Objectives

To report the five-year results of a randomised controlled trial examining the effectiveness of arthroscopic acromioplasty in the treatment of stage II shoulder impingement syndrome.

Like athletes, musicians are vulnerable to musculoskeletal injuries that can be career ending or have a severe negative financial impact. All ages are affected, with a peak incidence in the third and fourth decades. Women are slightly more likely to be affected than men. It is incumbent upon orthopaedic surgeons to be able to complete a thorough physical assessment, be aware of the risk factors associated with musculoskeletal symptoms in musicians, and have a detailed knowledge of the specific syndromes they suffer and their appropriate treatment.

In this paper we review the common hand injuries that afflict musicians and discuss their treatment.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:146–50.

Reverse total shoulder replacement (RTSR) depends on adequate deltoid function for a successful outcome. However, the anterior deltoid and/or axillary nerve may be damaged due to prior procedures or injury. The purpose of this study was to determine the compensatory muscle forces required for scapular plane elevation following RTSR when the anterior deltoid is deficient. The soft tissues were removed from six cadaver shoulders, except for tendon attachments. After implantation of the RTSR, the shoulders were mounted on a custom-made shoulder simulator to determine the mean force in each muscle required to achieve 30° and 60° of scapular plane elevation. Two conditions were tested: 1) Control with an absent supraspinatus and infraspinatus; and 2) Control with anterior deltoid deficiency. Anterior deltoid deficiency resulted in a mean increase of 195% in subscapularis force at 30° when compared with the control (p = 0.02). At 60°, the subscapularis force increased a mean of 82% (p < 0.001) and the middle deltoid force increased a mean of 26% (p = 0.04).

Scapular plane elevation may still be possible following an RTSR in the setting of anterior deltoid deficiency. When the anterior deltoid is deficient, there is a compensatory increase in the force required by the subscapularis and middle deltoid. Attempts to preserve the subscapularis, if present, might maximise post-operative function.

Diabetes mellitus is recognised as a risk factor for carpal tunnel syndrome. The response to treatment is unclear, and may be poorer than in non-diabetic patients. Previous randomised studies of interventions for carpal tunnel syndrome have specifically excluded diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of carpal tunnel syndrome in diabetic patients, and compare the outcome of carpal tunnel decompression with non-diabetic patients. The primary endpoint was improvement in the QuickDASH score. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 11.3% (176 of 1564). Diabetic patients were more likely to have severe neurophysiological findings at presentation. Patients with diabetes had poorer QuickDASH scores at one year post-operatively (p = 0.028), although the mean difference was lower than the minimal clinically important difference for this score. After controlling for underlying differences in age and gender, there was no difference between groups in the magnitude of improvement after decompression (p = 0.481). Patients with diabetes mellitus can therefore be expected to enjoy a similar improvement in function.

We have reviewed 38 surgically treated cases of spontaneous posterior interosseous nerve palsy in 38 patients with a mean age of 43 years (13 to 68) in order to identify clinical factors associated with its prognosis. Interfascicular neurolysis was performed at a mean of 13 months (1 to 187) after the onset of symptoms. The mean follow-up was 21 months (5.5 to 221). Medical Research Council muscle power of more than grade 4 was considered to be a good result. A further 12 cases in ten patients were treated conservatively and assessed similarly.

Of the 30 cases treated surgically with available outcome data, the result of interfascicular neurolysis was significantly better in patients < 50 years old (younger group (18 nerves); good: 13 nerves (72%), poor: five nerves (28%)) than in cases > 50 years old (older group (12 nerves); good: one nerve (8%), poor: 11 nerves (92%)) (p < 0.001). A pre-operative period of less than seven months was also associated with a good result in the younger group (p = 0.01). The older group had a poor result regardless of the pre-operative delay.

Our recommended therapeutic approach therefore is to perform interfascicular neurolysis if the patient is < 50 years of age, and the pre-operative delay is < seven months. If the patient is > 50 years of age with no sign of recovery for seven months, or in the younger group with a pre-operative delay of more than a year, we advise interfascicular neurolysis together with tendon transfer as the primary surgical procedure.

