summary Rotator cuff tears are a very common source of shoulder pain and decreased motion that can occur due to both traumatic injuries in young patients as well as degenerative disease in the elderly patient. Diagnosis can be suspected clinically with provocative tests of the supraspinatous, infraspinatous, teres minor and subscapularis, but confirmation requires an MRI of the shoulder. Treatment can be nonoperative or operative depending on the chronicity of symptoms, severity of the tear, degree of muscle fatty atrophy, patient age and patient activity demands. Epidemiology Prevalence age >60: 28% have full-thickness tear age >70: 65% have full-thickness tear Risk factors age smoking hypercholesterolemia family history Etiology Pathophysiology mechanisms of tear includes chronic degenerative tear ( intrinsic degeneration is the primary etiology) usually seen in older patients usually involves the SIT (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor) muscles but may extend anteriorly to involve the superior margin of subscapularis tendon in larger tears chronic impingement typically starts on the bursal surface or within the tendon acute avulsion injuries acute subscapularis tears seen in younger patients following a fall acute SIT (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor) tears seen in patients > 40 yrs with a shoulder dislocation full thickness rotator cuff tears need to be repaired in throwing athletes iatrogenic injuries due to failure of surgical repair often seen in repair failure of the subscapularis tendon following open anterior shoulder surgery. Impingement and rotator cuff disease are a continuum of disease including subacromial impingement subcoracoid impingement calcific tendonitis rotator cuff tears (this topic) rotator cuff arthropathy Associated conditions AC joint pathology proximal biceps subluxation proximal biceps tendonitis internal impingement seen in overhead throwing athletes associated with partial thickness rotator cuff tears deceleration phase of throwing leads to tensile forces and potential for rotator cuff tears Anatomy Rotator cuff function the primary function of the rotator cuff is to provide dynamic stability by balancing the force couples about the glenohumeral joint in both the coronal and transverse plane. coronal plane the inferior rotator cuff (infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis) functions to balance the superior moment created by the deltoid transverse plane the anterior cuff (subscapularis) functions to balance the posterior moment created by the posterior cuff (infraspinatus and teres minor) this maintains a stable fulcrum for glenohumeral motion. the goal of treatment in rotator cuff tears is to restore this equilibrium in all planes. Rotator cuff footprint supraspinatus inserts on anterosuperior aspect of greater tuberosity medial-lateral width at insertion supraspinatus is 12.7mm (covers superior facet of greater tuberosity) 6-7 mm tear corresponds to 50% partial thickness tear infraspinatus is 13.4mm subscapularis is 17.9mm teres minor is 13.9mm distance between articular cartilage to medial footprint of rotator cuff is 1.6-1.9 mm AP dimension of footprint is 20mm corresponds to insertion of supraspinatus and anterior infraspinatus Rotator cuff histologic areas (5 layers) important because articular side has only half the strength of bursal side explains why most tears are articular sided Layer I most superficial layer (1 mm thick) and composed of fibers from the coracohumeral ligament which extend posteriorly and obliquely Layer II composed of densely packed fibers that parallel the long axis of the tendon (3-5 mm thickness) Layer III smaller loosely organized bundles of collagen at 45° angle to the long axis of the tendon (3 mm thick) Layer IV loose connective tissue and thick collagen bands and merges with fibers from coracohumeral ligament Layer V shoulder capsule (2 mm thick) Rotator cuff blood supply from subscapular, suprascapular and humeral circumflex arteries branching within layer II and layer III (see above for layers) bursal side is more vascular than the articular side (which is hypovascular) zone of critical hypovascularity adjacent to most lateral portion of supraspinatus insertion Anatomic features associated with rotator cuff rotator interval includes the capsule, long head of the biceps tendon, SGHL, and the coracohumeral ligament that bridge the gap between the supraspinatus and the subscapularis. rotator crescent thin, crescent-shaped sheet of rotator cuff comprising the distal