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Biomedical subjects

A van Noort

Publications and source records attributed to A van Noort.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Fractures of the scapula surgical neck: outcome after conservative treatment in 13 cases.

BACKGROUND: Conservative treatment of fractures of the scapular neck does not uniformly lead to a success. The purpose of this retrospective study was to analyze the occurrence of glenoid displacement in conservatively treated patients with a scapular neck fracture without concomitant shoulder girdle injury in relation with the clinical outcome. METHODS: Between 1991 and 2001, 177 patients with a fracture of the scapula were treated in two Dutch clinics. Twenty-four patients sustained a scapular neck fracture, who all, with the exception of one, were treated non-operatively. At follow-up, 13 patients had a functional evaluation and were assessed clinically at an average of 5.5 years after the injury. RESULTS: All fractures healed uneventfully. At final radiographic evaluation, four patients were found with significant translational displacement of fracture fragments (>1 cm); however, no angular displacement of the glenoid was found (no GPA < 20 degrees ). The functional outcome of the 13 patients was excellent (Constant score: 90). No correlation was found between functional outcome and malunion. There was no significant difference between the SF-36 scores in the follow-up group and the scores for age-matched controls in the general population. CONCLUSIONS: Non-operative treatment of a surgical neck fracture of the scapula in absence of an ipsilateral shoulder injury and associated permanent neurological impairment leads to a good to excellent functional outcome, with or without significant translational displacement.

Adolescent↗

The floating shoulder.

Ipsilateral scapular neck and clavicular shaft fractures comprise the so-called "floating shoulder". This rare injury, which is, in general, caused by a high-energy trauma, is perceived to be an unstable injury with the considerable risk of significant displacement of scapular neck and/or the clavicular fracture. An understanding of the patho-anatomy is important in identifying a floating shoulder and to offer rational treatment for this injury. The current status of the anatomical, biomechanical and clinical aspects of a floating shoulder is reviewed in this article. Recommendations for treatment of particularly displaced ipsilateral fractures of the scapular neck and clavicular shaft cannot be derived from the reported clinical studies. The possible correlation between functional outcome and malunion of the scapular neck is called into doubt.

Clavicle↗

Biomechanical analysis of scapular neck malunion--a simulation study.

OBJECTIVE: To explain loss of shoulder function following scapular neck malunion in terms of biomechanical changes around the gleno-humeral joint. DESIGN: Biomechanical modelling study. BACKGROUND: Residual rotation of the scapular neck after fracture can lead to pain and loss of function, and the indications for surgical intervention are contested. METHODS: A 3D, large-scale, musculo-skeletal model of the upper limb was used to compare shoulder biomechanics in the case of scapular neck malunion with normal anatomy. Abduction of the humerus was simulated with three models: normal anatomy, 24 degrees and 40 degrees inferior scapular neck rotation. RESULTS: Predicted muscle activation differed greatly between the control and the fracture cases. The motion required additional muscle effort for the maintenance of gleno-humeral stability in the fracture cases. Higher moments in the plane of abduction were generated by the teres major, pectoralis major and biceps brachii muscles with high humeral elevation angles. The rotator cuff muscles were severely shortened in the post-fracture cases and the forces in these muscles were greatly reduced in a test of loaded abduction with the humerus at 90 degrees. CONCLUSIONS: Given the function of the rotator cuff muscles as stabilisers of the gleno-humeral joint, it is concluded that the loss of force in these muscles, together with other changes in muscle activation, will lead to loss of arm function in patients with scapular neck malunion. RELEVANCE: These findings will contribute to the improved treatment of patients with scapular neck malunion by identifying important factors in the consideration of surgical intervention.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

The floating shoulder. A multicentre study.

The aim of this retrospective study was to review a series of patients with ipsilateral fractures of the neck of the scapula and of the clavicle. Between 1991 and 1996 a total of 79 general and orthopaedic surgeons treated 46 patients with a floating shoulder in The Netherlands. The records and radiographs of these patients were studied. Of the 35 patients available for follow-up, 31 had initially been treated conservatively and four by operation; three underwent secondary reconstructive surgery. The mean Constant score for the 28 patients treated conservatively was 76 and for the seven treated operatively it was 71 at a mean follow-up of 35 months. In six of the 28 patients treated conservatively the glenoid was dislocated caudally at the end of treatment; they had a score of 42. In the 22 patients without this dislocation the score was 85. We conclude that this rare injury is not inherently unstable and, in the absence of caudal dislocation of the glenoid, conservative treatment gives a good functional outcome.

Adolescent↗

The correlation of comorbidity with function of the shoulder and health status of patients who have glenohumeral degenerative joint disease.

We studied the effect of comorbidities on function of the shoulder and health status in a group of eighty-five consecutive patients who had glenohumeral degenerative joint disease of sufficient severity to meet one surgeon's criteria for the performance of shoulder arthroplasty. A questionnaire was used to identify the comorbidities, such as other diseases, social factors, or a work-related injury, for each patient. The number of functions on the Simple Shoulder Test that the patient could perform had a significant negative correlation with the number of comorbidities (r = -0.32, intercept = 4.6 per cent, slope = -0.6, and p = 0.0031). Each parameter on the Short Form-36 (except for physical role function) had a significant negative correlation with the number of comorbidities (p < 0.05). This negative relationship was strongest for general health perception (r = -0.42) and vitality (r = -0.35). We concluded that the number of comorbidities has a quantitative effect on function of the shoulder. In the evaluation of the functional status of patients and the effectiveness of treatment, the effects of comorbidity must be controlled. The results of the present study demonstrate that the scores on the Short Form-36 are quantitatively related to the number of comorbidities. The six parameters that are unrelated to function of the shoulder (physical function, social function, emotional role function, mental health, vitality, and general health perception) may provide a practical way to integrate the effects of all potential comorbidities on individual patients. Future clinical research will be strengthened by efforts to measure the impact of comorbidities and by strategies to control for their effects.

Adult↗

Lowered motor conduction velocity of the peroneal nerve after inversion trauma.

To analyze the effect of inversion trauma on peroneal nerve function, motor conduction velocity was measured in 22 patients. In the injured leg, 4-8 d post trauma motor nerve conduction velocity in the knee-caput fibulae segment of the superficial peroneal nerve was significantly smaller when compared with the contralateral leg and the control group. Five weeks post trauma these values were normal again. For three segments of the deep peroneal nerve, the motor conduction velocity was significantly reduced, 4-8 d post trauma, when compared with the control group. In the caput-ankle and knee-ankle segment, motor conduction velocity was still significantly lowered 5 wk post trauma. Lowered amplitudes of the Compound Motor Action Potentials of the extensor digitorum brevis muscle were found 4-8 d post trauma. No correlation was found between motor nerve conduction velocities and subjective clinical tests (anterior drawer sign and (manually performed) talar tilt test). The results of this study support the hypothesis that inversion trauma is frequently accompanied by lesions of the peroneal nerve. Motor conduction velocity measurements can be a valuable tool in assessing more objectively functional instability of the ankle joint induced by inversion trauma.

Adolescent↗