The Responsiveness of Patient- Reported Outcome Tools in Shoulder Surgery Is Dependent on the Underlying Pathological Condition

Gender-Based Differences In Mid-Term Clinical Outcomes And Patient Acceptable Symptomatic State Attainment After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: Minimum 2-Year Follow Up

OBJECTIVE

There is paucity of literature on the impact of patients' gender on recovery and treatment success after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. This study investigates the effect of gender on patient-reported outcomes preoperatively and postoperatively (minimum 2 years), and to determine if gender affects attainment of patient acceptable symptomatic state (PASS) thresholds.

METHODS

266 patients (117 males, 149 female), who underwent primary arthroscopic rotator cuff repair for atraumatic, full-thickness tears, were included. Functional outcomes and pain scores were collected preoperatively and postoperatively. Percentage of attainment of PASS for the various outcome scores was calculated and compared between males and females.

RESULTS

Women had statistically significantly poorer functional outcome and pain scores preoperatively and at 1 and 2 years postoperatively (P<0.01). They also experienced less improvement in outcome scores throughout the postoperative period. Women had statistically significantly lower rates of PASS attainment at 2 years postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

Women experience greater pain and poorer shoulder function compared with men preoperatively, and up to 2 years postoperatively. Women are less likely to achieve patient acceptable symptom state thresholds postoperatively, compared to their male counterparts.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective Cohort Study LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

How Comprehensive and Efficient Are Patient-Reported Outcome Measures for Individuals with Lower Extremity Amputation Undergoing Implantation of Osseointegrated Bone Anchored Limbs?

» Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are essential for measuring quality and functional outcomes after implantation of osseointegrated bone anchored limbs for patients with lower extremity amputation.» Using a novel assessment criterion with 8 domains, this study assessed all commonly used PROMs for their efficiency and comprehensiveness.» Comprehensiveness was scored according to the presence or absence of PROM questions related to these 8 domains (maximum score = 60): mobility (15 items), prosthesis (14 items), pain (10 items), psychosocial status (10 items), independence/self-care (4 items), quality of life/satisfaction (4 items), osseoperception (1 item), general information (1 item), and vitality (1 item).» The efficiency scores were calculated by dividing the comprehensiveness score by the total number of questions answered by the patients with higher scores being deemed more efficient.» The most comprehensive PROMs were Orthotics and Prosthetics User's Survey-Lower Extremity Functional Status (OPUS-LEFS) (score = 36), Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire (PEQ) (score = 31), and Questionnaire for Persons with a Transfemoral Amputation (score = 27).» The most efficient PROMs were the OPUS-LEFS (score = 1.8) and European Quality of Life (score = 1.4).

Variability of MCID, SCB, and PASS Thresholds in Studies Assessing Patient-Reported Outcomes After Rotator Cuff Repair: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

An increasing reliance on patient-reported outcomes has led to greater emphasis on minimal clinically important difference (MCID), substantial clinical benefit (SCB), and Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) thresholds in assessing rotator cuff repairs.

PURPOSE

To review the MCID, SCB, and PASS thresholds reported for patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) after rotator cuff repair.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS

The PubMed, Embase, Ovid, Cochrane, and Google Scholar databases were queried for full-text journal articles in English published between January 1, 2000, and May 31, 2022. Studies with MCID, SCB, and PASS thresholds reported for patients with rotator cuff repair and a minimum of 12 months of follow-up were included. Reported MCID, SCB, and PASS thresholds and associated calculation methods were extracted.

RESULTS

There were 41 unique studies (6331 shoulders) that met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 37 (90%) reported MCID; 16 (39%), PASS; and 11 (27%), SCB values. The most common PROMs were the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score and the Constant-Murley score. In total, 71% (29/41) of these studies referenced values in the literature, usually studies of patients undergoing rotator cuff repair (21/29). Twelve studies calculated MCID, SCB, or PASS thresholds using anchor-based approaches, whereas 6 studies also calculated thresholds using distribution-based methods. The use of MCID, SCB, and PASS in the rotator cuff repair literature is increasing, with half of the included studies published within the final 17 months of the studied period.

CONCLUSION

Significant variability was seen in the reporting of MCID, SCB, and PASS threshold values after rotator cuff repair. Researchers should prioritize studies that report clinical outcome thresholds calculated using anchor-based methods and should critically review both the anchor question and its response choices. Standardization of MCID, SCB, and PASS values and calculation methods will allow for a more reliable assessment of PROMs in rotator cuff repair moving forward.

The Arthroscopic Bristow Procedure Is Superior to the Arthroscopic Latarjet Procedure in Return to Sports but Inferior in Graft Healing: A Comparative Study With 3.4-Year Follow-Up

PURPOSE

To compare clinical and computed tomography outcomes between the arthroscopic Latarjet procedure and the arthroscopic Bristow procedure.

METHODS

Patients who underwent arthroscopic Latarjet or Bristow procedures with at least 2 years of follow-up were retrospectively reviewed. Thirty-eight shoulders were included in the Latarjet group, and 34 were included in the Bristow group. Recurrence of dislocation, clinical scores, rate of return to sports (RTS), and computed tomography assessment findings (position of transferred coracoid, graft healing, graft absorption, and glenohumeral degenerative osteoarthritis [OA]) were obtained at final follow-up.

RESULTS

No recurrent dislocation occurred in either group, and no significant differences in clinical scores were found between the 2 procedures, with a mean follow-up period of 3.4 years. The operative time in the Bristow group was significantly shorter than that in the Latarjet group (P < .001). The transferred coracoid had healed in 94.7% of the patients in the Latarjet group and 85.3% in the Bristow group at final follow-up (P = .01). No significant difference in graft absorption or the degree of glenohumeral OA was detected between the 2 groups. However, moderate to severe OA only occurred in the Latarjet group at final follow-up (4 of 38 shoulders, 10.5%). The postoperative external rotation angle and level of RTS favored the Latarjet procedure (P = .030 and P = .034, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Both the arthroscopic Latarjet and arthroscopic Bristow procedures led to good clinical scores with no new dislocation episodes. The Bristow group showed significantly less graft healing than the Latarjet group. However, the arthroscopic Bristow procedure took less operative time and showed a lower rate of early moderate to severe glenohumeral OA, better range of motion, and a higher rate of RTS.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, retrospective comparative therapeutic trial.

