Instability Arthropathy Research Articles

Arthroscopic repair of anteroinferior glenoid rim fractures: mean 10-year clinical and radiologic results

BackgroundTo date, long-term results of the arthroscopic repair of glenoid rim fractures are missing. The aim of this study was, to evaluate clinical and radiographic results following arthroscopic repair of anteroinferior glenoid fractures using anchors or bioabsorbable compression screws after a mean follow-up period of ten years. MethodsClinical outcome measures included evaluation of recurrent instability, the Constant Score (CS), Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV), Rowe Score (RS), Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Score (WOSI) and Melbourne Instability Shoulder Score (MISS). X-ray images were obtained for assessment of an instability arthropathy (IA). Results23 patients (7 female and 16 male, mean (± SD) age 48 ± 15 years) who underwent arthroscopic repair of an acute substantial solitary or multifragmented anteroinferior glenoid rim fracture were enrolled. After a mean follow-up period of 10 ± 2 years, patients reached a mean CS of 92 ± 10 points, SSV of 93 ± 11%, RS of 84 ± 20 points, WOSI of 98 ±2% and MISS of 91 ± 11 points. No patient suffered recurrent dislocation. Radiographic results were obtained of 18 patients. Signs of IA were noted in nine patients (50%) with progression of IA in all cases in comparison to the preoperative status. Patients with IA were significantly older (52 versus 38 years, p = 0.04). Clinical score results did not show a significant difference in patients with versus without IA except for the RS (74 versus 94 points, p = 0.02). No intra- or postoperative complications were observed, and no patient required revision endoprosthetic surgery. ConclusionArthroscopic repair of acute anteroinferior glenoid rim fractures shows good clinical long-term results. High rates of IA were observed especially in older patients. However, the presence of IA did not seem to influence the subjective shoulder score outcomes.

Long-term outcomes of anterior shoulder instability treated with open latarjet procedure - a systematic review of outcomes at a minimum 15-year follow-up.

To systematically review the literature to evaluate the outcomes following an open Latarjet (OL) procedure at a minimum 15-year follow-up. Two independent reviewers performed a literature search using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines using 3 databases. Only studies reporting outcomes of OL procedure with a minimum of 15 years of follow-up were included. Nine studies composed of 326 shoulders (78.2% males) in 313 patients were included (average age 26.9 ± 3.2 years (15-58)), with a mean follow-up of 271.9 ± 69.2 months (180-420) At a minimum 15-year follow-up, 93.5% (286 of 306) patients reported being satisfied with their OL procedure, whilst 86.8% (177 of 204) reported good/excellent outcomes at final follow-up. All nine of the included studies reported an overall rate of recurrent instability was 7.7%, with re-dislocations and subluxation at 3.4% and 5.8%, respectively. The rate of surgical revision was 5.15%; 3.5% of cases were revised for recurrent instability. Instability arthropathy was reported across all included studies as 41.0%. The OL procedure results in satisfactory clinical outcomes, low rates of recurrent instability and surgical revision at a minimum 15-year follow-up. Although high levels of radiological instability arthropathy and residual pain are found over the same period, these appear stable from a minimum of 10-year follow-up data. IV; a systematic review of all levels of evidence.

Early Complication Rates Following Total Shoulder Arthroplasty for Instability Arthropathy With a Prior Coracoid Transfer Procedure.

The purpose of this study was to report early complications for anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (aTSA) performed for instability arthropathy after a prior coracoid transfer procedure and compare them with those of a control group of patients following aTSA for primary osteoarthritis. A retrospective review was performed of 14 patients after aTSA with a prior coracoid transfer procedure. A control group of 42 patients with an aTSA for primary osteoarthritis were matched 3:1 according to age, sex, body mass index, comorbidities, and dominant shoulder. Chart reviews identified any complications within 1 year, in addition to blood loss and operative time in both groups. Preoperative computed tomography scans were used to determine Walch glenoid classification and Goutallier classification of the subscapularis. The mean operative time was not significantly different between the coracoid transfer cohort and the control group, and the mean estimated blood loss was only 6.9 mL greater in the coracoid transfer group. The coracoid transfer group had 2 (14.3%) patients with complications, with 1 early revision for an acute deep infection. The control group had 4 (9.5%) complications in 3 (7.1%) patients, with no early revisions. There was no statistical difference in complications between the groups (P=.618). Anatomic TSA for instability arthropathy after coracoid transfer had similar operative time, blood loss, and 1-year complication rates as those of the control group. These results provide some evidence to support the continued use of aTSA in select patients with instability arthropathy after prior coracoid transfer procedure. [Orthopedics. 2021;44(4):e482-e486.].

