It is not clear that there is a specific definition for a massive rotator cuff tear, but it can be loosely defined as one that involves two complete tendon tears or one that is as greater than 5 cm in length…
An arthroscopic rotator cuff repair consists of the following elements: glenohumeral joint inspection, subacromial space inspection, partial bursectomy, assessment of rotator cuff tendon reparability, identification of tear geometry, coracoacromial ligament (CA) management, acromioplasty, greater tuberosity repair site preparation, anchor placement,…
Partial-thickness rotator cuff tears constitute an interesting and difficult group of shoulder lesions. In large part, the difficulty stems from terminology: we use the phrase partial-thickness rotator cuff tear to describe the anatomic end result of several different pathophysiologic pathways.…
Rotator cuff tendon lesions of the subacromial space include tendinosis (impingement syndrome), partial-thickness tears, and full-thickness tears. Full-thickness tears come in all patterns and sizes and can be further classified as being fully reparable, partially reparable, or irreparable, depending on…
Glenohumeral joint sepsis is an unusual indication for shoulder arthroscopy. Arthroscopy has greatly facilitated the management of this difficult condition. Treatment goals include acquiring fluid cultures and tissue biopsies to identify the infecting organism or organisms and determining the extent…
With the increased use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we now diagnose more patients with periarticular shoulder cysts who are referred for care. It is unknown whether this represents a true increase in the incidence of cysts or merely reflects…
Articular cartilage pathology in the shoulder can present in many scenarios. The most common is some degree of osteoarthrosis or chondromalacia. The less common scenarios are avascular necrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, chondrolysis, and osteochondromatosis. The current arthroscopic treatment of these conditions…
There are three basic conditions that produce shoulder stiffness and are amenable to arthroscopic treatment: idiopathic adhesive capsulitis, posttraumatic stiffness, and postoperative stiffness. The treatment of the stiff, osteoarthritic shoulder is discussed in Chapter 7 . Idiopathic adhesive capsulitis is…
The long head of the biceps tendon has both intra-articular and extra-articular segments. Biceps lesions can occur at the supraglenoid attachment, intra-articularly (lateral to the supraglenoid attachment), or extra-articularly. Regardless of the specific site of pathology, the long head of…
Orthopedic surgeons have a fundamental desire to find a simple solution to glenohumeral instability, leading to various operative approaches. Despite the fact that Bankart and Perthes had independently described anterior labral pathology in the 1900s, surgeons in the mid-1900s observed…