portions of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus insertions. rotator cable thick bundle of fibers found at the avascular zone of the coracohumeral ligament running perpendicular to the supraspinatous fibers and spanning the insertions of the supra- and infraspinatus tendons. Complete glenohumeral anatomy Classification Anatomic Classification Supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor (SIT) tears Make up the majority of tears Associated with subacromial impingement Mechanism is often a degenerative tear in older patients or a shoulder dislocation in patients > 40 yrs. Subscapularis tears New evidence suggests higher prevalence than previously thought Associated with subcoracoid impingement Mechanism is often an acute avulsion in younger patients with a hyperabduction/external rotation injury or an iatrogenic injury due to failure of repair Cuff Tear Size Small 0-1 cm Medium 1-3 cm Large 3-5 cm Massive > 5 cm (involves 2 or more tendons) Ellman Classification of Partial-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears Grade Description I < 3mm (< 25% thickness) II 3-6 mm (25-50%) III > 6 mm (>50%) Location A Articular sided B Bursal sided C Intratendinous Goutallier Classification of Rotator Cuff Atrophy 0 Normal 1 Some fatty streaks 2 More muscle than fat 3 Equal amounts fat and muscle 4 More fat than muscle Cuff Tear Shape Crescent Usually do not retract medially, are quite mobile in the medial to lateral direction, and can be repaired directly to bone with minimal tension. U-shape Similar shape to crescent but extend further medially with apex adjacent or medial to the rim of the glenoid. Must be repaired side-to-side using margin convergence first to avoid overwhelming tensile stress in the middle of the rotator cuff repair margin. L-shape Similar to U shape except one of the leaves is more mobile than the other. Use margin convergence in repair. Massive & immobile May be u-shaped or longitudinal. Difficult to repair and often requires and interval slide. Presentation Symptoms pain typically insidious onset of pain exacerbated by overhead activities pain located in deltoid region night pain, which is a poor indicator for nonoperative management can have acute pain and weakness with an traumatic tear weakness loss of active ROM with greater or intact passive ROM Overview of Physical Exam of Rotator Cuff Cuff Muscle Strength Testing Special Tests Supraspinatus Weakness to resisted elevation in Jobe position Drop arm test Pain with Jobe test Infraspinatus ER weakness at 0° abduction ER lag sign Teres minor ER weakness at 90° abduction and 90° ER Hornblowers Subscapularis IR weakness at 0° abduction Excessive passive ER Belly Press Lift off IR lag sign Imaging Radiographs views true AP, AP in internal/external rotation, axillary outlet view to assess acromion findings calcific tendonitis calcification in the coracohumeral ligament cystic changes in greater tuberosity proximal migration of humerus seen with chronic RCT (acromiohumeral interval <7 mm) Type III (hooked) acromion Arthrogram indications not commonly used in isolation; used when MRI contraindicated findings rotator cuff tear present if dye leaks from glenohumeral joint into subacromial joint MR arthrogram may improve sensitivity and specificity MRI indications diagnostic standard for rotator cuff pathology obtain when suspicion for pain or weakness attributable to a rotator cuff tear findings important to evaluate muscle quality size, shape, and degree of retraction of tear degree of muscle fatty atrophy (best seen on sagittal image) medial biceps tendon subluxation indicative of a subscapularis tear cyst in humeral head on MRI seen in almost all patients with chronic RCT tangent sign failure of the supraspinatus to cross a line drawn between the superior borders of the scapular spine and coracoid process on a sagittal MRI slice sensitivity and specificity in asymptomatic patients 60 yrs and older, 55% will have a RCT Ultrasound indications suspicion of rotator cuff pathology need for dynamic examination advantages include allows for dynamic testing inexpensive readily available at most centers helpful to confirm intraarticular injections disadvantages include highly user dependent limited ability to evaluate other intraarticular pathology sensitivity/specificity similar sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy for diagnosis of rotator cuff disease as compared to MRI 23% of asymptomatic patients had a rotator cuff tear on ultrasound in one series Treatment Treatment