Low rate of recurrent instability following the open Latarjet procedure as a revision procedure for failed prior stabilization surgery.

The purpose of this study is to systematically review the literature to ascertain functional outcomes, recurrence rates and subsequent revision rates following the open Latarjet procedure when performed as a revision procedure. Two independent reviewers performed the literature search based on PRISMA guidelines, utilizing the EMBASE, MEDLINE, and The Cochrane Library Databases. Studies where the Latarjet procedure was performed as a revision procedure were included. Clinical outcomes analyzed were: (1) functional outcomes, (2) recurrent instability, (3) revisions, and (4) complications. The review found 16 studies with 713 shoulders that met the inclusion criteria. 605 of the patients were male (84.9%), with an average age of 28.2years (15-62) and follow-up of 47.7months. The most commonly reported functional outcome measure was the Rowe score, with a weighted mean of 92.7. 86/95 patients had good-excellent outcomes (90.4%). 136/143 patients reported return to play (95.1%). 141/161 patients returned to the same level of competition (87.6%). 50 patients experienced recurrence (8.4%). Five patients experienced redislocation (0.9%) and 37 patients experienced subluxation (6.7%). There were 29 revisions (5.1%), with 12 revisions due to recurrence (2.1%). There were 68 total complications, not including recurrence (11%). The most common complications were 13 cases of nerve damage and infection respectively (2.1%). There was 17 cases of new instability arthropathy (6.5%), and 31 cases of residual pain (6.7%). This review shows that the revision Latarjet provides excellent functional outcomes, low rates of recurrence and complications, and a high rate of return to sport among athletes. This results from study can be used to explain the expected outcomes associated with the Latarjet procedure performed as a revision. IV.

Clinical characteristics and patient-reported outcomes of total shoulder arthroplasty after anterior stabilization: a retrospective matched control study

Instability arthropathy is a known cause of glenohumeral osteoarthritis (OA) among patients with and without prior shoulder stabilization. This study aims to compare the clinical, radiographic, and patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) scores among total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) patients with and without a history of shoulder stabilization. A case-control study was performed comparing 20 patients with a history of anterior shoulder stabilization (11 open, 9 arthroscopic) who underwent TSA to a matched cohort of 20 TSA patients without a history of shoulder surgery (mean follow-up = 2.8 years). Patients were matched by sex, age, and baseline American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES) score within 10 points (mean age 59.6 ± 9.6 years). Patient characteristics, operative findings, and preoperative and postoperative radiographic characteristics for both groups were reported. Comparisons were made regarding PROM scores (ASES, 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), Shoulder Activity Scale [SAS], numeric rating scale for pain) at baseline, 2 years, and 5 years and patient satisfaction at 2 years. Intraoperative findings of subscapularis scarring or attenuation was common among patients with prior anterior stabilization. The instability cohort did have a higher percentage of B2/B3 glenoid types than the OA cohort (45% vs. 15%), but this was not significantly different possibly because of the small sample size. At 2 years, both instability and OA groups reported significant improvement in pain, function, and activity level. There was no difference between groups on any PROMs or patient satisfaction level. At 5 years, instability patients had significantly lower scores on the ASES and the SF-12 PCS than the OA group. There was notable alterations in both soft tissue and bony morphology among patients with prior anterior stabilization. After TSA, both instability and primary OA groups showed significant improvements at 2 years. However, PROMs for instability patients deteriorated at 5 years compared with the control group. Complex bony and soft tissue imbalances may contribute to more unpredictable long-term PROM scores. Thoughtful preoperative consideration of these factors should influence decision making regarding selection of TSA for management of OA in this complex patient cohort.