Development and Validation of a Short-Form Version of the Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Scale (Short-WOSI)

BACKGROUND

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) have transitioned from primarily being used as research instruments to becoming increasingly used in the clinical setting to assess recovery and inform shared decision-making. However, there is a need to develop validated short-form PROM instruments to decrease patient burden and ease incorporation into clinical practice.

PURPOSE

To assess the validity and responsiveness of a shortened version of the Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (Short-WOSI) when compared with the full WOSI and other shoulder-related PROM instruments.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2.

METHODS

This study was a secondary analysis of data collected as part of an institutional review board-approved, multicenter cohort of 1160 patients undergoing surgical stabilization for shoulder instability. The following PROMs were captured preoperatively and 2 years after surgery: WOSI, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE), and 36-Item Health Survey (RAND-36). The cohort was split into 2 data sets: a training set to be used in the development of the Short-WOSI (n = 580) and a test set to be used to assess the validity and responsiveness of the Short-WOSI relative to the full WOSI, ASES, SANE, and RAND-36.

RESULTS

The Short-WOSI demonstrated excellent internal consistency before surgery (Cronbach α = .83) and excellent internal consistency at the 2-year follow-up (Cronbach α = .93). The baseline, 2-year, and pre- to postoperative changes in Short-WOSI and WOSI were closely correlated (r > 0.90), with both demonstrating large effect sizes (Short-WOSI = 1.92, WOSI = 1.81). Neither the Short-WOSI nor the WOSI correlated well with the other PROM instruments before (r = 0.21-0.33) or after (r = 0.25-0.38) surgery. The Short-WOSI, WOSI, and SANE scores were more responsive than ASES and RAND-36 scores.

CONCLUSION

The 7-item Short-WOSI demonstrated excellent internal consistency and a lack of floor or ceiling effects. The Short-WOSI demonstrated excellent cross-sectional and longitudinal construct validity and was similarly responsive over time as the full WOSI. Neither the Short-WOSI nor WOSI correlated with more general shoulder PROMs, underscoring the advantage of using instability-specific instruments for this population.

Subscapularis management in anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Background

This systematic review and network meta-analysis compare clinical outcomes of three different subscapularis management techniques in anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty: lesser tuberosity osteotomy, subscapularis peel, and subscapularis tenotomy.

Methods

PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane's trial registry were searched in July 2021. Comparative studies and case series evaluating the outcomes of these three techniques were included. The network meta-analysis was performed only on comparative studies.

Results

Twenty-three studies were included. Both lesser tuberosity osteotomy and subscapularis peel had significantly higher Western Ontario Osteoarthritis Scores compared to subscapularis tenotomy, but no difference in American Shoulder and Elbow Society Scores. Subscapularis peel had superior external rotation compared to lesser tuberosity osteotomy. However, no difference was found in external rotation between subscapularis peel and subscapularis tenotomy or between subscapularis tenotomy and lesser tuberosity osteotomy. The overall weighted average for lesser tuberosity osteotomy bony union was 93.6%, whereas the overall weighted average for subscapularis tendon healing was 79.4% and 87% for subscapularis tenotomy and subscapularis peel, respectively.

Discussion

This network meta-analysis demonstrated that lesser tuberosity osteotomy and subscapularis peel were associated with the high union and subscapularis healing rates and may be associated with improved shoulder function and quality of life, compared to subscapularis tenotomy. Lesser tuberosity osteotomy and subscapularis peel demonstrate a trend of superior outcomes compared to subscapularis tenotomy during anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty.

A Comparison Study of the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index, and the Constant-Murley Score with Objective Assessment of External Rotator Muscle Strength and Pain in Patients after Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair

Although rotator cuff injures are often associated with a limited range of motion and muscle weakness, being able to conduct pain-free and efficient performances of the activities as part of daily living seems to be more important for patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between two questionnaires-the disease-specific, subjective questionnaire termed the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC), and the shoulder-specific, subjective-objective questionnaire Constant-Murley score (CMS), with the objective assessment of external rotator muscle strength, and the subjective assessment of pain according to the visual analog scale (VAS) in patients after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. The study was carried out among 47 patients twice-6 and 12 months after surgery, respectively. All patients completed the WORC, the CMS, and the VAS. Isokinetic evaluation of the external rotators was performed using the Biodex 4 ProSystem. The correlations of all assessed muscle strength parameters with both the CMS and the WORC were found to be statistically significant, being mostly average during the 1st examination and mostly strong during the 2nd examination. There was a significant improvement in all assessed tools as a result of the undertaken rehabilitation. There were weak correlations present between changes in the WORC and changes in the external rotator muscle strength, with correlations between WORC-Sport and EXT900-AVERAGE-POWER and PEAK-TORQUE also being found statistically significant. Correlations of changes in the CMS scale with changes in the external rotator muscle strength were weak and statistically insignificant. It seems that the WORC questionnaire can be recommended more for the population after rotator cuff repair, which allows for a reliable assessment of patients' ability to function and its changes in various areas of life, and at the same time does not require a direct assessment by a clinician or researcher.

Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty Associated With Unnoticed Glenohumeral Dislocation: A Case Report

Osteonecrosis of the humeral head is seen in rare cases of anterior shoulder dislocations. There are many different surgical procedures that have been developed to repair inveterate anterior glenohumeral dislocation. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) is a type of surgery that has been shown to be very effective in patients with cuff tear arthropathy. A 63-year-old female came to our service with an inveterate glenohumeral dislocation. We identified the osteonecrosis of the humeral head and decided to treat her with a reverse shoulder arthroplasty. Osteonecrosis following a glenohumeral dislocation is a rare condition. Treatment with a reverse shoulder arthroplasty allows a fast recovery, good functional results, and a better quality of life.

Race and Socioeconomic Status Are Associated With Inferior Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Following Rotator Cuff Repair

PURPOSE

To investigate the impact social determinants of health (SDOH) have on National Institutes of Health Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) computer adaptive test scores and postoperative health care use in patients who undergo rotator cuff repair (RCR).

METHODS

All patients who underwent RCR surgery by 3 shoulder and/or sports medicine fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeons between July 2017 and January 2020 were included. The electronic medical record (EMR) was used to identify SDOH for each patient. PROMIS computer adaptive test measures of Upper Extremity function, Pain Interference, and Depression were completed preoperatively and postoperatively (6 months and 1 year). Postoperative health care use (clinical visits, virtual encounters, imaging encounters, and physical therapy visits) were recorded as well. Univariate associations, multiple linear regressions, and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used to analyze mean differences between patient groups based on SDOH.