considerations activity and age of patient mechanism of tear (degenerative or traumatic avulsion) characteristics of tear (size, depth, retraction, muscle atrophy) partial thickness tears vs. complete tear articular sided (PASTA lesion) vs. bursal sided bursal sided tears treated more aggressively Nonoperative physical therapy, NSAIDS, subacromial corticosteroid injections first line of treatment for most tears partial tears often can be managed with therapy technique avoidance of overhead activities physical therapy with aggressive rotator cuff and scapular-stabilizer strengthening over a 3-6 month treatment course subacromial injections if impingement thought to be major cause of symptoms Operative subacromial decompression and rotator cuff debridement alone indications select patients with a low-grade partial articular sided rotator cuff tear rotator cuff repair (arthroscopic or mini-open) indications acute full-thickness tears bursal-sided tears >3 mm (>25%) in depth release remaining tendon and debride degenerative tissue partial articular-side tears>50% can be treated with tear completion and repair Partial articular-side tears <50% treated with debridement alone PASTA with >7mm of exposed bony footprint between the articular surface and intact tendon represents significant (>50%) cuff tear (must have at least 25% healthy bursal sided tissue) younger patients with acute, traumatic tears in situ repair leave bursal sided tissue intact older patients with degenerative tears tendon release, debridement of degenerative tissue and repair postoperative rate-limiting step for recovery is biologic healing of RTC tendon to greater tuberosity, which is believed to take 8-12 weeks peribursal tissue and holes drilled in greater tuberosity are major source of vascularity to repaired rotator cuff vascularity can increase with exercise postop with limited passive ROM (no active ROM) outcomes Worker's Compensation patients report worse outcomes higher postop disability and lower patient satisfaction tendon transfer indications massive cuff tears techniques (see details below) pectoralis major transfer latissimus dorsi transfer best for irreparable posterosuperior tears with intact subscapularis superior capsular reconstruction indications massive irreparable rotator cuff tear with intact subscapularis reverse total shoulder arthroplasty indications massive cuff tears with glenohumeral arthritis with intact deltoid Technique Mini-open rotator cuff repair once was gold standard but has been largely been replaced by arthroscopic techniques approach small horizontal variant of shoulder lateral (deltoid splitting) approach advantages over open approach decreased risk of deltoid avulsion faster rehabilitation (do not need to protect deltoid repair) may begin passive ROM immediately to prevent adhesive capsulitis most surgeons wait ~6 weeks before initiating active ROM Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair advantages studies now show equivalent results to open or mini-open repair important concepts margin convergence shown to decrease strain on lateral margin in U shaped tears anterior interval slide release supraspinatus from the rotator interval (effectively incising coracohumeral ligament). This increases the mobility of supraspinatus and allows it to be fixed to the lateral footprint. posterior interval slide release supraspinatus from infraspinatus. This further increases the mobility of supraspinatus and allows it to be fixed to the lateral footprint. Then repair supraspinatus to infraspinatus with margin convergence. subscapularis repair although arthroscopic repair is technically challenging, new studies show superior outcomes (motion and pain) compared to open repair stabilize biceps tendon with tenodesis posterior lever push maneuver useful to identify insertional humeral footprint tears superolateral margin of subscapularis identified by the "comma sign" superior glenohumeral and coracohumeral ligaments attach to the subscapularis tendon long head biceps tendon repair most studies show negligible difference between tenotomy vs. tenodesis after concurrent rotator cuff repair footprint restoration it is hypothesized that a larger footprint will improve healing and the mechanical strength of the rotator cuff repair double row suture techniques (mattress sutures in medial row and simple sutures in lateral row) have been shown to create a more anatomic repair of the footprint lower retear rate compared with single row no difference in functional score, pain score, time to healing (compared to