Ossifying tendinitis of the rotator cuff after arthroscopic excision of calcium deposits: report of two cases and literature review

Heterotopic Ossification After Arthroscopic Procedures: A Scoping Review of the Literature

Background:

Heterotopic ossification (HO) is the formation of bone in soft tissue resultant from inflammatory processes. Lesion formation after arthroscopic procedures is an uncommon but challenging complication. Optimal prophylaxis and management strategies have not been clearly defined.

Purpose:

To present a scoping review of the pathophysiology, risk factors, diagnostic modalities, prophylaxis recommendations, and current treatment practices concerning HO after arthroscopic management of orthopaedic injuries.

Study Design:

Scoping review; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

A scoping review via a PubMed search was performed according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) guidelines. The search strategy was based on the terms “heterotopic ossification” AND “arthroscopy.” The clinical outcomes review included studies on the arthroscopic management of orthopaedic injuries in which the primary subject matter or a secondary outcome was the development of HO. An analysis of the pathophysiology, diagnostic modalities, and management options was reported.

Results:

A total of 43 studies (33,065 patients) reported on HO after hip arthroscopy, while 21 (83 patients) collectively reported on HO after arthroscopic procedures to the shoulder, elbow, knee, or ankle; however, management techniques were not standardized. Identified risk factors for HO included male sex and mixed impingement pathology, while intraoperative capsular management was not suggested as a contributing factor. Diagnosis of ossification foci was performed using radiography and computed tomography. The rate of HO after hip arthroscopy procedures approached 46% without prophylaxis, and administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) decreased occurrence rates to 4% but carries associated risks. External beam radiation has not been exclusively studied for use after arthroscopic procedures.

Conclusion:

HO is a known complication after arthroscopic management of orthopaedic injuries. NSAID prophylaxis has been demonstrated to be effective after hip arthroscopy procedures. Patients with persistent symptoms and mature lesions may be indicated for surgical excision, although variability is present in patient-reported outcome scores postoperatively.

Radiological study of fabella in Omani subjects at a tertiary care center

Ethnic diversity is associated with variability in the prevalence rates of fabella. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence and the radiological features of fabella in Omani patients. This is a retrospective analysis of hospital electronic database of patients referred for radiological investigations (radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging) of the knee, at a tertiary care referral center. Descriptive statistics were performed to determine the prevalence of fabella. Chi-square test was used to determine the association between sex or age with respect to the presence of fabella. A total of 813 knee radiographs were reviewed for the presence of fabella. Fabella was found in 24.1% of total cases. A statistically significant sex difference was observed with respect to the presence of fabella in left knees in males (P<0.01). The presence of fabella was significantly associated with age groups for the right (P<0.05) and left knees (P<0.01). In magnetic resonance imaging film reviews, all the identified fabellae (20.2%) were bony structures and were located within the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle. There were no cartilaginous fabellae detected. The current study revealed a prevalence of 24.1% of fabella in Omani subjects which is almost similar to the results as seen in Caucasian ethnic populations.

Massive Heterotopic Ossification in the Subdeltoid Space after Shoulder Surgery and Symptomatic Improvement from Conservative Treatment: A Case Report

Background

We herein report a case of heterotopic ossification (HO) in the subdeltoid space after open resection and rotator cuff repair in a patient with refractory calcific tendinitis.

Case

A 56-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of right shoulder pain and difficulty in raising his arm. The patient was diagnosed with calcific tendinitis with contracture of the right shoulder joint and was scheduled for surgery because of refractory shoulder pain. Calcium removal was performed using a mini-open approach. Postoperative radiographs showed no calcium deposits. There was mild residual pain at 3 months postoperatively, and the range of motion (ROM) had deteriorated when compared to preoperative levels. A massive ossified shadow was observed in the subdeltoid space on radiographs. Etidronate disodium was orally administered, and the patient continued to undergo careful rehabilitation. HO occurred at 3 months postoperatively, matured at 1 year postoperatively, and showed no progression between 1 year and 2 years postoperatively. The clinical symptoms corresponded with the image findings, and restricted ROM and decreased shoulder function scores were observed at 3 months postoperatively. Although the ROM remained restricted and the function score remained low until 1 year postoperatively, a gradual recovery was achieved at 2 years postoperatively, and the patient did not require reoperation.

Discussion

Although early diagnosis, evaluation, and resection are recommended for treating HO, the maturation of bone may lead to symptomatic improvement and the prevention of reoperation, provided that careful rehabilitative measures are performed to avoid ankyloses.

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy mechanisms in musculoskeletal regenerative medicine

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is a popular non-invasive therapeutic modality in the medical field for the treatment of numerous musculoskeletal disorders. This technique first emerged around the 1980s as extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy and has been studied since then for its application towards orthopedics and traumatology. ESWT works by the emission of acoustic waves (shockwaves) that carry energy and can propagate through tissues. Shockwaves can generate interstitial and extracellular responses, producing many beneficial effects such as: pain relief, vascularization, protein biosynthesis, cell proliferation, neuro and chondroprotection, and destruction of calcium deposits in musculoskeletal structures. The combination of these effects can lead to tissue regeneration and significant alleviation of pain, improving functional outcomes in injured tissue. Considering these facts, ESWT shows great potential as a useful regenerative medicine technique for the treatment of numerous musculoskeletal injuries.

Prevalence of the fabella and its association with pain in the posterolateral corner of the knee: A cross-sectional study in a Romanian population

The functions and clinical consequences of the fabella, a sesamoid bone found in the posterolateral aspect of the knee joint, are still a reason of intense debate in the scientific literature. Its incidence was reported to range between 20% and 87% and its presence was usually associated with the persistent pain in the posterolateral region of the knee. The aim of our study was to measure the prevalence, anatomic and clinical features of the fabella within a cross-sectional study, conducted in a Romanian orthopaedic center. Between 2015 and 2017, a consecutive series of 562 patients with knee injuries or persistent knee pain has been examined by radiographs and Magnetic Resonance Imaging and a set of anatomical and clinical parameters have been recorded. Collected data was evaluated with RadiANT DICOM Viewer and statistically analyzed with GraphPad Prism 7. The level of significance was set at P <.05. The incidence of the fabella in our study group was 16.93%, lower than previously reported for Caucasian populations. We found statistically significant differences regarding the possible association of the fabella with pain in the posterolateral corner of the knee (P = .04) and the 2 dimensions of the bone according to gender (P = .03 respectively P = .01), but the prevalence was not influenced by gender (P = .6). The anatomic characteristics could be important in differentiating this sesamoid bone from calcifications or loose bodies located in the knee joint region. Due to the high association with the posterolateral knee pain, the fabella should be recorded during knee examination as a differential diagnosis, before any surgical procedure.

Complications of calcific tendinitis of the shoulder: a concise review

Calcific tendinitis (CT) of the rotator cuff (RC) muscles in the shoulder is a disorder which remains asymptomatic in a majority of patients. Once manifested, it can present in different ways which can have negative effects both socially and professionally for the patient. The treatment modalities can be either conservative or surgical. There is poor literature evidence on the complications of this condition with little consensus on the treatment of choice. In this review, the literature was extensively searched in order to study and compile together the complications of CT of the shoulder and present it in a clear form to ease the understanding for all the professionals involved in the management of this disorder. Essentially there are five major complications of CT: pain, adhesive capsulitis, RC tears, greater tuberosity osteolysis and ossifying tendinitis. All the above complications have been explained right from their origin to the control measures required for the relief of the patient.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

5.