RESULTS

Three hundred thirty-eight patients who underwent RCR were included. Patients who were Black, in lower median household income quartiles, had public insurance, and female reported lower PROMIS scores compared with their counterparts. Smokers and White patients attended fewer postoperative office visits whereas Black patients had more physical therapy and nonvisit encounters compared with their respective counterparts.

CONCLUSIONS

Black race and lower socioeconomic status are associated with worse function and pain outcomes post-RCR compared with White race. Similarly, Black race and positive smoking status are associated with differential use of health care following RCR. Further attention may be required for these patients to address health care disparities.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III, retrospective cohort study.

Compliance with Electronic Patient Reported Outcome Measure System Data Collection Is 51% Two-years After Shoulder Arthroscopy

Objective

To determine patient compliance in completing electronic patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) following arthroscopic shoulder surgery and identify risk factors for noncompliance.

Methods

A retrospective review of compliance data was performed for patients who underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery by a single surgeon in a private practice setting from June 2017 to June 2019. All patients were enrolled in Surgical Outcomes System (Arthrex) as a part of routine clinical care, and outcome reporting was integrated into our practice electronic medical record. Patient compliance with PROMs was calculated at preoperative, three-month, 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year follow-up time points. Compliance was defined as a complete patient response to each assigned outcome module in the database over time. Logistic regression for compliance at the one-year timepoint was performed to assess for factors associated with survey compliance.

Results

Compliance with PROMs was highest preoperatively (91.1%) and decreased at each subsequent time point. The largest decrease in compliance with PROMs occurred between the preoperative and 3-month follow-up time points. Compliance was 58% at 1 year and 51% at 2 years after surgery. Overall, 36% of patients were compliant at all individual time points. There were no significant predictors of compliance with regard to age, sex, race, ethnicity, or procedure.

Conclusions

Patient compliance with PROMs decreased over time with the lowest percentage of patients completing electronic surveys at the traditional 2-year follow-up for shoulder arthroscopy. In this study, basic demographic factors were not predictive of patient compliance with PROMs.

Clinical Relevance

PROMs are commonly collected after arthroscopic shoulder surgery; however, low patient compliance may affect their utility in research and clinical practice.

Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Mobility Computerized Adaptive Testing Maintains High Correlation and Low Test Burden Compared With Legacy Hip-Specific Instruments in Patients Undergoing Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement

PURPOSE

To evaluate the reliability, construct validity, and responsiveness of the lower extremity-specific Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Mobility (MO) bank in patients who underwent hip arthroscopic surgery for femoroacetabular impingement.

METHODS

Patients who underwent primary hip arthroscopic surgery at a large academic musculoskeletal specialty center between November 2019 and November 2020 completed the following baseline and 6-month measures: PROMIS MO, PROMIS Pain Interference (PI), PROMIS Physical Function (PF), modified Harris Hip Score, International Hip Outcome Tool 33, visual analog scale, and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation. Construct validity was evaluated using Spearman correlation coefficients. The number of questions until completion was recorded as a marker of test burden. The percentage of patients scoring at the extreme high (ceiling) or low (floor) for each measure was recorded to measure inclusivity. Responsiveness was tested by comparing differences between baseline and 6-month measures, controlling for age and sex, using generalized estimating equations. Magnitudes of responsiveness were assessed through the effect size (Cohen d).

RESULTS

In this study, 660 patients (50% female patients) aged 32 ± 14 years were evaluated. PROMIS MO showed a strong correlation with PROMIS PF (r = 0.84, P < .001), the International Hip Outcome Tool 33 (r = 0.73, P < .001), PROMIS PI (r = -0.76, P < .001), and the modified Harris Hip Score (r = 0.73, P < .001). Neither PROMIS MO, PROMIS PI, nor PROMIS PF met the conventional criteria for floor or ceiling effects (≥15%). The mean number of questions answered (± standard deviation) was 4.7 ± 2.1 for PROMIS MO, 4.1 ± 0.6 for PROMIS PI, and 4.1 ± 0.6 for PROMIS PF. From baseline to 6 months, the PROMIS and legacy measures exhibited significant responsiveness (P < .05), with similar effect sizes between the patient-reported outcome measures.

CONCLUSIONS

This longitudinal study reveals that in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy, PROMIS MO computerized adaptive testing maintains high correlation with legacy hip-specific instruments, significant responsiveness to change, and low test burden compared with legacy measures, with no ceiling or floor effects at 6-month postoperative follow-up.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, retrospective case series.

Patient-reported outcome measures used for shoulder disorders: An overview of systematic reviews

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to synthesize the psychometric evidence on different patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) for shoulder disorders.

METHODS

This overview conducted a search of six databases. Included systematic reviews must address at least one psychometric property from a PROM for shoulder disorders. Risk of bias was assessed by A MeaSurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR).

RESULTS

Thirteen systematic reviews were identified that assessed measurement properties of 15 different PROMs. Based on AMSTAR, 1 review had a high risk of bias and 7 reviews had a moderate risk of bias. Excellent test-reliability scores of intraclass correlation coefficients (0.85-0.99) were reported by the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand, Shoulder Pain and Dsiability Index, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon score and Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index. Construct validity was supported (r = 0.5-0.8) for the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand, Shoulder Pain and Dsiability Index, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon score and Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index. Limited evidence of responsiveness was reported across various PROMs.

CONCLUSION

Strong reliability and convergent validity properties have been reported across multiple reviews for the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand, Shoulder Pain and Dsiability Index, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon score, Simple Shoulder Test and Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index, which could be considered for a core clinical outcome set.

Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Test Is Less Responsive Than Legacy Hip-Specific Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Patients Undergoing Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome

Purpose

To evaluate and compare the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function (PF) computerized adaptive test and PROMIS Pain Interference (PI) instruments versus legacy patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome at 1-year follow-up.

Methods

Patients undergoing primary hip arthroscopy for the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome without concomitant procedures performed by a single surgeon between August 2018 and January 2019 were identified. The PROMIS PF score, PROMIS PI score, Hip Outcome Score–Activities of Daily Living Subscale (HOS-ADL), Hip Outcome Score–Sports Subscale (HOS-SS), modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), International Hip Outcome Tool 12 (iHOT-12), and visual analog scale (VAS) pain score were obtained preoperatively and at 6 months and 1 year postoperatively. Bivariate correlation analyses between PROMIS and legacy PROMs were performed. The floor and ceiling effects, responsiveness, and relative efficiency (RE) of each PROM were calculated.