single row) addition of a trough in the greater tuberosity to allow tendon-to-cancellous bone interface as opposed to tendon-to-cortical bone has NOT show increased repair strength in animal models coracoacromial ligament release release leads to an increased anterior/inferior translation of the glenohumeral joint Tendon transfer indicated for massive and irreparable rotator cuff tears pectoralis major transfer indicated in chronic subscapularis tears transferring pectoralis major under the conjoined tendon more closely replicates the vector forces of the native subscapularis requires 4-6 weeks of rigid immobilization latissimus dorsi transfer indicated in large supraspinatus and infraspinatus tears best candidate is young laborer attach to cuff muscles, subscapularis, and GT brace immobilize for 6 wks. in 45° abduction and 30° ER. nerves at risk radial nerve runs along anterior surface of latissimus dorsi, ~3cm medial to humeral insertion at risk during tenotomy posterior branch of the axillary nerve runs in deep fascia of posterior deltoid at risk during passage of tendon deep to deltoid to subacromial space Superior capsular reconstruction with biologic or synthetic grafts some recent evidence of improved outcomes with the use of xenograft, allograft, or synthetic patches for massive cuff tears limited human and long-term studies xenograft from bovine dermis or intestine mixed functional outcomes and graft incorporation allograft from human skin or muscular fascia some evidence of good function and survival at short-term synthetics concern for foreign body reaction mixed functional results Lateral acromionectomy historic significance only contraindicated due to high complication rate Complications Recurrence / repair failure most common cause of failed RCR is failure of cuff tissue to heal, resulting in suture pull out from repaired tissue patient risk factors for repair failure patient age >65 years is a risk factor for non-healing of rotator cuff repair and subsequent failure large tear size (>5 cm) muscle atrophy diabetes smokers tear retraction medial to glenoid poor compliance with post-op protocol no difference in clinical outcomes or healing with early vs. delayed motion protocols multiple tendons involved concomitant AC and/or biceps procedures performed at time of repair treatment revision rotator cuff repair vs RTSA variables to consider when choosing revision RCR vs RTSA patient age (older age favors RTSA) etiology of re-tear quality of tissue / MRI findings static proximal humeral migration (favors RTSA) Deltoid detachment complication seen with open approach AC pain Axillary nerve injury Suprascapular nerve injury may occur with aggressive mobilization of supraspinatus during repair Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve injury Secondary to beach chair positioning without appropriate padding Infection less than 1% incidence Usually common skin flora: staph aureus, strep, p.acnes Propionoibacterium acnes is the most commonly implicated organism in delayed or indolent cases risk factors patients who underwent an injection within 3 months of surgery Stiffness Physical therapy and guided early range of motion exercises are not shown to reduce stiffness one-year post-operatively Pneumothorax Can be a complication of regional anesthesia (interscalene or supraclavicular block) or the arthroscopy itself Prognosis 50% of asymptomatic tears become symptomatic in 2-3 years 50% of symptomatic full-thickness tears progress at 2 years and bigger tears progress faster
Technique Guide CPT Codes: 29827 Arthroscopy, shoulder, surgical; with rotator cuff repair Technique guides are not considered high yield topics for orthopaedic standardized exams including ABOS, EBOT and RC. Small-to-medium full-thickness rotator cuff repair - Arthroscopic Derek W. Moore Shoulder & Elbow - Rotator Cuff Tears Technique Guide CPT Codes: 29827 Arthroscopy, shoulder, surgical; with rotator cuff repair Technique guides are not considered high yield topics for orthopaedic standardized exams including ABOS, EBOT and RC. Massive Rotator Cuff Repair with Augmentation - Arthroscopic Orthobullets Team Shoulder & Elbow - Rotator Cuff Tears Technique Guide CPT Codes: 29827 Arthroscopy, shoulder, surgical; with rotator cuff repair Technique guides are not considered high yield topics for orthopaedic standardized exams including ABOS, EBOT and RC. Subscapularis and Rotator Cuff Repair- Arthroscopic Orthobullets Team Shoulder & Elbow - Rotator Cuff Tears Technique Guide CPT Codes: 29827 Arthroscopy, shoulder, surgical; with