Shoulder arthroplasty to address the sequelae of anterior instability arthropathy and stabilization procedures: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Chronic anterior glenohumeral joint instability is a common situation and can lead to progressive cartilage deterioration and ultimately instability arthopathy. Progressive cartilage deterioration can occur despite conservative or surgical treatment and the sequelae of these conditions are often addressed with total shoulder arthroplasty. Aims of the present study were to analyze the available literature to describe the technical aspects of this particular operation and to report outcomes and complication rates. The hypothesis was that shoulder arthropalsty in the sequelae of instability had lower outcomes and higher complication rates than arthroplasties for primary arthritis. A systematic review of the literature was performed, in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Ovid, Cochrane Reviews, and Google Scholar were comprehensively searched using a combination of the following keywords: shoulder arthroplasty, reverse shoulder arthroplasty, dislocation arthropathy, capsulorrhaphy arthropathy and stabilization procedures. Thirteen studies with 365 patients met inclusion criteria. Since 13 patients were lost to follow-up, 352 were reviewed at an average follow-up of 53.4months. The average Constant-Murley (CM) and American Shoulder and Elbow Society (ASES) scores improved from 35.6 and 35.7 to 72.7 and 77, respectively. The overall complication rate was 25.7% and the reoperation rate was 18.5%. Radiographs at follow-up revealed radiolucent lines on the humerus in 12.4% of cases and radiolucent lines or notching on the glenoid side in 22.7% of cases. The average Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies Score (MINORS) was 12.9 for non-comparative studies and 21.3 for comparative studies. Shoulder arthroplasty to address the sequelae of instability arthropathy and stabilization procedures can be a challenging procedure as a consequence of the distorted anatomy and severe glenohumeral joint pathology. Complication and reoperation rates are higher compared to shoulder arthroplasty for primary glenohumeral joint arthritis; however, the difference is not statistically significant. When reverse shoulder arthroplasties (RSA) were considered as a subgroup and compared to anatomic shoulder replacements (total shoulders and hemiarthroplasties), they showed a lower revision rate.

Outcomes of total shoulder arthroplasty for instability arthropathy with a prior coracoid transfer procedure: a retrospective review and matched cohort

Many surgeons are concerned about reports of increased complications, worse outcomes, and early failures in patients undergoing anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty after coracoid transfer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate minimum 2-year outcomes following anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty for instability arthropathy with a prior coracoid transfer procedure and compare them with a matched cohort of patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty for primary osteoarthritis. We identified 11 primary anatomic total shoulder arthroplasties performed by a single surgeon for instability arthropathy with a prior coracoid transfer procedure with a minimum of 2 years' follow-up (mean, 58 ± 35 months). A matched cohort of 33 patients with a total shoulder arthroplasty for primary osteoarthritis served as the control group. The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) score, patient satisfaction, complications, and revisions were evaluated in both cohorts. The coracoid transfer cohort showed no difference in the final ASES score (88 vs. 82, P = .166) or SANE score (85 vs. 67, P=.120) vs. the matched cohort. The postoperative ASES pain score (45 vs. 41, P = .004) was higher in the coracoid transfer cohort, but the mean improvement from preoperative to postoperative values for the ASES score (P = .954), ASES pain score (P = .183), and SANE score (P = .293) was no different between cohorts. Both cohorts had high patient satisfaction without a statistically significant difference(P = .784). At early- to mid-term follow-up, total shoulder arthroplasty performed after a coracoid transfer demonstrated similar results to total shoulder arthroplasty performed for primary osteoarthritis. Longer follow-up and larger patient cohorts will provide further insights and highlight any potential differences in outcomes or revision rates.

