We are committed to advancing shoulder
and elbow research
ACESS has a unique opportunity to publish multi-center collaborative research.
The faculty membership are motivated to work together to investigate shoulder and
elbow clinical problems.
Currently, we have 3 ongoing research projects that have IRB approval.
Results of Rotator Cuff Repair Following Acute Shoulder Dislocation
There is a higher risk of rotator cuff tears following dislocation when the individual is greater than 40 years old. Rotator cuff tears after dislocation of the shoulder are more of a challenge to repair particularly if there is a delay in diagnosis. Clinical experience would suggest that rotator cuff repair within the first month of injury allows for better results in acute rotator cuff tears without shoulder dislocation. There are no reported results for rotator cuff repairs following shoulder dislocation and timing of repair. If we find that early repair provides better results this will be important for Primary Care Providers and Emergency Department physicians to refer these patients early for evaluation and subsequently earlier treatment. The primary objective of this research is to examine the result of rotator cuff repairs following acute shoulder dislocations and to investigate whether timing of surgery following acute shoulder dislocations affects patients perception of pain, function, and strength following surgery.
Measuring Shoulder Range of Motion:
Visual vs Goniometric
What is the Gold Standard? A Multi-center Study of Normal Shoulders
The purpose of this study is to determine whether the common method of visual measurements of shoulder range of motion (ROM) are valid when compared with goniometric measurements. Intraobserver and interobserver measurements for both are to be evaluated along with the use of video assisted measurements. Intraobserver variability is a measure of the difference among observers when they are making the same measurement. Intraobserver variability is a measure of the difference in measurements when the same observer repeats a single measurement multiple times. We Hypothesis that visual/video assisted measurements of shoulder ROM overestimate ROM in all planes. Goniometer measurements are valid and reproducible with regards to intraobserver reliability and should be the gold standard.
Expert Opinion on Arthroscopic Acromioplasty
Arthroscopic acromioplasty is a common and increasingly controversial orthopaedic procedure. There seemingly remains significant discordance in the current literature and in the practice of orthopaedic surgeons with regards to performing acromioplasty. The present study involves a survey as well as questions related to 15 operative videos. We would like to capture trends in expert opinion and to delineate which variables define the surgeon's approach to acromioplasty. Our goal is to provide a baseline profile of the current expert opinion on performing arthroscopic acromioplasty to better understand the utilization of this procedure.