The integrity of the spinal accessory nerve is fundamental to thoracoscapular function and essential for scapulohumeral rhythm. This nerve is vulnerable along its superficial course. This study assessed the delay in diagnosis and referral for management of damage to this nerve, clarified its anatomical course and function, and documented the results of repair. From examination of our records, 111 patients with lesions of the spinal accessory nerve were treated between 1984 and 2007. In 89 patients (80.2%) the damage was iatropathic. Recognition and referral were seldom made by the surgeon responsible for the injury, leading to a marked delay in instituting treatment. Most referrals were made for painful loss of shoulder function. The clinical diagnosis is straightforward. There is a characteristic downward and lateral displacement of the scapula, with narrowing of the inferior scapulohumeral angle and loss of function, with pain commonly present. In all, 80 nerves were explored and 65 were repaired. The course of the spinal accessory nerve in relation to the sternocleidomastoid muscle was constant, with branches from the cervical plexus rarely conveying motor fibres. Damage to the nerve was predominantly posterior to this muscle.

Despite the delay, the results of repair were surprising, with early relief of pain, implying a neuropathic source, which preceded generally good recovery of muscle function.

We have developed an illustrated questionnaire, the Hand20, comprising 20 short and easy-to-understand questions to assess disorders of the upper limb. We have examined the usefulness of this questionnaire by comparing reliability, validity, responsiveness and the level of missing data with those of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire.

A series of 431 patients with disorders of the upper limb completed the Hand20 and the Japanese version of the DASH (DASH-JSSH) questionnaire. The norms for Hand20 scores were determined in another cross-sectional study.

Most patients had no difficulty in completing the Hand20 questionnaire, whereas the DASH-JSSH had a significantly higher rate of missing data. The standard score for the Hand20 was smaller than the reported norms for the DASH.

Our study showed that the Hand20 questionnaire provided validation comparable with that of the DASH-JSSH. Explanatory illustrations and short questions which were easy-to-understand led to better rates of response and fewer missing data, even in elderly individuals with cognitive deterioration.

The outcome of surgery in patients with medial epicondylitis of the elbow is less favourable in those with co-existent symptoms from the ulnar nerve. We wanted to know whether we could successfully treat such patients by using musculofascial lengthening of the flexor-pronator origin with simultaneous deep transposition of the ulnar nerve. We retrospectively reviewed 19 patients who were treated in this way. Seven had grade I and 12 had grade IIa ulnar neuropathy. At a mean follow-up of 38 months (24 to 48), the mean visual analogue scale pain scores improved from 3.7 to 0.3 at rest, from 6.6 to 2.1 with activities of daily living, and from 7.9 to 2.3 at work or sports, and the mean disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand scores improved from 42.2 to 23.5. These results suggest that this technique can be effective in treating patients with medial epicondylitis and coexistent ulnar nerve symptoms

This is a retrospective review of the results of the Acclaim total elbow replacement in 11 older patients aged ≥ 65 years with primary osteoarthritis of the elbow, with a mean follow-up of 57.6 months (30 to 86.4). Significant reductions in pain and improvement in range of movement and function were recorded. Radiological review revealed two patients with 1 mm lucencies in a single zone, and one patient with 1 mm lucencies in two zones. No components required revision. There were no deep infections, dislocations or mechanical failures. Complications included one intra-operative medial condylar fracture and one post-operative transient ulnar neuropathy, which resolved. This study demonstrates that the Acclaim prosthesis provides good symptomatic relief and improvement of function in patients with primary osteoarthritis, with low rates of loosening or other complications. This prosthesis can therefore be considered for patients aged ≥ 65 years with primary osteoarthritis of the elbow

Restoration of hand function is rarely achieved after a complete closed traction lesion of the supraclavicular brachial plexus. We describe the injury, treatment, rehabilitation and long-term results of two patients who regained good function of the upper limb and useful function in the hand after such an injury. Successful repairs were performed within six days of injury. Tinel’s sign proved accurate in predicting the ruptures and the distribution of pain was accurate in predicting avulsion. The severe pain that began on the day of injury resolved with the onset of muscle function.

Recovery of muscle function preceded recovery of sensation. Recovery of the function of C and Aδ fibres was the slowest of all.

Arthrolysis and dynamic splinting have been used in the treatment of elbow contractures, but there is no standardised protocol for treatment of severe contractures with an arc of flexion < 30°. We present our results of radical arthrolysis with twin incisions with the use of a monolateral hinged fixator to treat very severe extra-articular contracture of the elbow. This retrospective study included 26 patients (15 males and 11 females) with a mean age of 30 years (12 to 60). The mean duration of stiffness was 9.1 months (5.4 to 18) with mean follow-up of 5.2 years (3.5 to 9.4). The mean pre-operative arc of movement was 15.6° (0° to 30°), with mean pre-operative flexion of 64.1° (30° to 120°) and mean pre-operative extension of 52.1° (10° to 90°). Post-operatively the mean arc improved to 102.4° (60° to 135°), the mean flexion improved to 119.1° (90° to 140°) and mean extension improved to 16.8° (0° to 30°) (p < 0.001). The Mayo elbow score improved from a mean of 45 (30 to 65) to 89 (75 to 100) points, and 13 had excellent, nine had good, three had fair and one had a poor result. We had one case of severe instability and one wound dehiscence which responded well to treatment. One case had deep infection with poor results which responded well to treatment.