L’échec de la réparation de la coiffe augmente le risque de développer une arthrose gléno-humérale secondaire : suivi à long terme après réparation ouverte des lésions sévères du tendon du sous-scapulaire

BackgroundThe subscapularis musculotendinous unit provides a stabilizing effect on the glenohumeral joint and thus, enables normal active range of motion. As pathologies of the subscapularis tendon (SSC) are diagnosed with increased regularity, treatment strategies and their long-term consequences are of relevant interest. Therefore, the primary objective of this retrospective case series was to evaluate clinical and radiological long-term results after open repair of large SSC tears. HypothesisRepair failure negatively influences clinical outcomes and the progression of secondary glenohumeral osteoarthritis (OA). MethodsBetween 1998 and 2007, 24 patients with traumatic large (Lafosse III and IV) SSC tears were treated with an open transosseous repair technique. Of those, 20 patients (83%) with a mean age of 55±8 years (range, from 31 to 68 years) at the time of surgery were subjected to a long-term follow-up after a mean of 14±3 years (range, from 10 to 18 years). The Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV), the Constant Score (CS), the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Shoulder Score, and the American Society for Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) Score were obtained. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to evaluate tendon integrity. The progression of secondary glenohumeral OA from pre- to postoperative was analyzed using the collective instability arthropathy (CIA) score. ResultsOne patient (5%) had to undergo revision surgery due to a symptomatic re-tear of the SSC tendon. Besides that, the mean SSV of the affected shoulder was 83%±12, the CS 78±10, the UCLA 32±2, and the ASES 89±14 points, respectively. MRI revealed a re-tear of the SSC tendon in 4 patients (29%). On the affected shoulder, glenohumeral OA progressed significantly from pre- (CIA, 0.3±0.5) to postoperative (CIA, 1.7±0.9; p=0.003) and was significantly associated with repair failure (p=0.040). ConclusionOpen repair of large SSC tears yielded good clinical long-term results. Nevertheless, repair failure was common and, in the further course, negatively affected clinical outcomes and the progression of secondary glenohumeral OA. Level of evidenceIV; retrospective case series.

Repair failure increases the risk of developing secondary glenohumeral osteoarthritis: A long-term follow-up after open repair of large subscapularis tendon tears

BackgroundThe subscapularis musculotendinous unit provides a stabilizing effect on the glenohumeral joint and thus, enables normal active range of motion. As pathologies of the subscapularis tendon (SSC) are diagnosed with increased regularity, treatment strategies and their long-term consequences are of relevant interest. Therefore, the primary objective of this retrospective case series was to evaluate clinical and radiological long-term results after open repair of large SSC tears. HypothesisRepair failure negatively influences clinical outcomes and the progression of secondary glenohumeral osteoarthritis (OA). MethodsBetween 1998 and 2007, 24 patients with traumatic large (Lafosse III and IV) SSC tears were treated with an open transosseous repair technique. Of those, 20 patients (83%) with a mean age of 55±8 years (range, from 31 to 68 years) at the time of surgery were subjected to a long-term follow-up after a mean of 14±3 years (range, from 10 to 18 years). The Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV), the Constant Score (CS), the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Shoulder Score, and the American Society for Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) Score were obtained. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to evaluate tendon integrity. The progression of secondary glenohumeral OA from pre- to postoperative was analyzed using the collective instability arthropathy (CIA) score. ResultsOne patient (5%) had to undergo revision surgery due to a symptomatic re-tear of the SSC tendon. Besides that, the mean SSV of the affected shoulder was 83%±12, the CS 78±10, the UCLA 32±2, and the ASES 89±14 points, respectively. MRI revealed a re-tear of the SSC tendon in 4 patients (29%). On the affected shoulder, glenohumeral OA progressed significantly from pre- (CIA, 0.3±0.5) to postoperative (CIA, 1.7±0.9; p=0.003) and was significantly associated with repair failure (p=0.040). ConclusionOpen repair of large SSC tears yielded good clinical long-term results. Nevertheless, repair failure was common and, in the further course, negatively affected clinical outcomes and the progression of secondary glenohumeral OA. Level of EvidenceIV; retrospective case series.