Results

This study included 124 patients with an average age of 32.7 ± 12.3 years. The PROMIS PF score showed very good correlations with the HOS-ADL (r = 0.73, P < .001) and mHHS (r = 0.70, P < .001) and good correlations with the HOS-SS (r = 0.62, P < .001), iHOT-12 score (r = 0.62, P < .001), and VAS pain score (r = –0.64, P < .001). The PROMIS PI score showed very good inverse correlations with the HOS-ADL (r = –0.72, P < .001) and mHHS (r = –0.79, P < .001) and good correlations with the HOS-SS (r = –0.64, P < .001), iHOT-12 score (r = –0.65, P < .001), and VAS pain score (r = 0.65, P < .001). No floor effect was observed for any measure. Ceiling effects were not observed in the PROMIS PROMs but were detected for the HOS-ADL (16.1%) and mHHS (19.3%). The effect size was large for all outcomes: iHOT-12 score, d = 1.77; HOS-ADL, d = 1.37; HOS-SS, d = 1.45; PROMIS PI score, d = 1.05; and PROMIS PF score, d = 1.01. The iHOT-12 score was more responsive than the PROMIS PI score (RE = 1.69), PROMIS PF score (RE = 1.75), HOS-ADL (RE = 1.29), and HOS-SS (RE = 1.22).

Conclusions

At 1-year follow-up, PROMIS PROMs displayed very good correlations with legacy PROMs. However, PROMIS PROMs had lower effect sizes and were not as responsive as legacy PROMs.

Level of Evidence

Level II, development of diagnostic criteria on the basis of consecutive patients.

Validation of a machine learning-derived clinical metric to quantify outcomes after total shoulder arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

We propose a new clinical assessment tool constructed using machine learning, called the Shoulder Arthroplasty Smart (SAS) score to quantify outcomes following total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA).

METHODS

Clinical data from 3667 TSA patients with 8104 postoperative follow-up reports were used to quantify the psychometric properties of validity, responsiveness, and clinical interpretability for the proposed SAS score and each of the Simple Shoulder Test (SST), Constant, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES), University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) scores.

RESULTS

Convergent construct validity was demonstrated, with all 6 outcome measures being moderately to highly correlated preoperatively and highly correlated postoperatively when quantifying TSA outcomes. The SAS score was most correlated with the UCLA score and least correlated with the SST. No clinical outcome score exhibited significant floor effects preoperatively or postoperatively or significant ceiling effects preoperatively; however, significant ceiling effects occurred postoperatively for each of the SST (44.3%), UCLA (13.9%), ASES (18.7%), and SPADI (19.3%) measures. Ceiling effects were more pronounced for anatomic than reverse TSA, and generally, men, younger patients, and whites who received TSA were more likely to experience a ceiling effect than TSA patients who were female, older, and of non-white race or ethnicity. The SAS score had the least number of patients with floor and ceiling effects and also exhibited no response bias in any patient characteristic analyzed in this study. Regarding clinical interpretability, patient satisfaction anchor-based thresholds for minimal clinically importance difference and substantial clinical benefit were quantified for all 6 outcome measures; the SAS score thresholds were most similar in magnitude to the Constant score. Regarding responsiveness, all 6 outcome measures detected a large effect, with the UCLA exhibiting the most responsiveness and the SST exhibiting the least. Finally, each of the SAS, ASES, Constant, and SPADI scores had similarly large standardized response mean and effect size responsiveness.

DISCUSSION

The 6-question SAS score is an efficient TSA-specific outcome measure with equivalent or better validity, responsiveness, and clinical interpretability as 5 other historical assessment tools. The SAS score has an appropriate response range without floor or ceiling effects and without bias in any target patient characteristic, unlike the age, gender, or race/ethnicity bias observed in the ceiling scores with the other outcome measures. Because of these substantial benefits, we recommend the use of the new SAS score for quantifying TSA outcomes.

PROMIS Global-10 poorly correlates with legacy outcomes for patients undergoing hip arthroscopy

The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Global-10 assesses generic-related quality of life, but has not been well studied in the orthopaedic literature. The purpose was to compare PROMIS Global-10 and legacy hip-specific patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS). This study included patients who underwent primary hip arthroscopy with complete preoperative and 6-month post-operative follow-up. PROMIS Global-10 Physical (PROMIS-P) and Mental (PROMIS-M) components, as well as the modified Harris hip score (mHHS) and International Hip Outcome Tool-33 (iHOT-33) were assessed. PROM analysis included: post-operative changes, correlations, floor and ceiling effects and responsiveness. Final analysis included 112 patients. Average age and body mass index were 36.1±11.7 years and 24.8±3.9 kg/m², respectively. All 6-month PROMs, except PROMIS-M, were significantly improved compared to preoperative level (P<0.02). Preoperatively, PROMIS-P was poorly correlated with mHHS and iHOT-33 (r_s <0.4) whereas PROMIS-M was only poorly correlated with iHOT-33 (r_s <0.4, 95% CI of 0.02–0.37). Post-operatively, the iHOT-33 was poorly correlated with both PROMIS measures (r_s <0.4). The mHHS was fairly correlated with both PROMIS measures (r_s <0.6) post-operatively. The effect sizes for mHHS and iHOT-33 were high (d=1.2 and 1.40, respectively), whereas the effect sizes for PROMIS Global-10 were small (d<0.3). PROMIS Global-10 demonstrated lower effect sizes and poor to fair correlation with legacy hip-specific PROMs, and appears to have a limited role in the assessment of patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for FAIS. Therefore, the PROMIS Global-10 may have a limited role in assessing patients with FAIS.

PROMIS Global-10 performs poorly relative to legacy shoulder instruments in patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty for glenohumeral arthritis

BACKGROUND

The PROMIS Global-10 is a 10-item questionnaire that assesses general health-related quality of life. There is a paucity of research on the utility of the PROMIS Global-10 in the evaluation of orthopedic conditions. The aim of this study is to compare PROMIS Global-10 and legacy shoulder-specific patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) for shoulder arthritis.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent TSA for shoulder arthritis and completed preoperative and 1-year postoperative surveys. Primary outcome measures were the physical (PROMIS-P) and mental (PROMIS-M) components of PROMIS Global-10. The legacy PROMs included the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES) score, the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE), and the Shoulder Activity Scale (SAS). Analyses included postoperative changes for each outcome, correlations between measures and a responsiveness assessment.

