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.

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.

Is the Latarjet procedure risky? Analysis of complications and learning curve.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyse the learning curve and complication rate of the open Latarjet procedure. METHODS: The first 68 Latarjet procedures performed by a single surgeon for chronic anterior shoulder instability were reviewed retrospectively. The standard open surgical technique was followed faithfully during each procedure. Post-operative complications were taken from patient medical records. Post-operative evaluation consisted of clinical and radiological assessments. RESULTS: The rate of early (<3 months) clinical complications was 7.4 % (5.9 % haematoma, 1.5 % neurological deficit), and the delayed complication rate was 7.3 %. Early complication rate, duration of surgery (mean 65 min; 35-135) and hospital stay (mean 3 days; 1-4) were significantly reduced as experience increased (respectively; P = 0.03, ρ = - 0.3; P = 0.009, ρ = - 0.3; P < 0.0001, ρ = - 0.6). On the radiographs, the bone block was healed and in perfect position in 87 % of cases, with no effect of surgical experience (P = 0.3, ρ = 0.1). The rate of complications on radiographs was 17 %: 11 % partial lysis, 2 % complete lysis and 4 % non-union. No recurrence of instability was found after an average follow-up of 21 months. CONCLUSION: Despite a high rate of post-operative complications, the morbidity of Latarjet procedure remains low. A surgeon's experience significantly affects the surgery duration and the occurrence of early complications. The main radiological complication is partial lysis of the bone block. After a short learning curve, the clinical outcomes of the Latarjet procedure appear to be satisfactory and reproducible. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Complications of radial head prostheses.

Radial head prostheses are indicated for treatment of complex radial head fractures not amenable for fixation. After the initial experience with silastic implants, metallic or pyrocarbon arthroplasty have been used for 20 years. Little is known about complications related to these implants. Main complications are related to loosening whether they are cemented or not cemented. Hypotheses have been proposed like inadequate stem design, insufficient cement technique, stress shielding, and foreign body reactions secondary to polyethylene wear. Pain and stiffness are other common complications often related to oversized radial head component or overstuffing of the joint with excessive lengthening of the radius. Instability can be another complication in the context of more complex trauma with lateral collateral ligament complex lesion and coronoid fracture. Fixation of the coronoid fracture, reinsertion of the lateral collateral ligament complex, and the use of monobloc radial head prosthesis are recommended to stabilize the joint. Finally, osteoarthritis is common with follow-up.