Outcomes of Total Shoulder Arthroplasty for Instability Arthropathy with a Prior Coracoid Transfer Procedure: A Retrospective Review and Comparative Cohort

Outcomes of Total Shoulder Arthroplasty for Instability Arthropathy with a Prior Coracoid Transfer Procedure: A Retrospective Review and Comparative Cohort

Glenoid morphology is associated with the development of instability arthropathy

Instability arthropathy (IA) is a major long-term concern in patients with anterior shoulder instability. This study investigated the association of glenoid morphology with the development of IA. The study included 118 patients with unilateral anterior shoulder instability and available bilateral computed tomography scans. Instability-specific information was obtained from all patients. The glenoid morphology of the affected shoulder was compared with the nonaffected contralateral side resembling the constitutional preinjury glenoid shape. Both shoulders were evaluated independently by 3 observers to assess the grade of IA according to a Comprehensive Arthropathy Rating (CAR) system. Associations between IA and the glenoid morphology parameters were investigated. The average glenoid retroversion (P < .001), glenoid depth (P < .001), glenoid diameter (P < .001), and the bony shoulder stability ratio (P < .001) of the affected shoulder were significantly reduced compared with the contralateral side due to bony defects in 79.6% of the patients. The CAR of the affected side was significantly higher (P < .001), with more osteophytes (P = .001) and more sclerosis and cysts (P < .001). Differences in CAR (Δ-CAR) correlated positively with the age at the time of the computed tomography scan (P < .001), age at the initial dislocation (P = .001), size of the glenoid defect (P = .005), and the contralateral glenoid depth (P = .011), glenoid diameter (P = .016), and bony shoulder stability (P = .029), and negatively with glenoid retroversion of the affected side (P = .027). Development of IA arthropathy is associated not only with the age of the patients but also with morphologic parameters of the glenoid, including glenoid defect size and the constitutional glenoid concavity shape.

Clinical and Radiological Long-term Results After Implant-Free, Autologous, Iliac Crest Bone Graft Procedure for the Treatment of Anterior Shoulder Instability

Background: The implant-free, autologous, iliac crest bone graft procedure (J-bone graft) for the treatment of anterior shoulder instability shows low rates of recurrent dislocations and moderate progression of instability arthropathy in the midterm follow-up. Purpose: To analyze the clinical and radiological long-term results of the J-bone graft procedure. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A total of 46 patients (47 shoulders) with anterior shoulder instability and a relevant bony glenoid defect who received a J-bone graft between 1993 and 2000 and who were previously subjected to a midterm follow-up (mean, 8 years) were included. In total, 34 patients and 35 shoulders (74%) were clinically and radiologically assessed after a mean follow-up of 18 years (range, 15-23 years). Patients were assessed in terms of pain, bilateral active range of motion, and strength; in addition, the Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI), the Rowe Score, and the Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV) were obtained. Both an apprehension test and a relocation test were performed. Radiological imaging included bilateral radiographs (true anteroposterior and axillary view) to determine the grade of instability arthropathy. Results: At final follow-up, a mean WOSI score of 295 (range, 0-1765), Rowe Score of 94 (range, 55-100), SSV of 90% (range, 20%-100%), and pain level of 0.5 (range, 0-4) were noted. Slight differences were detected in active range of motion between the affected and the contralateral side: flexion 178° vs 179° (P = .325), abduction 177° vs 179° (P = .225), external rotation 63° vs 67° (P = .048), high external rotation 77° vs 82° (P = .007), internal rotation 8.8 vs 9.4 points (P = .017), and high internal rotation 70° vs 74° (P = .026). No significant strength deficit of the affected side was noticed. In 1 patient, a traumatic redislocation with fracture of the bone graft was observed 6 weeks after index surgery. No further recurrences were found during the follow-up period. Negative apprehension and relocation tests were confirmed in 77% of the shoulders, while 23% were positive. At final follow-up, 9 shoulders showed no signs of instability arthropathy (26%), mild arthropathy was revealed in 22 shoulders (63%), moderate arthropathy was noted in 3 shoulders (9%), and signs of severe arthropathy were found in 1 shoulder (3%) (collective instability arthropathy score, 0.9). The collective instability arthropathy score on the contralateral side was 0.4 ± 0.8 with no instability arthropathy in 24 shoulders (69%), mild arthropathy in 8 shoulders (23%), moderate signs of arthropathy in 2 shoulders (6%), and severe arthropathy in 1 shoulder (3%) at the time of follow-up examination (collective instability arthropathy score, 0.4). The overall difference between affected shoulders and contralateral shoulders was significant (P = .005). Conclusion: The J-bone graft procedure for the treatment of recurrent anterior shoulder instability shows excellent results regarding stability and function after a mean follow-up period of 18 years. However, the development of instability arthropathy of the affected shoulder is not prevented by this procedure.