RESULTS

A total of 170 patients met inclusion criteria. Average age and body mass index were 67.7 ± 7.8 years and 28.0 ± 4.9, respectively. All legacy PROMs and PROMIS-P were significantly higher at 1-year follow-up compared with the preoperative level (P < .0001), whereas PROMIS-M did not change (P = .06). Preoperatively, both PROMIS components were either poorly correlated with all legacy PROMs (r < .04, P < .05) or not correlated at all (P > .05). Postoperatively, PROMIS-M was poorly correlated with all legacy PROMs (r < .04, P < .01), whereas PROMIS-P had fair correlation with ASES (r = .5, P < .0001) and poor correlation with SANE and SAS (r < .04, P < .01). A floor effect was observed for SANE, and SANE and ASES had a ceiling effect. The effect sizes for SANE and ASES were high (d = 2.01 and 2.39 respectively), whereas the effect size for SAS was moderate (d = 0.65), and the effect sizes for the PROMIS measures were small (d < .5). ASES was the most responsive measure and PROMIS-M was the least responsive.

CONCLUSION

PROMIS Global-10 had limited correlation with legacy PROMs and was less responsive at 1-year follow-up in patients following TSA. The Global-10 appears to have limited utility in the evaluation of patients with shoulder arthritis both preoperatively and after TSA.

Predicting Patient Satisfaction With Maximal Outcome Improvement After Biceps Tenodesis

The goal of this study was to determine the threshold for achieving maximal outcome improvement (MOI) on the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE), and Constant-Murley (CM) questionnaires that predict satisfaction after isolated biceps tenodesis without concomitant rotator cuff repair. A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was performed for patients undergoing isolated biceps tenodesis from 2014 to 2017 at a single institution with minimum 6-month follow-up. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine thresholds for MOI for the ASES, SANE, and CM questionnaires. Stepwise multivariate logistical regression analysis was performed to identify predictors for achieving the threshold for MOI. A total of 123 patients were included in the final analysis. Receiver operating characteristic analysis determined that achieving 43.1%, 62.1%, and 61.4% MOI was the threshold for satisfaction for the ASES, SANE, and CM questionnaires, respectively. Regression analysis showed that concomitant superior labrum anterior-posterior (SLAP) repair was predictive of achieving MOI on the ASES and SANE questionnaires, whereas partial rotator cuff tear was predictive of achieving MOI on the CM questionnaire (P<.05 for both). Further, workers' compensation status, diabetes, history of ipsilateral shoulder surgery, and hypertension were negative predictors of achieving MOI on the SANE and CM questionnaires (P<.05 for all). Achieving MOI of 43.1%, 62.1%, and 61.4% is the threshold for satisfaction after biceps tenodesis for the ASES, SANE, and CM questionnaires, respectively. Concomitant SLAP repair was positively predictive of achieving MOI, whereas workers' compensation status, diabetes, history of ipsilateral shoulder surgery, and hypertension were negative predictors. [Orthopedics. 2021;44(3):e359-e366.].

Defining Clinically Significant Improvement on the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Test at 1-Year Follow-up for Patients Undergoing Hip Arthroscopy for the Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome

BACKGROUND

Although minimal clinically important difference (MCID), Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS), and substantial clinical benefit (SCB) have been defined for hip-specific legacy patient-reported outcome measures, these metrics have not been defined for the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) instruments for patients undergoing hip arthroscopy.

PURPOSE

To define the MCID, PASS, and SCB thresholds for the PROMIS Physical Function (PF) computerized adaptive test (CAT) and PROMIS Pain Interference (PI) instruments in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS).

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study (Diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2.

METHODS

Patients undergoing primary hip arthroscopy between August 2018 and January 2019 for the treatment of FAIS were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were administered the PROMIS-PF, PROMIS-PI, Hip Outcome Score (HOS)-Activities of Daily Living, HOS-Sports Subscale, modified Harris Hip Score, and International Hip Outcome Tool-12 preoperatively and at 1 year postoperatively. MCID was calculated using the distribution method, whereas PASS and SCB were calculated using an anchor-based method. Patients achieving clinically significant outcomes (CSOs) were compared with those who did not achieve CSOs via chi-square and independent-samples t tests, and a multivariate logistic regression was conducted to determine predictors of CSO achievement.

RESULTS

124 patients with a mean age of 32.7 ± 12.3 years were included in the analysis. The threshold scores required to achieve MCID, PASS, and SCB, respectively, were as follows: PROMIS-PI (-3.1, 53.7, 51.9) and PROMIS-PF (3.3, 47.0, 49.9). Patients achieved any MCID, PASS, and SCB for PROMIS scores at a rate of 89.0%, 71.8%, and 62.1%, respectively, compared with 87.1%, 76.6%, and 71.8% for legacy patient-reported outcome measurements. For PROMIS-PF, higher preoperative PROMIS-PF score was a positive predictor of CSO achievement, and patients achieving SCB were significantly younger (30.3 ± 12 vs 35.6 ± 12 years; P = .017) with significantly lower body mass index (BMI) (24.7 ± 6.4 vs 27.9 ± 7; P = .009). Preoperative chronic pain and history of orthopaedic surgery were negative predictors of PROMIS-PI CSO achievement, whereas higher (worse) preoperative PROMIS-PI scores were a positive predictor.

CONCLUSION

Our study defined the MCID, PASS, and SCB for the PROMIS-PF CAT and PROMIS-PI CAT at 1 year postoperatively. Patients with higher preoperative PROMIS scores, younger age, and lower BMI were more likely to achieve CSO, whereas preoperative chronic pain and history of orthopaedic surgery were negative predictors of CSO achievement.

Optimization of the Algorithm for Choosing the Surgical Treatment of Anterior Recurrent Instability of the Shoulder Joint

Introduction. Chronic recurrent instability of the shoulder joint is a frequent outcome of conservative treatment oftraumatic dislocation of the shoulder (2.8–30 % of cases). Preoperative examination largely determines the outcome of surgical treatment of this pathology.

