Measure what matters: Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) score as the critical measure for shoulder outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Implementation of a system anchored in patient outcomes is challenged to gain widespread adoption required to demonstrate the value of care provided for shoulder conditions. This is in large part because of the administrative burden created by current tools and clinical implementation barriers that limit practical use and therefore leave most clinicians, administrators, payers, and patients without a measure of what matters most: Are patients improving? Thus, we must ask ourselves, How do we accurately and efficiently measure and report quality of care in a simple, reliable, and easily communicated manner? We propose that the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) score is the best solution to measure patient improvement and can be used universally for all shoulder conditions. The measure is simple, valid, reliable, and sensitive to change and has the lowest implementation barrier compared with all other outcome measures. METHODS: We synthesized the available literature (11 studies) that demonstrates strong psychometrics comparable to legacy measures across >4000 patients with a wide range of shoulder conditions. RESULTS: SANE scores range from 40% to 60% at baseline for most patients before treatment and range from 75% to 85% at 1 year after therapy depending on the condition, similar to legacy scores such as the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score. Additionally, the SANE score shows similar baseline and post-care measures across conditions that can be used to guide clinical care. This finding shows that the observed baseline and improvement scores can provide valuable patient assessment and can be used in aggregate for quality improvement and other value-based purposes. CONCLUSION: We strongly recommend the SANE score as the primary patient outcome measure for patients with all shoulder conditions, given the value of measuring every patient's progress and growing pressure to quantify patient outcomes.

Management of Three- and Four-Part Proximal Humerus Fractures.

The management of three- and four-part proximal humerus fractures remains controversial because the literature has supported all forms of management, including nonsurgical management, open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), and shoulder arthroplasty. Specific patient factors ultimately influence the decision of which treatment best fits the patient and the fracture. Surgeons should understand the rationale for nonsurgical and surgical management of these fractures, including ORIF and reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

Selection, implementation, and interpretation of patient-centered shoulder and elbow outcomes.

The movement toward a value-based health care market requires comparison of physicians, hospitals, and health systems. Traditionally, process-based measures such as infection and readmission rates have been used. However, these events are uncommon in shoulder and elbow surgery, thus limiting their utility. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are a promising measure of quality and have been proposed as a potential metric to compare surgeon performance. However, there are over 25 different PROs for shoulder and elbow conditions. Therefore, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Value Committee was established to recommend shoulder and elbow PROs in an effort to align their implementation for quality assessment. The committee developed criteria for assessing the outcome measures including that each measure should be patient reported, not requiring clinician input; have published validation and psychometrics; and be standardized and demonstrate ease of use for the patient and clinician. Two sets were suggested: one set for clinical implementation and a more robust set for research purposes. The final recommendation was that all patients should complete the Veterans Rand 12 for general health and the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation for the specified body region. For patients with shoulder complaints, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score was recommended, and for those with elbow complaints, the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score was recommended. More robust disease-specific measures were provided for research purposes. Continued efforts should be made to align these measures across orthopedics to facilitate use of patient outcome measures as a component of value-based health care assessment.

Preventing infection in shoulder surgery.

Although rare, infection after shoulder surgery can represent a devastating complication. Infection can negatively affect clinical outcomes, and eradication often requires a protracted treatment course. Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Cutibacterium acnes are among the most frequently isolated pathogens. Perioperative measures can be implemented to reduce infection risk. Here we review various perioperative practices and their efficacy at reducing infection after shoulder surgery.