Reverse shoulder arthroplasty for instability arthropathy.

Osteoarthritis may be observed after surgery for instability and in the natural history of pathology. The primary objective was to analyze the late clinical and radiographic results of reverse shoulder arthroplasties (RSA) for patients who had instability arthropathy. This is a retrospective cohort of 25 patients with a mean follow-up of 6.6years. Patients had a history of instability surgery (80%) or multiple closed reductions. All were clinically evaluated with the constant score (CS), and radiologically (true AP view and Y view). No significant differences in pre- and post-operative function, radiologic status, and complication rate between the patients treated with a prior bone block procedure for the anterior instability and those treated by a capsular plication or non-operatively. A 36-mm sphere was implanted in 67%. Bone grafting of the glenoid was needed in 71%. No intra-operative complication has been reported. Clinically, the active anterior elevation increased from 70° to 140° (p < 0.01) and external rotation from 9° to 21° (p = 0.02). The adjusted CS increased from 38 to 98 (p < 0.01). Two early post-operative complications were collected: one spine fracture and one superficial infection. No early or late dislocation or neurologic complication was observed. At the latest follow-up, there were 38.10% of glenoid spurs, and 55% of scapular notch. The overall complication rate in this specific group is relatively low. Patients' satisfaction rate is high and clearly higher than those reported with anatomic TSA for this indication. Clinical results are comparable to other studies describing results of RSA.

Treatment of recurrent anterior shoulder instability with the Latarjet or Bristow procedure in older patients

The coracoid transfer procedure is commonly and successfully used to treat shoulder instability in young patients. However, there is concern that the outcome of this procedure might be inferior in older patients because of decreased bone graft quality and the potential concomitant presence of irreparable rotator cuff tears (RCTs). All patients older than 40 years treated with a coracoid transfer procedure between 1998 and 2013 because of anterior shoulder instability were included. Surgical indication criteria were anterior glenoid bone defects and/or the presence of an irreparable yet functionally compensated RCT. Of 27 consecutive patients, 25 (93%) were followed up after an average of 9 years (2-15 years) clinically as well as by means of computed tomography scans. Mean age at surgery was 62 years (40-85 years). Nine patients (36%) were revised during the follow-up period. The average Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index of the nonrevised patients was 556; Rowe score, 77; American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, 75; Constant score, 65; and subjective shoulder value, 70%. The average preoperative instability arthropathy score of 0.7 increased to 2.0 (P < .001). An irreparable RCT showed no significant effect on the clinical outcome scores or revision rate but was associated with the development of cuff arthropathy (R = 0.89; P = .01). An increased grade of preoperative cuff arthropathy was associated with a higher revision rate (R = 0.55; P = .04). The coracoid transfer procedure represents a joint-preserving treatment option for anterior shoulder instability in older patients with glenoid bone defects or concomitant irreparable yet functionally compensated RCTs. However, bone graft- and hardware-related complications as well as required revision operations are frequent.

Anatomical shoulder arthroplasty in epileptic patients with instability arthropathy and persistent seizures.

Epileptic seizures can cause shoulder dislocation, recurrent instability and eventually arthritis. The purpose of this study was to report the results, complications and rate of revision surgery following anatomical shoulder arthroplasty in epileptic patients with instability arthropathy. A consecutive series of eight patients with epilepsy underwent anatomical shoulder arthroplasty for recurrent shoulder instability and were retrospectively reviewed after a mean of 4.7 years (range, 2-7.5 years). These included three total shoulder replacements and five humeral resurfacing hemiarthroplasty procedures. Mean age of the cohort was 33 years (range, 17-44). All patients experienced post-operative grand mal seizures. Two patients with hemiarthroplasty required further surgery due to painful glenoid erosion. No residual cases of instability were noted. Mean active forward elevation and external rotation improved following surgery. The Oxford Shoulder Score improved from 15 pre-operatively (range, 7-22) to 26 post-operatively (range, 12-45) ( p = 0.031). This was accompanied by an increase in the mean Subjective Shoulder Value, which improved from 29 (range, 10-80) pre-operatively to 53 (range, 15-90) post-operatively ( p=0.042). Anatomical shoulder arthroplasty may offer a solution for the treatment of instability arthropathy in patients with epilepsy and persistent seizures.

