made between shoulder ROM and elbow injury. This information will ultimately assist in informing clinical models of care and decision making for baseball throwers.

Abstract Rotator cuff repair failure rates continue to be a challenging problem. Various methods of biological and structural augmentation of the rotator cuff have been explored to improve tendon healing after repair. We describe a technique in which biceps tendon autograft is harvested after tenodesis. The biceps tendon is then compressed into a patch that is placed over the repaired rotator cuff tendon. Repurposing the portion of the tendon that is otherwise discarded offers several advantages over other augmentations that have been used, including the biological potential of live autograft tenocytes in the patch, lower cost, and no donor‐site morbidity. Technique Video video See video under supplementary data.

Abstract Recurrent instability associated with glenoid bone loss is a commonly encountered problem after anterior shoulder dislocation. Surgical management with bony augmentation can be achieved with several allograft or autograft options. Fixation strategies also vary, including screw, suture button, or suture anchor fixation. Concerns exist regarding screw fixation because of the technical difficulty of a medial portal establishment, as well as the potential for graft osteolysis. Suture button fixation for osteochondral graft fixation has been previously described. However, no description of graft fixation using suture anchors exists. We describe an arthroscopic technique for glenoid augmentation using distal tibial allograft with suture anchor fixation. Technique Video video See video under supplementary data.

Background: Although there is some evidence that cannabinoid (CBD) products may provide a therapeutic effect for musculoskeletal pain, little is known about the usage patterns or their prevalence of use in orthopaedic sports medicine patients. Purpose: To report the prevalence and perceived self-efficacy of CBD products in patients evaluated in an orthopaedic sports medicine clinic. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Level of evidence, 2. Methods: The study population consisted of new patients who visited an orthopaedic surgery sports medicine clinic at a large academic center for consultation with a surgeon between August 2020 and March 2021. All patients were asked to complete a survey that assessed perceived pain and effectiveness of CBD products and other nonsurgical treatment modalities using the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation score (range, 0-100) and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NRS). Descriptive factors were collected via chart review. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the data. Results: Overall, 823 patients completed the survey (45.4% female; mean age, 51 years [range, 18-87 years]; mean body mass index, 28.9 [range, 17.2-58.4]). Body areas involved included 285 shoulders, 44 elbows, 76 hips, 276 knees, 58 ankles, and 77 other. Of these patients, 19% (152/823) endorsed the use of CBD products before their initial evaluation. The mean NRS for pain was significantly different between non-CBD users and CBD users (5.6 vs 6.1; P = .029). CBD users were significantly more likely to have tried other nonoperative modalities compared with nonusers, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (79.6% vs 69.8%; P = .032), bracing (44.7% vs 34.6%; P = .024), steroid injections (38.8% vs 21.6%; P < .001), and physical therapy (54% vs 36.1%; P < .001). In addition, 30.9% of CBD utilizers reported marijuana use compared with 2.8% of non-CBD users ( P < .001) for management of their pain. Conclusion: In the current study, 19% of patients had used CBD products to manage joint-related issues. Sports medicine providers should be aware of this high incidence of usage and the potential interactions CBD products may have with other treatment modalities. Further studies are needed to assess the effectiveness of CBD as a therapeutic agent and the specific interactions it has with other drugs and other forms of treatment.