In the last three decades, Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has increased in incidence and severity in many countries worldwide. The increase in CDI incidence has been particularly apparent among surgical patients. Therefore, prevention of CDI and optimization of management in the surgical patient are paramount. An international multidisciplinary panel of experts from the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) updated its guidelines for management of CDI in surgical patients according to the most recent available literature. The update includes recent changes introduced in the management of this infection.

In the last two decades there have been dramatic changes in the epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), with increases in incidence and severity of disease in many countries worldwide. The incidence of CDI has also increased in surgical patients. Optimization of management of C difficile, has therefore become increasingly urgent. An international multidisciplinary panel of experts prepared evidenced-based World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) guidelines for management of CDI in surgical patients.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDYThe aim of this study is to present a simple rotator cuff lesion classification that provides guidelines as to their treatment, and to evaluate the results of palliative arthroscopic resection of rotator cuff residues known as unreconstructible lesions. In addition, our therapeutic approaches were ascertained in view of their applicability to the types of lesions studied. MATERIALIn a five-year period (January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2004), a total of 181 arthroscopic procedures were performed on the shoulder joints of patients diagnosed with impingement or rotator cuff syndromes. In 130 cases, a tear or irritation of the rotator cuff was recorded. Rotator cuff lesions were categorized on the basis of our modification of the Gschwend classification. In 15 of the patients, in whom unreconstructible lesions were detected, arthroscopic palliative resection of rotator cuff residues was performed. The average age of these patients was 65 years, and they were followed up for 6 to 60 months. METHODSAll surgery was carried out in a "beach-chair" position, either under general anesthesia or with an interscalene brachial plexus block. The arthroscope was inserted through the "soft-spot". Continuous irrigation was provided with an arthroscopic pump. In the first place, the glenohumeral joint was explored, and resection of rotator cuff residues was performed via ventral and lateral ports. The procedure was completed by subacromial decompression and partial resection of the acromion. The results were evaluated by the Constant Functional Score, as modified by us. Clinical examination was supplemented with subjective information from questionnaires provided by the patients. RESULTSIn a total of 130 shoulder joints with rotator cuff tears examined by arthroscopy, type I lesions were found in 90, and these were treated by arthroscopic subacromial decompression. Twenty-five type II and type III lesions underwent open rotator cuff repair and 15 type IV and type V lesions were treated by palliative arthroscopic resection of residual rotator cuff lesions, using the Apoil method. These fifteen patients were followed up for 6 to 60 months and their outcomes were evaluated. No excellent results were achieved (Constant Score, 80-100 points), but this is implicit in the nature of a palliative operation. Good (65-79 points) and satisfactory (51-64 points) results were recorded in 11 (73.3 %) and four (26.7 %) patients, respectively. No poor results were found. The average improvement in Constant scores was 21 points. DISCUSSIONA total of 130 rotator cuff lesions diagnosed arthroscopically were categorized on the basis of a modified classification system. We will continue to treat type I lesions by arthroscopic subacromial decompression, which has provided good results, as reported in our previous study. We consider the arthroscopic repair of rotator cuff tears to be an optimal procedure for type II lesions; for type III lesions we will keep using open repair surgery. The most complex problem is presented by type IV lesi...

The most complex topic is represented by operative treatment of type IV lesions of rotator cuff. Palliative arthroscopic resection of rotator cuff did not produce optimal results. We thus intend to evaluate the newly implemented surgical techniques at our department. Fifty-six patients with type IV rotator cuff lesions were treated surgically between October 2007 and December 2010. In 6 patients, combined operations had to be performed because of their pathology, and these were not included in detailed evaluation. The population selected for detailed evaluation of new surgical techniques included 50 patients (mean age: 59 years, range: 41-73 years). The patients were randomized into two subpopulations, each formed by 25 people. Both subpopulations can be considered representative and comparable. All operations were performed in the "beach-chair" position in general anesthesia or/and in interscalenic block. After type IV lesion was diagnosed, the prespecified surgical procedure followed-partial muscle transfer of subscapularis muscle tendon (Karas) or partial non-anatomic rotator cuff reconstruction (Burkhart). The results were evaluated after 6 months using the modified Constant Functional Score. The following parameters were assessed: sex, age, side of the operation, dominance of the limb, Constant Functional Score pre-operatively and post-operatively, subjective and objective evaluation, pain, activities, movement and muscle strength, Constant Score improvement, improvement in its individual items and subitems, pain pre-operatively and post-operatively. In older patients with type IV lesions, we have good experience with Karas method while in younger and more active patients, Burkhart method seems to be more useful.

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