Surgical options for the young patient with glenohumeral arthritis.

Young patients with glenohumeral arthritis are an ongoing treatment challenge. They typically have high demands of their shoulders, require long-term durability due to their young age, and often have altered local anatomy, through their disease process (instability arthropathy, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, etc.) or from previous surgery (capsulorraphy arthropathy, chondrolysis, etc.). Workup to evaluate underlying causes of early arthritis, and to exclude infectious causes are necessary. When nonoperative management fails, arthroscopic debridement, hemiarthroplasty (isolated, with glenoid reaming, or with biological interposition), and total shoulder arthroplasty are treatment options available to the treating surgeon. Debridement or hemiarthroplasty can provide pain relief for a subset of patients, but results have not been reproducible across the literature and have not been durable over time. Total shoulder arthroplasty provides the most reliable pain relief, but long-term glenoid loosening and wear continue to lead to high revision rates in this patient population.

Open Bankart Repair for the Treatment of Anterior Shoulder Instability without Substantial Osseous Glenoid Defects: Results After a Minimum Follow-up of Twenty Years.

Neglected osseous glenoid defects are thought to be one of the reasons for the reported high rates of recurrent instability at long-term follow-up after Bankart repair. We hypothesized that open Bankart repair for the treatment of anterior glenohumeral instability in the absence of a substantial osseous glenoid defect would result in a lower long-term recurrence rate than has been reported in previous long-term studies. Forty-seven patients were treated with a primary modified open Bankart repair for recurrent anterior shoulder instability between 1989 and 1994. Double-contrast computed tomography scanning was used to exclude patients with a substantial osseous glenoid defect. Forty patients (85.1%) were available for subjective and objective follow-up at a minimum of twenty years (maximum, twenty-five years). Twenty-six patients (65%) underwent clinical examination as well as bilateral shoulder radiography, and fourteen (35%) completed a self-assessment questionnaire and were interviewed by telephone. Seven patients (17.5%) had a recurrence of instability, and six of them had the instability occur after more than eight years without symptoms. The mean Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index score (and standard deviation) was 256.7 ± 284.8 points; the mean Rowe score, 88.7 ± 12.0 points; and the mean Subjective Shoulder Value, 90.1% ± 10.5%.The mean range of motion of the affected shoulder was decreased by 4° of abduction (p = 0.009), two levels of internal rotation (p = 0.003), 5° of internal rotation in 90° of abduction (p = 0.005), 7° of external rotation in neutral position (p < 0.001), and 7° of external rotation in 90° of abduction (p = 0.004) compared with the contralateral side. The collective instability arthropathy (CIA) index was 0.92 for the affected side and 0.35 for the contralateral side. Open Bankart repair provides good results twenty years after surgery in terms of subjective and objective outcome measurements. However, the long-term failure rate remains high despite the exclusion of substantial osseous glenoid defects. Recurrence of instability seems to be associated with an increased shoulder-specific activity level. Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Surface replacement arthroplasty for glenohumeral arthropathy in patients aged younger than fifty years: results after a minimum ten-year follow-up

