Successful reverse total shoulder replacement in a patient with Apert syndrome.

Apert syndrome, first described in the literature by a French pediatrician Eugene Apert, is a rare congenital form of acrocephalodactyly with autosomal dominant inheritance. Classically, this syndrome is characterized by craniosynostosis, midface hypoplasia, and symmetrical syndactyly of hands and feet resulting from embryonic anomalies during the third week of gestation. It is also associated with a variety of abnormalities of the viscera, involving the neurological, genitourinary, and cardiorespiratory systems. Glenohumeral manifestations of Apert syndrome include glenoid dysplasia, an oblong humeral head with a prominence of the greater tuberosity, acromial prominence, and inferior subluxation of the glenohumeral joint. This pathological anatomy results in progressive degenerative changes, synchondrosis, and restriction in shoulder joint mobility, particularly in flexion and abduction. While surgical options for the accompanying deformities of the feet and spine are described, interventions for shoulder pathology are not well-defined. Joint replacement surgery could offer such patients pain relief and improved function. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty is yet to be described in Apert syndrome and this case report presents the outcome in a 48-year-old male. Level of evidence: IV case report.

Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty for the treatment of Proximal humeral fractures in the Elderly (ReShAPE trial) : study protocol for a multicentre combined randomised controlled and observational trial.

BACKGROUND: Proximal humeral fractures are common in older patients. The majority are minimally displaced and are associated with good outcomes after nonoperative treatment. Poorer outcomes are associated with displaced, multipart fractures. There is no clear benefit from surgical fracture fixation compared to nonoperative treatment. Replacement of the fractured humeral head with a hemiarthroplasty is another treatment option, but has not been shown to be clearly superior to nonoperative treatment or internal fixation. Recently, reverse total shoulder arthroplasty has been used to treat these fractures, particularly in the older population with several case series demonstrating good outcomes. No comparative trial has been performed to test the effectiveness of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty against nonoperative treatment. METHODS/DESIGN: ReShAPE (Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty for the treatment of Proximal humeral fractures in the Elderly) is a multicenter combined randomized and observational study. The primary objective is to compare pain and function 12 months post fracture using the American Shoulder and Elbow Society (ASES) score in patients aged 70 years or older with three- and four-part proximal humeral fractures treated by either reverse shoulder arthroplasty or nonoperative treatment. Secondary outcome measures will include the DASH (Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) score, the EQ-5D (EuroQol Health Survey), the EQ-VAS, pain, radiological parameters and complications. DISCUSSION: The study will assess the effectiveness of reverse shoulder arthroplasty for complex proximal humeral fractures and thereby guide treatment of a common injury in the older population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: World Health Organization Universal Trial Number (WHO UTN): U1111-1180-5452 . Registered on 10 March 2016. Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): 12616000345482 . Registered on 16 March 2016.

Evidence of healing of partial-thickness rotator cuff tears following arthroscopic augmentation with a collagen implant: a 2-year MRI follow-up.

BACKGROUND: partial-thickness rotator cuff tears frequently enlarge due to increased local strain and often progress to full-thickness tears. Studies suggest the addition of new tendinous tissue to injured cuff tendons would significantly decrease peak strain, possibly protecting against tear progression. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of a highly-porous collagen implant to induce new tissue formation and limit tear progression when placed on the bursal surface of partial-thickness cuff tears. METHODS: following arthroscopic subacromial decompression, the implant was attached to the bursal surface of the supraspinatus tendon in a prospective series of 13 consecutive patients with intermediate - (3-6 mm) to high-grade (>6 mm) partial - thickness cuff tears (5 articular, 3 bursal, 5 intra-substance). Tendon thickness, defect size, and tendon quality were evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) preoperatively and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Constant and American Shoulder and Elbow Society scores at the same preoperative and follow-up times. All 13 patients completed all follow-up exams (mean length of follow-up 27.0 months, range 23.3-32.0); no patients were lost to follow-up. RESULTS: the implant induced significant new tissue formation in all patients by 3 months (mean increase in tendon thickness 2.2 ± 0.26 mm). This tissue matured over time and became radiologically indistinguishable from the underlying tendon. The partial-thickness cuff tears showed consistent filling of the defects, with complete healing in 7 patients at 12 months, and a progressive improvement in tendon quality in the remaining patients. No tear progression was observed by MRI in any of the patients at 24 months. All clinical scores improved significantly over time. At 24 months, 12 of 13 patients (92%) had satisfactory or better results. CONCLUSIONS: the results of this clinical study demonstrated the ability of a highly-porous collagen implant to induce new tendon-like tissue formation and create an environment conductive to the healing of partial-thickness cuff tears.

Preliminary investigation of a biological augmentation of rotator cuff repairs using a collagen implant: a 2-year MRI follow-up.

BACKGROUND: the inability to restore the normal tendon footprint and limit strains on the repair site are thought to contribute to re-tearing following rotator cuff repair. The purpose of this study was to use a collagen implant to augment rotator cuff repairs through the restoration of the native tendon footprint and the induction of new tissue to decrease overall tendon strain. METHODS: repairs of full-thickness rotator cuff lesions in 9 adult patients were augmented with a novel collagen implant placed over the bursal surface of the repair. Tendon thickness and footprint anatomy were evaluated using MRI at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Clinical results were assessed using standard outcome metrics. Mean follow-up for all patients was 25.8 months. RESULTS: the implant induced significant new tissue formation in all patients by 3 months. This tissue matured over time and became indistinguishable from the underlying tendon. At 24 months all repairs remained intact and normal footprint anatomy of the tendon was restored in all patients. All clinical scores improved significantly over time. CONCLUSION: the ability of a collagen implant to induce new host tissue formation and restore the normal footprint anatomy may represent a significant advancement in the biological augmentation and ultimate durability of rotator cuff repairs.