Our findings indicate that this method is very effective in the treatment of severe elbow contracture; however, a randomised controlled study is necessary for further evaluation.

This study examined the role of vitamin D as a factor accounting for fatty degeneration and muscle function in the rotator cuff. There were 366 patients with disorders of the shoulder. A total of 228 patients had a full-thickness tear (group 1) and 138 patients had no tear (group 2). All underwent magnetic resonance arthrography and an isokinetic muscle performance test. The serum concentrations of vitamin D (25(OH)D₃) were measured.

In general, a lower serum level of vitamin D was related to higher fatty degeneration in the muscles of the cuff. Spearman’s correlation coefficients were 0.173 (p = 0.001), −0.181 (p = 0.001), and −0.117 (p = 0.026) for supraspinatus, infraspinatus and subscapularis, respectively. In group 1, multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that the serum level of vitamin D was an independent variable for fatty degeneration of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus.

The serum vitamin D level has a significant negative correlation with the fatty degeneration of the cuff muscle and a positive correlation with isokinetic muscle torque.

We report a randomised controlled trial to examine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of arthroscopic acromioplasty in the treatment of stage II shoulder impingement syndrome. A total of 140 patients were randomly divided into two treatment groups: supervised exercise programme (n = 70, exercise group) and arthroscopic acromioplasty followed by a similar exercise programme (n = 70, combined treatment group). The main outcome measure was self-reported pain on a visual analogue scale of 0 to 10 at 24 months, measured on the 134 patients (66 in the exercise group and 68 in the combined treatment group) for whom endpoint data were available.

An intention-to-treat analysis disclosed an improvement in both groups but without statistically significant difference in outcome between the groups (p = 0.65). The combined treatment was considerably more costly.

Arthroscopic acromioplasty provides no clinically important effects over a structured and supervised exercise programme alone in terms of subjective outcome or cost-effectiveness when measured at 24 months. Structured exercise treatment should be the basis for treatment of shoulder impingement syndrome, with operative treatment offered judiciously until its true merit is proven.

Ulnar neuropathy presents as a complication in 5% to 10% of total elbow replacements, but subsequent ulnar neurolysis is rarely performed. Little information is available on the surgical management of persistent ulnar neuropathy after elbow replacement. We describe our experience with the surgical management of this problem. Of 1607 total elbow replacements performed at our institution between January 1969 and December 2004, eight patients (0.5%) had a further operation for persistent or progressive ulnar neuropathy. At a mean follow-up of 9.2 years (3.1 to 21.7) six were clinically improved and satisfied with their outcome, although, only four had complete recovery. When transposition was performed on a previously untransposed nerve the rate of recovery was 75%, but this was reduced to 25% if the nerve had been transposed at the time of the replacement

This study reports our experience with total elbow replacement for fused elbows.

Between 1982 and 2004, 13 patients with spontaneously ankylosed elbows were treated with a linked semi-constrained non-custom total elbow implant. The mean age at operation was 54 years (24 to 80). The stiffness was a result of trauma in ten elbows, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in one, and rheumatoid arthritis in two. The patients were followed for a mean of 12 years (2 to 26) and were evaluated clinically using the Mayo Elbow Performance Score, as well as radiologically.

A mean arc from 37° of extension to 118° of flexion was achieved. Outcomes were good or excellent for seven elbows at final review. Ten patients felt better or much better after total elbow replacement. However, there was a high complication rate and re-operation was required in over half of patients. Two developed peri-operative soft-tissue breakdown requiring debridement. A muscle flap with skin grafting was used for soft-tissue cover in one. Revision was undertaken in one elbow following fracture of the ulnar component. Three patients developed a deep infection. Three elbows were manipulated under anaesthesia for post-operative stiffness. Prophylactic measures for heterotopic ossification were unsuccessful.

Total elbow replacement for the ankylosed elbow should be performed with caution. However, the outcome can be reliable in the long term and have a markedly positive impact on patient function and satisfaction. The high potential for complications must be considered. We consider total elbow replacement to be an acceptable procedure in selected patients with reasonable expectations.

