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We found no difference between HA and PRP at any time point in the primary outcome measure: the patient-reported WOMAC pain score. Significant improvements were seen in other patient-reported outcome measures, with results favoring PRP over HA. Preceding a significant difference in subjective outcomes favoring PRP, there was a trend toward a decrease in 2 proinflammatory cytokines, which suggest that the anti-inflammatory properties of PRP may contribute to an improvement of symptoms. Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT02588872).

The antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of PRP support its use in OA joints to reduce pain and modulate the disease process. This study supports further clinical investigations of IA PRP for the treatment of OA.

The COVID-19 global pandemic has upended nearly every medical discipline, dramatically impacted patient care and has had far-reaching effects on surgeon education. In many areas of the country, elective orthopedic surgery has completely stopped to ensure that resources are available for the critically ill and to minimize the spread of disease. COVID-19 is forcing many around the world to re-evaluate existing processes and organizations and adapt to carry out business, of which medicine and education are not immune. Most national and international orthopedic conferences, training programs, and workshops have been postponed or canceled, and we are now critically evaluating the delivery of education to our colleagues as well as residents and fellows. This article describes the evolution of orthopedic education and significant paradigm shifts necessary to continue to teach ourselves and the future leaders of our noble profession.

The results of this study demonstrate no difference in clinical outcomes after rotator cuff repair with or without acromioplasty at 2 years postoperatively.

There is significant inter- and intraobserver variability observed among experienced shoulder surgeons using the Goutallier classification for assessing fatty infiltration of the rotator cuff muscles after chronic rotator cuff tears. Respondents were more likely to agree with themselves than with other respondents. A simplification of the MRI classification system is proposed that takes into consideration the variability determined by this study.

Cartilage Autograft Implantation System (CAIS; DePuy/Mitek, Raynham, MA) and DeNovo Natural Tissue (NT; ISTO, St. Louis, MO) are novel treatment options for focal articular cartilage defects in the knee. These methods involve the implantation of particulated articular cartilage from either autograft or juvenile allograft donor, respectively. In the laboratory and in animal models, both CAIS and DeNovo NT have demonstrated the ability of the transplanted cartilage cells to ?escape? from the extracellular matrix, migrate, multiply, and form a new hyaline-like cartilage tissue matrix that integrates with the surrounding host tissue. In clinical practice, the technique for both CAIS and DeNovo NT is straightforward, requiring only a single surgery to affect cartilage repair. Clinical experience is limited, with short-term studies demonstrating both procedures to be safe, feasible, and effective, with improvements in subjective patient scores, and with magnetic resonance imaging evidence of good defect fill. While these treatment options appear promising, prospective randomized controlled studies are necessary to refine the indications and contraindications for both CAIS and DeNovo NT.

Hypothesis Patients with type II superior labrum, anterior to posterior (SLAP) lesions will have improved function and decrease pain at a minimum two years after arthroscopic SLAP repair using bioabsorbable suture anchor fixation. Materials and Methods The study population consisted of 48 patients who underwent arthroscopic SLAP repair. Subjective shoulder scores, range of motion, and strength (post-operative only) were assessed pre-operatively and at a minimum of two years post-operatively. Results At an average of 3.4 years following surgery, statistically significant improvement was seen in ASES, UCLA, SST, CADL, VAS, and SF-12 physical outcome scores. Improvements were made in forward flexion, abduction, external rotation, and internal rotation. Subgroup analysis of non-athletes, non-overhead athletes, recreational overhead athletes, and collegiate overhead athletes showed pre- to post-operative improvements in subjective outcomes scores. Overhead laborers and non-laborers subgroups also showed pre- to post-operative improvements in subjective shoulder scores. Discussion On the basis of this data, arthroscopic SLAP repair of type II lesions with bioabsorbable suture anchors provides a significant improvement in functional capacity and pain relief. No differences were seen between the outcomes of non-athletes, non-overhead athletes, recreational overhead athletes, and collegiate overhead athletes, suggesting that SLAP type II repair is successful independent of the patient’s vocation or sport. Level of Evidence IV, Case Series, Treatment Study