The aim of the study was to provide a clinical assessment of the developed algorithm for the surgical treatment of patients with recurrent anterior shoulder joint instability. Materials and methods. The results of treatment of 98 patients with recurrent anterior shoulder joint instability were studied. Preoperative examination included clinical tests, MRI or CT with calculation of bone loss. Fifty-six patients (57.1 %) underwent Bankart operation, 14 patients (14.3 %) – Latarjet operation. Twenty-three patients (23.5 %) underwent Bankart + Remplissage surgery, and 5 (5.1 %) – Latarjet + remplissage. The result was assessed on the ROWE scale.

Results. Bone defects significant in the formation of instability (“glenoid off track”) were found in 19.4 % of patients, and “glenoid on track” – in 80.6 %. According to the proposed algorithm for treating patients with anterior recurrent instability of the shoulder joint, the “glenoid off track” state was an indication for Latarjet surgery. When “glenoid on track” was used, indications for Bankart operation were displayed. The remplissage procedure was indicated in case of the presence of a Hill-Sachs grade 3 defect or the presence of hyperelasticity of the tissues of the shoulder joint. The mean ROWE score for the entire group of patients before surgery was 41.5 ± 12.8 points, and 15 months after sur gery – 94.9 ± 3.4 points. Two recurrent dislocations were revealed, one of which was associated with repeated trauma, and the other – with an incorrect choice of stabilization technique. One complication (axillary nerve neuropathy) was observed, which was arrested conservatively.

Conclusions. The proposed algorithm allowed us to obtain positive results in 97.9 % of cases. 

Optimization of the Algorithm for Choosing the Surgical Treatment of Anterior Recurrent Instability of the Shoulder Joint

Introduction. Chronic recurrent instability of the shoulder joint is a frequent outcome of conservative treatment oftraumatic dislocation of the shoulder (2.8–30 % of cases). Preoperative examination largely determines the outcome of surgical treatment of this pathology.

The aim of the study was to provide a clinical assessment of the developed algorithm for the surgical treatment of patients with recurrent anterior shoulder joint instability. Materials and methods. The results of treatment of 98 patients with recurrent anterior shoulder joint instability were studied. Preoperative examination included clinical tests, MRI or CT with calculation of bone loss. Fifty-six patients (57.1 %) underwent Bankart operation, 14 patients (14.3 %) – Latarjet operation. Twenty-three patients (23.5 %) underwent Bankart + Remplissage surgery, and 5 (5.1 %) – Latarjet + remplissage. The result was assessed on the ROWE scale.

Results. Bone defects significant in the formation of instability (“glenoid off track”) were found in 19.4 % of patients, and “glenoid on track” – in 80.6 %. According to the proposed algorithm for treating patients with anterior recurrent instability of the shoulder joint, the “glenoid off track” state was an indication for Latarjet surgery. When “glenoid on track” was used, indications for Bankart operation were displayed. The remplissage procedure was indicated in case of the presence of a Hill-Sachs grade 3 defect or the presence of hyperelasticity of the tissues of the shoulder joint. The mean ROWE score for the entire group of patients before surgery was 41.5 ± 12.8 points, and 15 months after sur gery – 94.9 ± 3.4 points. Two recurrent dislocations were revealed, one of which was associated with repeated trauma, and the other – with an incorrect choice of stabilization technique. One complication (axillary nerve neuropathy) was observed, which was arrested conservatively.

Conclusions. The proposed algorithm allowed us to obtain positive results in 97.9 % of cases. 

Responsiveness of patient-reported outcomes in shoulder arthroplasty: what are we actually measuring?

HYPOTHESIS

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and responsiveness of common patient-reported outcome (PRO) tools in patients undergoing primary total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) for glenohumeral arthritis.

METHODS

Using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, a systematic review of anatomic and reverse TSA studies from PubMed, SportDiscus, Cochrane, and CINAHL was performed. Studies on primary TSA for glenohumeral arthritis that reported at least 1 PRO tool were included in the final analysis. A subgroup analysis of studies that reported preoperative and postoperative PRO scores with at least 2-year follow-up data was evaluated to compare the responsiveness between the different PRO instruments.

RESULTS

After full-text review of 490 articles, 74 articles met all inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. Anatomic TSA was evaluated in 35 studies, reverse TSA in 32 studies, and both anatomic and reverse in 7 studies. There were a total of 7624 patients, and 25 different PRO tools were used. The most commonly reported PRO tools were the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (44 studies), Constant (42 studies), the visual analog scale for pain (23 studies), and the Simple Shoulder Test (17 studies). A median of 3.0 PRO instruments were used in each study. All instruments had large effect sizes. The University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) score was found to be the most responsive instrument, and the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation score was least responsive. The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score was the most responsive instrument that required only patient-reported data.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the UCLA score was found to be the most responsive followed by the Adjusted Constant. However, both the UCLA and Adjusted Constant scores require strength and range of motion assessment that may limit their widespread clinical use. The increased responsiveness of these measures, which include objective clinical testing, speaks to the predicted increases in strength and range of motion after shoulder arthroplasty. Of the measures that can be administered without in-person clinical evaluation, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score and Western Ontario Osteoarthritis of the Shoulder index were the most responsive.

Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, reliability, and validity of Turkish version of the university of California Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder scale into Turkish

PURPOSE

To translate and culturally adapt the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder scale into Turkish (T-UCLA) and determine its psychometric properties.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The UCLA scale was translated into Turkish using Beaton guidelines. Ninety-one patients (46 male; mean age: 46.0 ± 13.7 years) with shoulder disorders completed T-UCLA and American Shoulder and Elbow Score (ASES), Simple Shoulder Test (SST) and 36-Item Short Form (SF-36). Test-retest reliability was tested in 50 patients at a mean of 5.2 ± 2.2 days after initial assessment. Validity was evaluated in 91 patients, and correlations between ASES, SST and SF-36 were analyzed. Responsiveness was assessed in 33 patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with a mean follow-up of 12.8 ± 0.5 months.

RESULTS

Test-retest reliability of overall T-UCLA, pain and function subscales were 0.96, 0.94 and 0.86, respectively. The correlation coefficients between T-UCLA and SST and ASES were r = 0.752 and r = 0.783, respectively (p < 0.001). The highest correlations between T-UCLA and SF-36 were observed in physical functioning (r = 0.64) and bodily pain subscales (r = 0.66). No ceiling or floor effect observed. Overall and subscales of T-UCLA were highly responsive (ES = 3.22-4.31).

