Arthroscopic Latarjet procedure with double-button fixation: short-term complications and learning curve analysis.

BACKGROUND: The arthroscopic Latarjet with double-button fixation is a guided procedure recently proposed to treat anterior shoulder instability with glenoid bone loss. The goal of this study was to report intraoperative and early postoperative complications and to analyze the learning curve. METHODS: This was a prospective, nonrandomized study that included 88 patients. Intraoperative or postoperative complications as well as adverse events and operative time were recorded. Clinical outcomes were evaluated at 2 weeks, 1.5 months, and at the last follow-up. Radiologic analysis was based on an immediate postoperative computed tomography scan. RESULTS: The intraoperative complications or adverse events rate was 3.3%: 1 conversion to open surgery, 1 bone block fracture, and 1 instrumentation problem. The postoperative complication rate was 6.8%: 4 coracoid migrations, and 2 subluxations. None of these complications occurred beyond the 10th case performed. The average operative time significantly decreased with surgical experience (r = -0.8426; 95% confidence interval, -0.9074 to -0.7384; P < .0001) to reach 76 ± 12 minutes (range, 62-95 minutes) at 30 cases. Radiologically, 90% of the bone blocks were flush and subequatorial beyond the 30th case. At a mean follow-up of 12.6 months (range, 6-24 months), Walch-Duplay and Rowe scores were 80 and 81 points, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: At short-term follow-up, the arthroscopic Latarjet procedure with double-button fixation exhibited a low complication rate. Operative time significantly improved with surgical experience and was optimized after 30 cases. Early clinical results confirmed that this procedure can be safe and reliable.

Results of arthroscopic Bankart repair with Hill-Sachs remplissage for anterior shoulder instability.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate mid-term outcomes of Bankart repair with Hill-Sachs remplissage (BHSR) and to highlight prognostic factors of failure. METHODS: Thirty-four patients operated on for anterior shoulder instability with BHSR were enrolled in a prospective non-randomised study. Clinical and radiographic evaluation was performed at 1.5, three, six months and yearly thereafter. Outcome measures included Rowe and Walch-Duplay score. RESULTS: At mean follow-up of 35 months (24-63), the Rowe and Walch-Duplay scores reached respectively 92.7 and 88.2 points. The mean deficit in external rotation was 6° in ER1 and 1° in ER2 (p = 0.4, p = 0.9 respectively). Five patients (14.7%) had a recurrence of instability and three others had a persistent anterior apprehension. In the failure group, the Hill-Sachs lesion was deeper (26% vs 19% of the humeral diameter; p = 0.04) and range of motion at 1.5 months postoperatively was greater. Age at surgery, pre-operative instability severity index score (ISIS), hyperlaxity, type and level of sport, amount of glenoid bone loss had no correlation with failure rate. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of failure at mid-term follow-up of BHSR was higher than commonly reported. The premature recovery of range of motion seems to be a clinical sign of failure at follow-up. Moreover, in case of deep Hill-Sachs lesion (>20%) an alternative procedure should be considered. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Clinical and anatomic results of surgical repair of chronic rotator cuff tears at ten-year minimum follow-up.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate long-term clinical and anatomic results after open rotator cuff repair. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Fifty-three patients were included in this study. Rotator cuff tears were limited to one tendon in 34, and two tendons or more in 19. The supraspinatus tendon was involved alone in 30 cases, and the subscapularis in four. Clinical, radiographic and MRI evaluations were performed for all patients at ten-year minimum follow-up. RESULTS: At 11.4-years average follow-up, satisfactory results were obtained with improvement on pain level, in range of motion with a gain in active anterior elevation and in external rotation as well as in strength in abduction. Absolute Constant score reached 74.7 points and adjusted Constant score 99.6%. SSV was 82.5% with a SST score of 10 points. Osteoarthritis changes increased with follow-up with osteoarthritis lesion in 69% of the cases. MRI evaluation found a re-tear of the repair in 42% of the cases: 30% when only the supraspinatus tendon was initially involved, and 63% when two or more tendons were repaired. Tear size and quality of the repair were the most important prognosis factors for re-tear of the repair. No correlation was found between the occurrence of a new tear and the clinical outcome. CONLCUSION: Surgical repair of chronic rotator cuff tendon tear can produce consistent and lasting pain relief and improvement in range of motion. Re-tear of the repair was not correlated with degradation of clinical results. Best results were obtained for isolated supraspinatus tear with a complete surgical repair.

Complications and revisions after semi-constrained total elbow arthroplasty: a mono-centre analysis of one hundred cases.

BACKGROUND: The complication rate after total elbow arthroplasties is higher than for other arthroplasties. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the complications and revision rate after 100 semi-constrained total elbow arthroplasties from various types of aetiologies performed in our university hospital. METHODS: One hundred linked semiconstrained total elbow arthroplasties were performed and were reviewed with 24-months minimum follow-up. Indications were rheumatoid arthritis (45), trauma (33), revisions (16) and others (6). RESULTS: At five years average follow-up (range, 2-11), the complication rate was 37 %. Most frequent complications were ulnar nerve involvement (9 %) and triceps insufficiency (7 %). Five implants were aseptically loosed. The infection rate was 4 % with loosening of the implant in two. Four fractures were observed, including three at the ulna and one at the humerus proximal or distal to the stem. The radial nerve was injured in two cases. Failure of the locking system of the prosthesis was noted in one case and a fracture of the ulnar component was found in another patient. A revision surgery was performed in 13 cases (13 %). At follow-up 94 prostheses were still in place and the survival rate was 98 % at five years and 86 % at ten years. CONCLUSION: Total elbow arthroplasty remains a difficult procedure with sometimes a high rate of complications necessitating revision procedures. Selection of the patients, a rigorous surgical technique, and a systematic follow-up are prerequisite to limit this incidence. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic IV.