rotator cuff repair Technique guides are not considered high yield topics for orthopaedic standardized exams including ABOS, EBOT and RC. Small Partial Thickness Degenerative Rotator Cuff Repair - Arthroscopic Kent Sheridan Elise Hiza Stephen Snyder Shoulder & Elbow - Rotator Cuff Tears Technique Guide CPT Codes: 29827, Arthroscopy, shoulder, surgical; with rotator cuff repair 29824, Arthroscopy, shoulder, surgical; distal claviculectomy including distal articular surface (mumford procedure) 29826, Arthroscopy, shoulder, surgical; decompression of subacromial space with partial acromioplasty, with coracoacromial ligament (ie, arch) release, when performed (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) 29828 Arthroscopy, shoulder, surgical; biceps tenodesis Technique guides are not considered high yield topics for orthopaedic standardized exams including ABOS, EBOT and RC. Medium Full-Thickness Rotator Cuff Repair, SAD, DCR, and Biceps Tenodesis - Dr. Matthew Pifer Matthew Pifer Shoulder & Elbow - Rotator Cuff Tears
QUESTIONS 1 of 86 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 Previous Next Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK (OBQ18.166) A 52-year-old patient sustained a right anterior shoulder dislocation after falling down a flight of stairs several months ago and remains symptomatic. Which of the following figures demonstrates the expected injury associated with this? QID: 213062 FIGURES: A B C D E Type & Select Correct Answer 1 A 8% (151/1976) 2 B 63% (1237/1976) 3 C 13% (264/1976) 4 D 3% (67/1976) 5 E 12% (230/1976) L 2 Question Complexity A Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 2 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic (OBQ18.139) A latissimus dorsi tendon transfer is indicated for which of the following clinical scenarios? QID: 213035 FIGURES: A B Type & Select Correct Answer 1 A 30-year-old carpenter with MRI findings depicted in Figure A 79% (1426/1814) 2 A 70-year old carpenter with MRI findings depicted in Figure A 6% (107/1814) 3 A 30-year old carpenter with MRI findings depicted in Figure B 10% (173/1814) 4 A 70-year old carpenter with MRI findings depicted in Figure B 1% (17/1814) 5 A 30-year old on disability following a prior injury with MRI findings in Figure A 4% (67/1814) N/A Question Complexity A Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 1 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic (OBQ18.138) A 70-year-old right-hand dominant female presents to your office complaining of continued right shoulder pain 12 weeks after falling from a ladder, despite participating in a rigorous physical therapy program. She was initially reduced in the emergency department and her injury films are shown in Figures 1 and 2. On exam, she has weakness on active elevation and external rotation, but full passive range of motion and intact sensation. New radiographs reveal no acute osseous abnormalities and a concentric reduction. What is best next step and which diagnosis will most likely be revealed? QID: 213034 FIGURES: A B Type & Select Correct Answer 1 No additional testing, observation; residual chronic pain from shoulder dislocation 2% (35/1993) 2 MRI brachial plexus; axillary nerve palsy 1% (19/1993) 3 MRI cervical spine; C5 and C6 nerve root radiculopathy 1% (12/1993) 4 MRI right shoulder; rotator cuff tear 92% (1831/1993) 5 Right upper extremity electromyography; axillary nerve palsy 4% (77/1993) L 1 Question Complexity A Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 4 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic (OBQ18.167) A 27-year-old male reports right shoulder pain after sustaining a fall at work 3 weeks ago. He is found to have a rotator cuff injury with medial subluxation of the long head of the biceps tendon. Which of the nerves labeled in Figure A innervates the rotator cuff muscle that is likely injured in this patient? QID: 213063 FIGURES: A Type & Select Correct Answer 1 A 17% (338/1992) 2 B 65% (1299/1992) 3 C 12% (232/1992) 4 D 3% (54/1992) 5 E 3% (52/1992) L 1 Question Complexity A Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 2 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK (OBQ13.243) A 47-year-old landscaper presents with worsening left shoulder pain and weakness. Three years ago, he injured the left shoulder in a fall and elected for nonoperative management to minimize time off from work. Physical therapy was effective until 6 months ago when his shoulder function worsened to the point that he is now unable to work. Examination of