CONCLUSION

T-UCLA has sufficient reliability and validity similar to original and translated versions. T-UCLA is responsive in patients who underwent rotator cuff repair.Implications for rehabilitationIn this study, Turkish version of the UCLA was found to be a reliable and valid outcome measure in patients with various shoulder pathologies.Turkish version of the UCLA is a very responsive tool in patients with who underwent arthroscopic repair of rotator cuff tears.

What Are the Predictors of Poor Patient-Reported Outcomes After Shoulder Instability Surgery?

Background:

Prospectively collected responses to Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) questions after shoulder instability surgery are limited. Responses to these outcome measures are imperative to understanding their clinical utility.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate which factors predict unfavorable patient-reported outcomes after shoulder instability surgery, including “no” to the PASS question. We hypothesized that poor outcomes would be associated with male adolescents, bone loss, combined labral tears, and articular cartilage injuries.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

Patients aged ≥13 years undergoing shoulder instability surgery were included in point-of-care data collection at a single institution across 12 surgeons between 2015 and 2017. Patients with anterior-inferior labral tears were included, and those with previous ipsilateral shoulder surgery were excluded. Demographics, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) scores, and surgical findings were obtained at baseline. ASES and SANE scores, PASS responses, and early revision surgery rates were obtained at a minimum of 1 year after the surgical intervention. Regression analyses were performed.

Results:

A total of 234 patients met inclusion criteria, of which 176 completed follow-up responses (75.2%). Nonresponders had a younger age, greater frequency of glenoid bone loss, fewer combined tears, and more articular cartilage injuries (P < .05). Responders’ mean age was 25.1 years, and 22.2% were female. Early revision surgery occurred in 3.4% of these patients, and 76.1% responded yes to the PASS question. A yes response correlated with a mean 25-point improvement in the ASES score and a 40-point improvement in the SANE score. On multivariate analysis, combined labral tears (anterior-inferior plus superior or posterior tears) were associated with greater odds of responding no to the PASS question, while both combined tears and injured capsules were associated with lower ASES and SANE scores (P < .05). Sex, bone loss, and grade 3 to 4 articular cartilage injuries were not associated with variations on any patient-reported outcome measure.

Conclusion:

Patients largely approved of their symptom state at ≥1 year after shoulder instability surgery. A response of yes to the PASS question was given by 76.1% of patients and was correlated with clinically and statistically significant improvements in ASES and SANE scores. Combined labral tears and injured capsules were negative prognosticators across patient-reported outcome measures, whereas sex, bone loss, and cartilage injuries were not.

Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Function Has a Lower Effect Size and is Less Responsive Than Legacy Hip Specific Patient Reported Outcome Measures Following Arthroscopic Hip Surgery

PURPOSE

To compare the use and responsiveness of Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) to legacy patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) at 6-month follow-up.

METHODS

Data from patients who underwent primary hip arthroscopy with routine capsular closure between August 2018 and January 2019 for the treatment of FAIS were analyzed. Preoperative outcomes, 6-month postoperative outcomes, and demographics were recorded. Primary outcome measures included PROMIS Physical Function (PROMIS-PF), PROMIS Pain Interference (PROMIS-PI), and PROMIS Depression. The legacy PROMs included Hip Outcome Score Activities of Daily Living (HOS-ADL), Hip Outcome Score Sport Subscale (HOS-SS), and the international hip outcome tool 12 questions (iHOT-12). Floor and ceiling effects along with the responsiveness and Cohen's d effect size of each PROM tool were calculated.

RESULTS

Ninety-six patients with an average age and body mass index of 32.4 ± 11.9 years and 25.9 ± 6.1 kg/m², respectively, were included in the final analysis. All outcomes were significantly higher at 6 months compared with the preoperative level (P < .001) except for PROMIS Depression (P = .873). PROMIS-PF demonstrated excellent correlation with HOS-SS (r = 0.81; P < .001), very good correlation with HOS-ADL (r = 0.73; P < .001), and good correlation with iHOT-12 (r = 0.68; P < .001). No floor was observed for any measure. The effect size was large for all outcomes, except PROMIS Depression (d = 0.04), but largest for iHOT12 (d = 1.87) followed by HOS-ADL (d = 1.29). The iHOT-12 was more responsive than PROMIS-PI (relative efficiency [RE] = 3.95), PROMIS-PF (RE = 4.13), HOS-ADL (RE = 2.26), and HOS-SS (RE = 3.84). HOS-SS was similarly responsive to PROMIS-PI (RE=1.03) and PROMIS-PF (RE=1.08). However, PROMIS-PF was overall the least responsive.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients at 6 months postoperatively from hip arthroscopy for FAIS, iHOT-12 was the most responsive and had the largest effect size. In contrast, PROMIS-PF had a lower effect size compared with legacy hip-specific PROMs. Additionally, PROMIS-PF did not correlate as well with iHOT-12 compared with HOS-SS.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, case series.

Validation of a Mobile Version of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form: An Observational Randomized Crossover Trial

Background

The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES) questionnaire is an effective tool for evaluating shoulder joint function. The development and usage of a mobile version of the ASES questionnaire has the potential to save time, money, and effort.

Objective

The aim of this study is to assess the equivalence between the paper and mobile versions of the ASES questionnaire and their acceptability among patients.

Methods

The paper and mobile versions of the ASES questionnaire were used to evaluate the shoulder joint function of 50 patients with shoulder pain. This study included patients from the shoulder clinic of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman method were used to evaluate the agreement (reliability) of the scores obtained by the two methods (paper versus mobile).

Results

Of the 50 patients recruited from March 2018 to May 2019, 46 (92%) completed the study. There was a high agreement between the paper and mobile versions of the ASES questionnaire (ICC=0.979, 95% CI 0.943-0.987; P<.001). The mean difference between the scores of the mobile and paper versions was 1.0, and only 1/46 (2%) had a difference greater than the minimal clinically important difference of 12 points. About 75% of patients preferred the mobile version to the paper version.

Conclusions

Our study shows that the mobile version of the ASES questionnaire is comparable to the paper version, and has a higher patient preference. This could prove to be a useful tool for epidemiological studies and patient follow-up over longer periods of time.

Clinical Function Improves After Subacromial Injection of Local Anesthetic in Full-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears: A Randomized Control Trial

Background:

Rotator cuff pathology is the most common cause of shoulder pain in adults, accounting for nearly 70% of shoulder-related visits to clinicians. However, physical examination findings may be limited because of pain or patient inhibition.

Purpose:

To establish whether a relationship exists between pain, range of motion, and strength in patients with a full-thickness rotator cuff tear.