The diagnosis of nerve injury using thermotropic liquid crystal temperature strips was compared blindly and prospectively against operative findings in 36 patients requiring surgical exploration for unilateral upper limb lacerations with suspected nerve injury. Thermotropic liquid crystal strips were applied to affected and non-affected segments in both hands in all subjects. A pilot study showed that a simple unilateral laceration without nerve injury results in a cutaneous temperature difference between limbs, but not within each limb. Thus, for detection of a nerve injury, comparison was made against the unaffected nerve distribution in the same hand.

Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that an absolute temperature difference ≥ 1.0°C was diagnostic of a nerve injury (area under the curve = 0.985, sensitivity = 100%, specificity = 93.8%).

Thermotropic liquid crystal strip assessment is a new, reliable and objective method for the diagnosis of traumatic peripheral nerve injuries. If implemented in the acute setting, it could improve the reliability of clinical assessment and reduce the number of negative surgical explorations.

The Acclaim total elbow replacement is a modular system which allows implantation in both unlinked and linked modes. The results of the use of this implant in primary total elbow replacement in 36 patients, operated on between July 2000 and August 2002, are presented at a mean follow-up of 36 months (24 to 49). Only one patient did not have good relief of pain, but all had improved movement and function. No implant showed clinical or radiological loosening, although one had a lucent area in three of seven humeral zones. The short-term results of the Acclaim total elbow replacement are encouraging. However, 11 patients (30.5%) suffered an intra-operative fracture of the humeral condyle. This did not affect the outcome, or the requirement for further surgery, except in one case where the fracture failed to unite. This problem has hopefully been addressed by redesigning the humeral resection guide. Other complications included three cases of ulnar neuropathy (8.3%) and one of deep infection (2.8%)

Between 1993 and 2002, 58 GSB III total elbow replacements were implanted in 45 patients with rheumatoid arthritis by the same surgeon. At the most recent follow-up, five patients had died (five elbows) and six (nine elbows) had been lost to follow-up, leaving 44 total elbow replacements in 34 patients available for clinical and radiological review at a mean follow-up of 74 months (25 to 143). There were 26 women and eight men with a mean age at operation of 55.7 years (24 to 77).

At the latest follow-up, 31 excellent (70%), six good (14%), three fair (7%) and four poor (9%) results were noted according to the Mayo elbow performance score. Five humeral (11%) and one ulnar (2%) component were loose according to radiological criteria (type III or type IV). Of the 44 prostheses, two (5%) had been revised, one for type-IV humeral loosening after follow-up for ten years and one for fracture of the ulnar component. Seven elbows had post-operative dysfunction of the ulnar nerve, which was transient in five and permanent in two.

Despite an increased incidence of loosening with time, the GSB III prosthesis has given favourable mid-term results in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

We studied 21 patients with a spontaneous palsy of the anterior interosseous nerve. There were 11 men and 10 women with a mean age at onset of 39 years (17 to 65).

Pain around the elbow or another region (forearm, shoulder, upper arm, systemic arthralgia) was present in 17 patients and typically lasted for two to three weeks. It had settled within six weeks in every case. In ten cases the palsy developed as the pain settled. A complete palsy of flexor pollicis longus and flexor digitorum profundus to the index finger was seen in 13 cases and an isolated palsy of flexor pollicis longus in five. All patients were treated without operation. The mean time to initial muscle contraction was nine months (2 to 18) in palsy of the flexor digitorum profundus to the index finger, and ten months (1 to 24) for a complete palsy of flexor pollicis longus. An improvement in muscle strength to British Medical Research Council grade 4 or better was seen in all 15 patients with a complete palsy of the flexor digitorum profundus and in 16 of 18 with a complete palsy of flexor pollicis longus.

There was no significant correlation between the duration of pain and either the time to initial muscle contraction or final muscle strength. Prolonged pain was not always associated with a poor outcome but the age of the patient when the palsy developed was strongly correlated. Recovery occurred within 12 months in patients under the age of 40 years who achieved a final British Medical Research Council grade of 4 or better. Surgical decompression does not appear to be indicated for young patients with this condition.

We assessed the long-term results of 58 Souter-Strathclyde total elbow replacements in 49 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The mean length of follow-up was 9.5 years (0.7 to 16.7). The mean pre-operative Mayo Elbow Performance Score was 30 (15 to 80) and at final follow-up was 82 (60 to 95). A total of 13 elbows (22.4%) were revised, ten (17.2%) for aseptic loosening, one (1.7%) for instability, one (1.7%) for secondary loosening after fracture, and one elbow (1.7%) was removed because of deep infection. The Kaplan-Meier survival rate was 70% and 53% at ten and 16 years, respectively. Failure of the ulnar component was found to be the main problem in relation to the loosening. Anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve had no influence on ulnar nerve paresthaesiae in these patients.