his active range of motion reveals forward elevation 120° with pain, abduction 100°, IR at neutral to T8 and ER at neutral 5°. He has a positive ER lag sign and Hornblower's sign. Belly press and lift-off tests are normal. A recent radiograph is shown in Figures A. MRI images are shown in Figures B and C. Which of the following is the best treatment option? QID: 4878 FIGURES: A B C Type & Select Correct Answer 1 Continue physical therapy 2% (76/3718) 2 Latissimus dorsi transfer 71% (2651/3718) 3 Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair 15% (560/3718) 4 Pectoralis major transfer 2% (88/3718) 5 Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty 6% (210/3718) L 3 Question Complexity A Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 2 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK (OBQ13.125) Figure A shows an arthroscopic picture of a 62-year-old male undergoing repair of a torn subscapularis tendon. In the image shown, G represents the glenoid, H represents the humeral head, and the dotted line represents the superolateral border of the subscapularis tendon. Which two ligaments form the structure marked with the asterisk? QID: 4760 FIGURES: A Type & Select Correct Answer 1 Inferior and middle glenohumeral ligaments 8% (329/4300) 2 Middle and superior glenohumeral ligaments 29% (1252/4300) 3 Coracohumeral and coracoacromial ligaments 6% (237/4300) 4 Coracohumeral and superior glenohumeral ligaments 56% (2393/4300) 5 Superior and inferior glenohumeral ligaments 1% (55/4300) L 4 Question Complexity B Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 4 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic (OBQ12.141) A 47-year-old, healthy, active patient presents with a sub-acute, full-thickness supraspinatus tear. His physical examination reveals significant weakness and pain with abduction. There was no glenohumeral instability. Radiographs demonstrate a type 1 acromion. An MRI scan shows a crescent shaped tear with 2-cm of tendinous retraction and no tendinous fatty changes. A subacromial corticosteroid injection 6 weeks ago provided him with 24 hours of pain relief but no improvement in strength. What would be the most appropriate treatment option? QID: 4501 Type & Select Correct Answer 1 Repeat subacromial corticosteriod injection 0% (16/4022) 2 Biological augmentation of rotator cuff with porcine small intestine xenograft 1% (36/4022) 3 Rotator cuff repair 77% (3101/4022) 4 Rotator cuff repair plus acromioplasty 15% (593/4022) 5 Rotator cuff repair, remplissage procedure, bicep tenodesis and distal clavicle excision 1% (35/4022) L 2 Question Complexity B Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 3 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic (OBQ12.84) Which of the following statements regarding rotator cuff repair is true? QID: 4444 Type & Select Correct Answer 1 Bone anchor drilling enhances vascularity following rotator cuff repair 52% (2627/5090) 2 Shoulder motion following rotator cuff repair should be restricted to enhance blood flow to repair site 3% (152/5090) 3 Double row rotator cuff repairs have better clinical results when compared to single row repairs 11% (578/5090) 4 Subacromial decompression increases rates of successful rotator cuff repair 13% (660/5090) 5 Failure to heal the rotator cuff tendon to bone consistently results in poor patient outcomes 20% (1017/5090) L 4 Question Complexity B Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 1 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic (OBQ12.52) A 73-year-old right-hand dominant female presents with the right shoulder injury shown in Figure A. She denies having any shoulder pain prior to a fall at work after slipping on some water 4 weeks ago. She smokes a pack of cigarettes per week. Which of the following characteristics of this patient confer the highest risk of not healing the injury following surgical repair? QID: 4412 FIGURES: A Type & Select Correct Answer 1 Pack of cigarette smoking per week 39% (2054/5335) 2 Surgical repair 4 weeks after injury 2% (122/5335) 3 Worker's compensation case 16% (866/5335) 4 73 years of age 42% (2232/5335) 5 Right-handed dominance 0% (18/5335) L 4 Question Complexity B Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 4 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic (OBQ12.132) A 45-year-old patient presents with pain and swelling after undergoing an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair 10 weeks ago. On physical exam the portal sites are healed and there is no drainage. Testing of