Study Design:

Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.

Methods:

A single-blind, randomized controlled study of 40 patients undergoing rotator cuff repair for full-thickness rotator cuff tears was performed. Patients were randomized to receive either a subacromial 10-mL 2% lidocaine injection or a sham injection, with no contents being injected into the subacromial space. Before the injection, patients were assessed using a visual analog scale for pain (VAS-Pain) as well as the Constant-Murley subjective questionnaire and objective physical examination. The examination was repeated 10 minutes after injection and 6 months postoperatively. VAS-Pain after injection was not assessed. The assessment at 6 months was performed to demonstrate improvement of rotator cuff function after operative management. Statistical analysis included Student t and chi-square tests as well as multivariate binomial logistic regression analyses to identify predictors for improvement after injection. Results were considered significant if P < .05.

Results:

Range of motion, strength, and Constant-Murley score significantly improved after a subacromial lidocaine injection (P < .05). Range of motion, strength, Constant-Murley score, and VAS-Pain significantly improved at final follow-up compared with the preinjection assessment for both groups (P < .05); however, there was no difference (P > .05) between groups at 6 months postoperatively.

Conclusion:

After subacromial lidocaine injections, patients exhibited modest but significant improvements in range of motion, strength, and the Constant-Murley score. Pain may limit range of motion and strength in patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears independent of the mechanical impact of the tear itself.

Registration:

NCT02693444 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).

Impact of Patient Demographic Factors on Preoperative Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function, Pain Interference, and Depression Computer Adaptive Testing Scores in Patients Undergoing Shoulder and Elbow Surgery

Background:

There has been a growing emphasis in orthopaedics on providing patient-centered care. The US National Institutes of Health launched the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) initiative that incorporates patient-reported outcome measures across a number of medical domains. The relationship between PROMIS domains and the impact of patient demographic factors in those undergoing upper extremity surgery remains unclear.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

The goal of this study was to investigate the correlation between physical function, pain interference, and depression in patients undergoing shoulder and elbow surgery as measured by PROMIS computer adaptive testing (CAT) forms and to determine the impact of patient demographic factors. We hypothesized that there would be a significant negative correlation between physical function and both pain interference and depression in this patient population.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

All patients who underwent elective shoulder or elbow surgery by 3 shoulder, elbow, and/or sports medicine fellowship–trained orthopaedic surgeons were included in the study. Preoperative PROMIS–Upper Extremity (PROMIS-UE), PROMIS–Pain Interference (PROMIS-PI), and PROMIS-Depression (PROMIS-D) CAT scores were analyzed. Pearson correlations were calculated between PROMIS domains as well as between PROMIS outcomes with patient demographic factors.

Results:

Preoperative PROMIS CAT scores for all 3 domains were collected and analyzed from 172 unique patients (516 individual CAT forms) with shoulder and elbow injuries. A negative correlation of moderate strength was found between the PROMIS-UE and PROMIS-PI (R = –0.61; P < .001), and a negligible correlation was found between the PROMIS-UE and PROMIS-D (R = –0.28; P < .001). When stratified by patient demographic factors, the correlation between the PROMIS-UE and PROMIS-PI was stronger in female patients compared with male patients (R = –0.77 vs –0.46, respectively; P < .001 for both), stronger in black patients compared with white patients (R = –0.72 vs –0.56, respectively; P < .001 for both), and highest in current tobacco users (R = –0.80; P < .001).

Conclusion:

Before shoulder and elbow surgery, patients demonstrated impairments in physical function and pain interference as measured by CAT forms, with a moderate negative correlation between baseline upper extremity physical function and pain interference scores. In certain subpopulations, such as female patients, black patients, and current tobacco users, the correlations between these tested domains were stronger than in other groups.

The effect of experimental shoulder pain on contralateral muscle force and activation

Inhibition of rotator cuff activation and force after local experimental pain has been previously shown. Clinically, strength is often indexed to the uninvolved side in order to quantify deficits during injury and recovery. This study assessed the effect of experimental subacromial pain on contralateral shoulder external rotation (ER) force and activation. We hypothesized that subacromial pain would not affect contralateral shoulder external rotation force and voluntary activation (VA) of the contralateral infraspinatus because we believe that the effects of acute experimental pain will largely exert an ipsilateral, spinal segmental effect. Twenty healthy adults were tested. External rotation force and VA were tested while participants performed maximum voluntary isometric contractions of shoulder external rotation, during which a brief electrical stimulus was applied to the infraspinatus muscle at an intensity that maximized external rotation force. To elicit pain, 1.5 ml of 5% hypertonic saline was injected into the contralateral subacromial space. Mean (SD) pain immediately after injection was 6.3/10 (0.85) resulting in a 7.6% decline in contralateral external rotation force (p < .01) and 3.3% decline in infraspinatus muscle VA (p = .48). A subset of participants (n = 9) showed a more substantial decline in both force (15.4%; p < .000001; d = -3.53) and VA (8.7%; p = .045; d = -0.98). Experimental shoulder pain had a modest effect on contralateral ER force and VA in a subset of participants; therefore, it may be important to index or compare strength bilaterally throughout rehabilitation to capture this bilateral effect as pain resolves.

Cryopreserved amniotic membrane and umbilical cord particulate matrix for partial rotator cuff tears: A case series

Amniotic membrane (AM) and umbilical cord (UC) are well known to have anti-inflammatory properties and have been shown to promote healing in various orthopedic indications. This study investigated whether intra-articular injection of AM/UC particulate matrix promotes healing of partial rotator cuff tears (RCTs).A case series was performed on 10 patients that received injection of 50 mg AM/UC for partial RCTs that were refractory to conservative treatment. Outcomes included Penn Shoulder Score (PSS) questionnaire, range of motion examination, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis before and at 6 months. Final MRI analysis was performed by a musculoskeletal radiologist in a blinded fashion.Average PSS score (out of 100) increased from 46.8 ± 23.7 at baseline to 82.0 ± 19.1 at 6 months. The average PSS sub-scores of pain, satisfaction, and function increased 78.4%, 37.1%, and 82.3% from baseline, respectively. The subject's range of motion was 77.9% at baseline and increased to 99.9% at 6-months. Follow-up MRI scans did not demonstrate any significant change in RCT size. No adverse events were noted.This small case series provides preliminary data for use of cryopreserved AM/UC particulate matrix in patients with refractory partial RCTs.