Outcomes for subscapularis management techniques in shoulder arthroplasty: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: This systematic review aims to synthesize published data for the most common subscapularis takedown and repair to compare outcomes in the setting of shoulder arthroplasty. METHODS: Searches of MEDLINE and Cochrane Library databases identified studies that reported clinical or radiologic outcomes for subscapularis management in the setting of shoulder arthroplasty. Comparisons included musculotendinous integrity, subscapularis testing and strength, shoulder range of motion, and functional outcome scores. RESULTS: The 14 included studies reported considerable variability in techniques, outcomes, and musculotendinous integrity. Lesser tuberosity osteotomy (LTO) demonstrated better healing rates (93.1%) than subscapularis peel (SP; 84.1%) and midsubstance tenotomy (ST; 75.7%), although not significantly different. A statistically significant increase in fatty infiltration was found after surgery across techniques, and range of motion and strength were similar. Mean rates of normal results for belly-press and lift-off tests were uniformly better for LTO (79.1% and 80.7%) over ST (66.7% and 65.6%), although multiple studies showed poor correlation between subscapularis functional testing and musculotendinous integrity. Mean total Constant and Western Ontario Osteoarthritis of the Shoulder Index outcome scores were slightly better for LTO (77.6, 84.2) than for SP (71.8 and 82.7). Mean American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores favored the ST group (80.8) over the SP (79.1) and LTO (73) groups. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest no significant differences exist for postoperative musculotendinous integrity or clinical outcomes among the subscapularis management techniques in shoulder arthroplasty. Subscapularis healing and integrity appear to favor the lesser tuberosity takedown method. Additional randomized controlled comparisons with long-term follow-up are needed to more effectively compare these surgical approaches.

Clinical outcomes of suprascapular nerve decompression: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Suprascapular neuropathy is an uncommon clinical diagnosis. Although there have been a number of case series reporting on this pathologic process, to date there has been no systematic review of these studies. This study aimed to synthesize the literature on suprascapular neuropathy with regard to clinical outcomes. The secondary objective was to detail the diagnosis and treatment of suprascapular neuropathy and any associated complications. METHODS: A systematic review was performed to identify studies that reported the results or clinical outcomes of suprascapular nerve decompression. The searches were performed using MEDLINE through PubMed and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. RESULTS: Twenty-one studies comprising 275 patients and 276 shoulders met inclusion criteria. The mean age was 41.9 years, and mean follow-up was 32.5 months. The most common symptom was deep, posterior shoulder pain (97.8%), with a mean duration of symptoms before decompression of 19.0 months; 94% of patients underwent electrodiagnostic testing before decompression, and 85% of patients had results consistent with suprascapular neuropathy. The most common outcome reported was the visual analog scale score, followed by the Constant-Murley score. The mean postoperative Constant-Murley score obtained was 89% of ideal maximum. Ninety-two percent of athletes were able to return to sport. Only 2 (0.74%) complications were reported in the included studies. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical decompression in the setting of suprascapular neuropathy leads to satisfactory outcomes as evidenced by the patient-reported outcomes and return to sport rate. Furthermore, the rate of complications appears to be low.

Pseudoparalysis: a systematic review of term definitions, treatment approaches, and outcomes of management techniques.

BACKGROUND: Pseudoparalysis remains one of the most challenging conditions in shoulder surgery. Long thought of as an unsolvable problem, recent advances in surgical techniques offer potential return of overhead motion in the setting of massive irreparable rotator cuff tears. This article summarizes the available literature including existing definitions and the results of different treatment approaches regarding range of motion, outcome scores, and reversal. METHODS: In accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a systematic review of the MEDLINE database, Cochrane database, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, and Google Scholar database was performed for studies that defined a preoperative shoulder group as having pseudoparalysis. A secondary search included preoperative active forward elevation less than 90°. RESULTS: In 16 studies, the most consistent definition was a massive rotator cuff tear with active elevation less than 90°, but studies inconsistently included stiffness, external rotation loss, arthritic changes, neurologic status, and pain. There were 6 different techniques: nonoperative rehabilitation, rotator cuff repair, muscle transfer, hemiarthroplasty, reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty with muscle transfer. Postoperatively, all approaches showed improvement. CONCLUSION: Pseudoparalysis of the shoulder has a variable definition in the literature without consideration of degree or substratification of other confounders such as the presence of arthritis or pain. Thus the literature supports treating this condition with any variety of treatment. We propose that pseudoparalysis be more restrictively defined to allow comparisons. In addition, we propose an algorithm to serve as a treatment guideline to aid in surgical decision making for this condition.