the integrity of the rotator cuff is limited secondary to pain. He has a WBC of 11.0 (reference range, 3-11 cells/mL), ESR of 40 mm/hr (reference range, 0-22 mm/hr), and CRP of 1.5 mg/dL (reference range, 0-1 mg/dL). An aspiration is completed and no organisms are seen on the gram stain. Twelve days after the aspiration, positive cultures are reported. Which organism is most likely to have grown in culture medium? QID: 4492 Type & Select Correct Answer 1 Staphylococcus aureus 3% (192/5954) 2 Propionibacterium acnes 91% (5424/5954) 3 Corynebacterium sp. 1% (80/5954) 4 Staphylococcus epidermidis 3% (185/5954) 5 Pseudomonas aeruginosa 1% (42/5954) L 1 Question Complexity B Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 2 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK (OBQ11.275) A 55-year-old carpenter presents with 6 weeks of right shoulder pain after installing ceiling drywall. He has no symptoms of night pain. His examination reveals 30 degrees lack of full flexion and abduction. He has full strength of the right shoulder. Radiographs are shown in Figures A and B. Coronal and Abduction-external rotation (ABER) MR images are shown in Figures C-E. What is the next most appropriate step in management? QID: 3698 FIGURES: A B C D E Type & Select Correct Answer 1 Physical therapy 76% (2643/3499) 2 Platelet rich plasma (PRP) injection 0% (9/3499) 3 Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair 16% (561/3499) 4 Arthroscopic SLAP repair 6% (210/3499) 5 Arthroscopic subacromial decompression 2% (59/3499) L 2 Question Complexity B Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 1 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK (OBQ11.120) A worker's compensation patient is scheduled for rotator cuff repair. His case manager asks you to comment on the expected outcomes of worker's compensation patients. In general, when compared to those of non-worker's compensation patients, the worker's compensation group shows which of the following? QID: 3543 Type & Select Correct Answer 1 Better functional outcomes and equivalent patient satisfaction 1% (38/3292) 2 Less functional improvement and lower patient satisfaction 82% (2686/3292) 3 Equivalent functional outcomes and patient satisfaction 1% (31/3292) 4 Equivalent functional outcomes and lower patient satisfaction 14% (468/3292) 5 Less functional improvement and equivalent patient satisfaction 2% (58/3292) L 2 Question Complexity C Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 2 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic (OBQ11.94) The rotator cuff in an overhead throwing athlete is most susceptible to tensile failure due to eccentric loading during which of the phases of throwing shown in Figure A? QID: 3517 FIGURES: A Type & Select Correct Answer 1 A 0% (12/4745) 2 B 4% (175/4745) 3 C 25% (1193/4745) 4 D 22% (1057/4745) 5 E 48% (2279/4745) L 1 Question Complexity B Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 5 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic (OBQ11.200) Which patient has the best indication for latissimus dorsi transfer? QID: 3623 Type & Select Correct Answer 1 55-year-old man with cuff tear arthropathy and proximal humeral migration 2% (85/3553) 2 85-year-old man with irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tear and 60 degrees of forward elevation and 0 degrees of active external rotation at his side 4% (144/3553) 3 45-year–old man with complete irreparable supraspinatus and subscapularis tears with 90 degrees of active forward elevation 20% (700/3553) 4 50-year-old man with large irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tear with 100 degrees of forward elevation and -10 degrees of external rotation 63% (2229/3553) 5 35-year-old with an acute traumatic complete posterosuperior cuff tear with 0 degrees of active external rotation 10% (369/3553) L 3 Question Complexity B Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 4 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK (OBQ10.152) During shoulder arthroscopy of a 58-year-old female recreational golfer, the rotator cuff is examined and is seen to be intact on the articular side. After a bursectomy is performed in the subacromial space, a bursal sided tear is found measuring 1.5 cm from anterior to posterior and 4 mm in depth from the surface of the tendon with surrounding cuff softening. What is the appropriate management? QID: 3240 Type & Select Correct Answer 1 Debride the tear and perform an acromioplasty 28% (401/1436) 2 Abort surgery and start a physical therapy program 1% (11/1436) 