Short-stem uncemented anatomical shoulder replacement for osteoarthritis in patients older than 70 years: is it appropriate?

BACKGROUND: Despite a new trend to systematically use reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) in elderly population regardless of the indication, total anatomical shoulder arthroplasty can get good functional results in this population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical and radiological outcomes of uncemented short-stem anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) for primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis in patients older than 70 years and to compare these results to a matched population with an uncemented short-stem RSA. METHODS: In this retrospective monocentric study, clinical outcomes were based on constant score (Cst), subjective shoulder value (SSV) score, and range of motion. The aim of radiographic analysis was to identify glenoid component loosening and humeral bone remodeling around the uncemented short stem. RESULTS: At an average follow-up of 44 ± 12.5 months, 32 uncemented short-stem TSA in 31 patients with a minimum of 2 years of follow-up were included and were compared to 32 uncemented RSA. Fifty three percent of the patients had "a forgotten prosthesis". ROM was significantly improved in all cases. Cst reached 73 ± 9 pts and SSV 90 ± 10.8% (P < .001). In 8 patients with repairable supraspinatus tendon tears, clinical outcomes were not statistically different from patients with an intact rotator cuff: Cst (77 ± 6.2 points vs 72 ± 9.6 points, P = .3) and SSV (88 ± 11.5% vs. 91 ± 10.5%; P = .59). The type of glenoid wear (A vs B) did not influence the constant score: 73 ± 9 points versus 74 ± 11 points respectively; P = .81. Despite a complication rate of 6% (n = 2), no prosthesis revision was performed. At last follow-up, range of motion was better in the TSA group compared to the RSA group for internal (7.8 ± 1.3 vs 6.25 ± 2; P = .001) and external (47 ± 14 vs 24 ± 21; P < .001) rotations. The postoperative SSV score was also better in the TSA group (91.3 ± 10% vs 82.2 ± 13%; P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: At medium-term, uncemented short-stem anatomic TSA in patients older than 70 years provided satisfactory clinical results. Patients have forgotten their prosthesis in over 50% of cases. This prosthetic design is still indicated in this patient population in case of primary osteoarthritis with a functional rotator cuff with an almost normal rotator cuff muscle trophicity.

Mechanical behavior of screw versus Endobutton for coracoid bone-block fixation.

INTRODUCTION: Arthroscopic coracoid bone-block fixation by Endobutton was developed to avoid the complications associated with screwing. However, few studies have assessed the mechanical characteristics of the two. The aim of the present study was to assess and compare fixation rigidity by screw versus Endobutton. The study hypothesis was that rigidity is lower with Endobutton than with screws. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 3D print-outs of a glenoid and a coracoid process were obtained from CT scans of a patient showing anterior shoulder instability with significant bone defect. Four types of coracoid fixation were implemented: 1 or 2 4.5mm malleolar screws, and 1 or 2 Endobuttons. Three specimens per assembly were placed on a specific test bench. Lateromedial bone-block compression was exerted at 0.1mm/sec at 3 points: superior, central, inferior. The resultant force and bone-block displacement were recorded. RESULTS: Mean fixation rigidity with 1 screw, 2 screws, 1 Endobutton and 2 Endobuttons was respectively 158N/mm (range, 133-179), 249N/mm (241-259), 10N/mm (5-13) and 14N/mm (13-15), with significant difference between the screw and Endobutton groups (p<0.001). Displacement was greater with 1 than 2 Endobuttons under superior or inferior force, while the difference was non-significant under central force (7.45 vs 6.93mm; p=0.53) CONCLUSIONS: Screw fixation showed greater rigidity, while the Endobutton assembly showed less tension, leading to greater bone-block mobilization. The interest of using two Endobuttons is to reduce displacement under polar pressure. the present biomechanical study confirmed the mechanical vulnerability of bone-blocks fixed by endobutton until consolidation is achieved. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Biomechanical study.

Does anterior acromioplasty reduce critical shoulder angle?

INTRODUCTION: Critical shoulder angle (CSA) is the angle between glenoid inclination and the lateral edge of the acromion. CSA>35° has been shown to be a risk factor for primary and iterative rotator cuff tendon tear. The present study aimed to assess change in CSA after anterior acromioplasty. The study hypothesis was that CSA is significantly reduced. METHOD: A single-center retrospective descriptive observational study included patients undergoing open or arthroscopic anterior acromioplasty, with strict AP pre- and post-operative radiographs. Patients with radiographs not meeting Moor's criteria were excluded. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-eight patients were included: arthroscopy, 112; open surgery, 36. Mean age was 57.8 years (range, 29-80 years). Mean preoperative CSA was 36.1±4.25° (range, 25-48.4°) and postoperative CSA 33.5±3.9° (23.8-45.2°), for a significant reduction of -2.6±2.5° (p=0.001). Surgical technique did not affect change in CSA: open surgery, -2.3±1.9° (-6.3° to -1°); arthroscopy, -2.7±2.7° (-10.5° to -5°) (p=0.06). In pathologic CSA (>35°), the mean reduction was -3.2±2.6° (-10.5°to -5°). CSA normalized below the 35° threshold in 48% of patients. DISCUSSION: Despite reduction in CSA, the 35° threshold for iterative tear is not always reached after anterior acromioplasty. Complementary strictly lateral resection is theoretically required. However, change in CSA is difficult to predict intraoperatively. CONCLUSION: Anterior acromioplasty significantly reduced CSA, independently of technique and preoperative value. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, retrospective descriptive study.