The role of cementless surface replacement arthroplasty (CSRA) in young individuals is currently unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate CSRA long-term results for glenohumeral arthritis in young patients. Between 1990 and 2003, 54 CSRAs were performed on 49 patients (25 men, 24 women) aged younger than 50 years. Mean age was 38.9 years (range, 22-50 years). Three patients (4 shoulders) died over time and 8 were lost to follow-up, leaving 38 patients (42 shoulders) with a mean follow-up of 14.5 years (range, 10-25 years). There were 17 total shoulder replacements with metal back glenoid, and 37 underwent humeral head resurfacing with microfracture of the glenoid. The indications were avascular necrosis, 16; rheumatoid arthritis, 20; instability arthropathy, 7; primary osteoarthritis, 5; fracture sequelae, 3; postinfection arthritis, 2; and psoriatic arthritis, 1. The mean relative Constant score increased from 11.5% to 71.8% (P < .0001), and the mean patient satisfaction at final follow-up was 8.7 of 10. The mean relative Constant score for the humeral head resurfacing with microfracture of the glenoid improved to 77.7% compared with 58.1% for total resurfacing arthroplasty. Two required early arthrodesis due to instability and deep infection. Seven were revised to stemmed prosthesis: 1 for traumatic fracture and 1 for glenoid erosion 16 years after the index procedure. Five shoulders in 4 patients (4 rheumatoid arthritis, 1 avascular necrosis) were revised at 8 to 14 years after surgery for cuff failure and loosening. Three were revised to stemless reverse total shoulder arthroplasty due to rotator cuff failure at 23, 16, and 13 years after surgery. CSRA provides good long-term symptomatic and functional results in the treatment of glenohumeral arthropathy in patients aged younger than 50 years in 81.6% of the patients. This improvement is maintained over more than 10 years after surgery, with high patient satisfaction (8.7 of 10). However, 10 shoulders (of 54) (18.5%) underwent revision arthroplasty. Resurfacing offers a valuable tool in treating young patients with glenohumeral arthritis, providing reasonably good long-term results in 81.6% of the patients, while allowing preservation of bone stock if the need for revision arises. All the revision arthroplasty options are preserved, including less invasive procedures.

Shoulder Replacement Surgery

What are the indications for shoulder replacement surgery? The most common indication for shoulder replacement remains primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis. Other indications include complex proximal humeral fractures, rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory arthropathies, humeral head osteonecrosis, instability arthropathy, posttraumatic arthritis, chronic fixed glenohumeral dislocation, rotator cuff tear arthropathy, postinfectious arthropathy, glenohumeral chondrolysis, glenohumeral arthritis associated with neurologic pathology such as Parkinson’s disease, glenohumeral arthritis associated with prior radiation therapy, glenohumeral arthritis associated with skeletal dysplasia, certain shoulder girdle tumors, certain proximal humeral malunions, certain proximal humeral nonunions, massive irreparable rotator cuff tears with chronic pseudoparalysis without glenohumeral arthritis, and failure of a previous shoulder arthroplasty.

Intrathoracic Migration of Large-Fragment Screws After Failed Shoulder Arthrodesis

Orthopaedic implants used during upper-extremity surgery have been discovered in many locations. Kirschner wires and Steinmann pins have migrated into the thorax or mediastinum from local sites1-5 and from distant sites such as the phalanx6, patella7, and hip8. Although there are well-documented case reports on the migration of smooth and threaded Kirschner wires and Steinmann pins from the sternoclavicular and acromioclavicular joints into the thorax, the migration of large-fragment screws from the shoulder into the thorax has not been reported, to our knowledge. Screws are less likely to migrate because of their larger size and irregular shape. We present a case of intrathoracic migration of large-fragment screws after a failed shoulder arthrodesis. In accordance with the medical center institutional review board policy, the patient was informed about, and consented to, case publication. A sixty-three-year-old woman with oxygen-dependent obstructive pulmonary disease presented with right-sided pleuritic chest pain. Her surgical history included multiple surgical procedures in the right shoulder due to instability and rotator cuff arthropathy. An arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in the right shoulder, done in 1989, had failed, and a shoulder arthrodesis was subsequently attempted. Shoulder implants were removed in 1992. Although the patient was asymptomatic, she was noted to have a fibrous nonunion of the right shoulder and had a revision arthrodesis in May 1996. This arthrodesis was unsuccessful, and there was subsequent failure of the implants. The patient was not a candidate for repeat revision arthrodesis because of inadequate bone stock and medical comorbidities. A routine chest radiograph made in 2003 showed a broken plate with screws remaining in the right shoulder region as well as a large-fragment screw on the left side of the thorax, which was from a failed left glenoid reconstruction performed in 1995 at the …