3 Convert it to a full-thickness tear and repair it with suture anchors 61% (880/1436) 4 Consider it incidental, as this is a common finding in this age group 6% (93/1436) 5 Perform acromioplasty only 3% (46/1436) L 3 Question Complexity B Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 3 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic (OBQ10.30) Rotator cuff tears (full thickness and partial thickness) in asymptomatic individuals are seen on MRI or ultrasound in what percentage of patients over the age of 60? QID: 3118 Type & Select Correct Answer 1 0-5% 0% (4/2390) 2 5-30% 11% (273/2390) 3 30-55% 56% (1337/2390) 4 55-80% 31% (738/2390) 5 80-100% 1% (28/2390) L 4 Question Complexity C Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 3 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic (OBQ10.197) What is the average medial-to-lateral distance of the supraspinatus tendon insertion at its footprint on the greater tuberosity? QID: 3290 Type & Select Correct Answer 1 6-8mm 6% (162/2677) 2 14-16mm 71% (1910/2677) 3 20-22mm 16% (435/2677) 4 24-26mm 5% (133/2677) 5 30-32mm 1% (24/2677) L 3 Question Complexity C Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 2 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic (OBQ10.92) A 64-year-old male suffers a fall while working on his farm and presents to the ER with the shoulder injury noted in Figure A. He undergoes reduction without complications, and post-reduction radiographs are shown in Figures B and C. At his 10 day clinic follow-up is noted to have an inability to abduct his arm. Which of the following studies will best confirm the most likely diagnosis in this patient? QID: 3180 FIGURES: A B C Type & Select Correct Answer 1 MRI of the shoulder 68% (1542/2264) 2 EMG 24% (551/2264) 3 CT-angiogram of the affected extremity 0% (6/2264) 4 Repeat shoulder x-rays 5% (113/2264) 5 MRI of the brachial plexus 2% (47/2264) L 2 Question Complexity B Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 1 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic (OBQ09.212) A 50-year-old man sustains a left shoulder injury after falling from a motorcycle. A physical examination test to examine for this shoulder injury is found in Figure A. What is the most likely diagnosis? QID: 3025 FIGURES: A Type & Select Correct Answer 1 SLAP tear 1% (17/1997) 2 Supraspinatus tear 1% (19/1997) 3 Infraspinatus tear 1% (20/1997) 4 Teres minor tear 1% (19/1997) 5 Subscapularis tear 96% (1915/1997) L 1 Question Complexity A Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 5 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic (OBQ09.273) During diagnostic arthroscopic evaluation of a patient's shoulder, you identify a thickened portion of the coracohumeral ligament, near its avascular zone, running perpendicular to the supraspinatous tendon. The structure is identified in Figure A with black arrows. What is the name for this structure? QID: 3086 FIGURES: A Type & Select Correct Answer 1 Middle glenohumeral ligament 13% (252/1922) 2 Rotator interval 5% (103/1922) 3 Coracoid process 1% (14/1922) 4 Rotator cable 67% (1289/1922) 5 Rotator crescent 13% (252/1922) L 1 Question Complexity C Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 4 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK (OBQ08.172) A latissimus dorsi tendon transfer is a well established procedure for treatment of massive irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears. All of the following factors have been shown to result in worse clinical outcomes after a transfer EXCEPT? QID: 558 Type & Select Correct Answer 1 Nonsynergistic action of the transferred muscle 6% (121/2034) 2 Fatty atrophy of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus 50% (1009/2034) 3 Deficiency of the subscapularis 7% (146/2034) 4 Absence of the coracoacromial ligament 31% (637/2034) 5 Deltoid weakness 6% (114/2034) L 5 Question Complexity B Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 4 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK (OBQ07.10) Which of the following may be seen during arthroscopy in a patient with a subscapularis tear? QID: 671 Type & Select Correct Answer 1 Uncovered lesser tuberosity 1% (22/2285) 2 Retraction of the subscapularis tendon to the level of the glenoid 2% (52/2285) 3 Avulsed superior glenohumeral ligament 0% (10/2285) 4 Medial biceps subluxation 3% (73/2285) 5 All of the above 93% (2123/2285) L 1 Question Complexity B Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 5 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic