Arthroscopy

Arthroscopy
    

• Berjano P, Gonzalez BG, et al (Cirugia Ortopedica y Rehabilitacion ASEPEYO, Madrid)
  Complications in Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery
  Arthroscopy 14: 785-788, 1998
     
  Arthroscopic surgery is considered safe. Yet a variety of complications have been associated with this procedure. This is a retrospective study of 179 cases. 171 were arthroscopy alone and 8 had open surgery in addition. Overall the complication rate was 9.5%. The combined procedures had a complication rate of 5.3% whereas arthroscopy alone had 10.6%. However, few of the complications adversely affected the clinical outcome.
      
  The complications include respiratory distress, capsular tear, haematoma, excessive bleeding, infection, postoperative oedema and ulnar nerve neurapraxia.
        

• Ferretti A, De Carli A, Fontana M (Univ of Rome, La Sapienza)
  Injury of the Suprascapular Nerve at the Spinoglenoid Notch: the Natural History of Infraspinatus Atrophy in Volleyball Players.
  Am J Sports Med 26: 759-763, 1998
     
  Supraspinatus nerve injury at the spinoglenoid notch results in isolated paralysis of the infraspinatus muscle, loss of strength in the external rotators and inconstant pain.
     
  The authors have recorded their experience of such injuries in 38 volleyball players.
     
  35 of 38 patients were treated non-surgically with strengthening exercises. At the end of 5.5 years, 14 patients still played volleyball and 3 had retired symptom free. The atrophy was unchanged. 3 patients were operated (those who had pain at the posterior aspect of the shoulder). All of them could play volleyball and the atrophy had notably reduced.