The postoperative treatment of a total tear of the rotator cuff with a combined continuous passive motion and physiotherapy protocol provided a significantly earlier range of motion in the shoulder joint than physiotherapy alone. There was no report of CPM-related adverse effects.

The objective of this study was to search for any degenerative changes in the shoulder joint following the Putti-Platt operation in a long-term follow up study, as most papers regarding that operation report a redislocation rate and a limitation of external rotation, but only a few mention osteoarthrosis (OA). Patients operated on between 1945 and 1971 answered a questionnaire and were invited for a clinical examination including standard X-rays of the shoulder. These films were compared with those taken preoperatively. OA was classified according to the Samilson and Prieto grading. Twenty-six patients could be re-examined on average 26 years after the operation. Fifteen had evident radiological signs of OA. According to Samilson and Prieto there were 11 mild, 2 moderate and 2 severe cases of OA. Nine patients had a Hill-Sachs defect and 3, a Bankart lesion. Patients over the age of 25 years at the time of the first dislocation developed OA more often. Following the Putti-Platt operation one has to expect radiological signs of OA in a long-term follow-up. Mainly minor forms are seen. Older patient age at the time of the first dislocation is a predisposing factor for the development of OA.

Many of the included studies were of minor quality, the data were often not comparable between studies. Therefore, the results are not directly transferable to our medical system in Germany. Applying the criteria designed by the American National Cancer Policy Board on the studies about procedure volume and outcome after total hip replacement yields the following result: 1) the association must be logical: Yes. 2) The association must be consistent in all studies: Yes. 3) The size of the measured effect must be substantial and clinically relevant and has to be analysed using validated statistical criteria: No. 4) The effect has to be reproducible in clinical studies: No.

No abstract

Aim of the study was to evaluate an isokinetic profile testing handball players to describe muscular imbalance. 30 athletes (15 male and 15 female) were measured at the Cybex 6000 test-unit for concentric internal and external rotation. Both shoulders, throwing arm (dominant shoulder) and the opposite shoulder were tested by speeds at 60 degrees/s and 180 degrees/s. There were sex specific differences which are also found in other sports. But these contrary data are not useful to define effective training concepts for handball-players with shoulder problems. From our point of view isokinetic testing of the shoulder joint in handball players can not reach any sufficient result. From our point of view there is no reason for using isokinetic testing to evaluate shoulder problems.