Massive, irreparable rotator cuff tears occur in about 15% of patients with ruptures of the rotator cuff tendons. There is no consistently agreed management for irreparable rotator cuff tears, however, latissimus dorsi tendon transfer is a recognised technique. We aimed to review the functional outcome of patients undergoing this operation at a single tertiary referral centre. Fourteen latissimus dorsi transfer procedures in thirteen patients from May 2007 to May 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. The mean age of patients undergoing the procedure was fifty nine years. All patients were confirmed to have massive, irreparable (>5cm) rotator cuff tears as determined by MRI or ultrasound. Modified Constant scores (assessing shoulder pain, functional activity and movement) determined pre-operatively and post latissmus dorsi transfer were compared. The mean duration of follow up was 12 months. The mean Modified Constant Score (maximum = 75) improved from 23 points pre-operaively to 52 points post latissimus dorsi transfer (p < 0.05). All patients had improvement in shoulder pain following the operation. There was a trend for younger patients to have greater improvement in functional activity and shoulder movement. From our series, latissimus dorsi transfer is effective at improving functional outcomes in patients with massive, irreparable rotator cuff tears, especially in younger age groups

Abstract. Objectives. Achilles tendon ruptures are common in the UK, with data demonstrating a significant rise in incidence over the past years. Chronic Achilles ruptures have been less well defined in literature, and repair techniques vary significantly. A surge in publications reporting various management options for chronic Achilles ruptures has necessitated a review that systematically maps and summarises current evidence regarding treatments and identifies areas for future research. This scoping review aims to improve knowledge of various treatment strategies and their associated outcomes, thereby aiding clinicians in optimising treatment protocols. Methods. The Arksey and O'Malley, Levac and Peters frameworks were used. A computer-based search in PubMed, Embase, Emcare, Cinahl, ISI Web of Science and Scopus was performed for articles reporting the treatment of chronic Achilles ruptures. Two reviewers independently performed title/abstract and full text screening according to a pre-defined selection criteria. Results. A total of 747 articles were identified, of which 73 were finally included. Various management strategies were described with flexor hallucis longus tendon transfer being the most common. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score was the most commonly reported outcome, but 16 other measures were described within the literatures. All studies comparing pre- and post-operative outcomes reported a significant improvement. 50 studies reported complications, with an overall pooled complication rate of 168/1065 (15.8%). Conclusions. Beneficial results were reported following various techniques, but comparison between these was challenging due to the low-level study designs used and confounding factors including treatment delay and tendon gap size. Further research exploring the efficacy of different techniques is required to facilitate the development of evidenced-based treatment protocols. Such a work would allow for clinicians to better understand the suitability of specific techniques, thereby selecting the optimal management strategy for each individual patient

The Cobb Stainsby forefoot arthroplasty for claw and hammer toes combines excision arthroplasty (Stainsby) with extensor tendon transfer to the metatarsal head (Cobb). We present a retrospective, three surgeon case series of 218 toes in 128 patients over four years. Clinical notes were reviewed for all patients and 77 could be contacted for a telephone survey. Follow up ranged from 12–82 months. All patients presented with pain and shoe wear problems from dislocated metatarsophalangeal joints either from arthritis, hallux valgus, Freiberg's disease or neurological disorders. Ipsilateral foot procedures were performed simultaneously in 24 (30%) patients. Seventy-two patients (94%) were satisfied, 72 (94%) reported pain relief, 55 (71%) were happy with toe control, 61 (79%) were pleased with cosmesis, 59 (77%) returned to normal footwear and 56 (73%) reported unlimited daily activities. Minor complications occurred in 17 (13%) and 3 (2%) developed complex regional pain syndrome. Four (5%) developed recurrent clawing. The Stainsby procedure permits relocation of the plantar plate under the metatarsal head for cushioned weight-bearing but can create a floppy, unsightly toe. By combining this with the Cobb procedure, our case series demonstrates improved outcomes from either procedure alone with benefits over alternatives such as the Weil's osteotomy. Oxford Level 4 evidence – retrospective case series

We released the infraspinatus tendons of six sheep, allowed retraction of the musculotendinous unit over a period of 40 weeks and then performed a repair. We studied retraction of the musculotendinous unit 35 weeks later using CT, MRI and macroscopic dissection.

The tendon was retracted by a mean of 4.7 cm (3.8 to 5.1) 40 weeks after release and remained at a mean of 4.2 cm (3.3 to 4.7) 35 weeks after the repair. Retraction of the muscle was only a mean of 2.7 cm (2.0 to 3.3) and 1.7 cm (1.1 to 2.2) respectively at these two points. Thus, the musculotendinous junction had shifted distally by a mean of 2.5 cm (2.0 to 2.8) relative to the tendon. Sheep muscle showed an ability to compensate for approximately 60% of the tendon retraction in a hitherto unknown fashion. Such retraction may not be a quantitatively reliable indicator of retraction of the muscle and may overestimate the need for elongation of the musculotendinous unit during repair.

Normal function of the patellofemoral joint is maintained by a complex interaction between soft tissues and articular surfaces. No quantitative data have been found on the relative contributions of these structures to patellar stability. Eight knees were studied using a materials testing machine to displace the patella 10 mm laterally and medially and measure the force required. Patellar stability was tested from 0° to 90° knee flexion with the quadriceps tensed to 175 N. Four conditions were examined: intact, vastus medialis obliquus relaxed, flat lateral condyle, and ruptured medial retinaculae. Abnormal trochlear geometry reduced the lateral stability by 70% at 30° flexion, while relaxation of vastus medialis obliquus caused a 30% reduction. Ruptured medial retinaculae had the largest effect at 0° flexion with 49% reduction. There was no effect on medial stability. There is a complex interaction between these structures, with their contributions to loss of lateral patellar stability varying with knee flexion.