A comparison of onlay versus inlay glenoid component loosening in total shoulder arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Glenoid component loosening is common in total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA), often resulting from the mechanical interaction of glenohumeral components. This cadaveric study was performed to evaluate and to compare commercially available onlay and inlay glenoid prosthetic designs with respect to loading characteristics and loosening. METHODS: Sixteen prescreened cadaveric shoulders (8 matched pairs) underwent either onlay or inlay TSA. We created a custom glenohumeral loading model and used cycles of 5 mm anterior-posterior humeral translation to simulate a rocking-horse loosening mechanism for all testing. Articular TekScan measurements were performed with 9.1 kg (88.9 N) of glenohumeral compression before and after TSA. Fatigue testing was performed with 34.0 kg (333.6 N) of glenohumeral compression using high-definition video to document gross glenoid loosening. Testing ended with gross loosening or a maximum of 4000 cycles. Mean contact area, pressure, and joint reaction force were used to compare the 2 glenoid designs. RESULTS: In both implant types, contact area decreased and pressure increased after TSA (P < .0001). Force increased at the onlay component edge only (P = .0012) compared with native glenoid testing. Force was greater in the onlay vs. the inlay implants (P < .0001). During fatigue testing, all onlay glenoid components exhibited gross loosening at a mean of 1126 cycles (range, 749-1838), whereas none of the inlay glenoid components exhibited gross loosening (P < .0001). CONCLUSION: The inlay glenoid implant exhibited biomechanical characteristics favoring stability and decreased loosening compared with the onlay glenoid implant in this cadaveric model.

Outcomes of total shoulder arthroplasty in patients younger than 65 years: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Despite concerns about the longevity of total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) in young patients, it remains an attractive option because of the absence of superior options. METHODS: A systematic review was performed using searches of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases. English-language studies were identified with search terms "total shoulder arthroplasty" (title/abstract) or "shoulder replacement" (title/abstract) and "young" (title/abstract) or "under 65 years of age" (title/abstract). Duplicate studies, studies not reporting outcomes, and those using a humeral resurfacing technique were excluded. Outcomes of interest included pain, range of motion, patient-reported outcome scores, patient satisfaction, radiographic changes, complication and revision rates, and implant survival. RESULTS: Six studies met inclusion criteria. Significant improvements in pain, range of motion, and patient-reported outcomes were found across all studies that reported these measures. At an average of 9.4 years, 17.4% underwent revision and 54% had glenoid lucency. Whereas glenoid loosening is the most common reason for revision (52%), overall implant survivorship was reported at 60% to 80% at 10- to 20-year follow-up. Outcome measures including the Constant, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, and Simple Shoulder Test scores were reported, with generally satisfactory but not excellent results between 3 and 10 years from surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Although there is concern with periprosthetic radiolucency and glenoid loosening in the young patient (<65 years) undergoing TSA, overall low revision rates and high implant survivorship are reported in the current literature. Whereas the patient-reported outcomes are inferior to those of the overall TSA population, there is significant improvement from baseline levels in young patients with glenohumeral arthritis.

The incidence and effect of fatty atrophy, positive tangent sign, and rotator cuff tears on outcomes after total shoulder arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Treatment choices for total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) in the absence of full-thickness rotator cuff tears (RCTs) are not clearly defined in current literature. This study investigated the prevalence and effect of preoperative partial-thickness RCTs and muscular degenerative changes on postoperative outcomes after TSA. METHODS: Medical records and magnetic resonance imaging studies were reviewed for patients who underwent TSA for primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis with minimum 2-year follow-up to determine preoperative tear classification, Goutallier grade, and supraspinatus tangent sign. Postoperative pain on the visual analog scale, range of motion, and patient outcomes scores were obtained to correlate preoperative RCT status, Goutallier grading, tangent sign, and postoperative outcomes. Patients with full-thickness RCT on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging were excluded. RESULTS: Forty-five patients met all inclusion criteria (average age, 65 ± 10 years; average follow-up, 43 months). Of the patients undergoing TSA, 40% had a significant (>50% thickness) partial RCT. Grade 3 to 4 Goutallier changes were noted in 22% of all patients, and 13% demonstrated grade 3 to 4 changes in the context of no tear. Positive tangent sign was present in 7% of all patients. The preoperative Goutallier grade of the infraspinatus was significantly negatively correlated with postoperative forward elevation (P = .02) and external rotation (P = .05), but rotator cuff pathology, including tear status, Goutallier grade, and the presence of a tangent sign, did not correlate with postoperative functional outcome scores. CONCLUSIONS: Even in the absence of a full-thickness RCT, rotator cuff atrophy, fatty infiltration, and partial thickness tearing are common findings. Although postoperative range of motion is correlated to Goutallier changes of the infraspinatus, rotator cuff pathology is not correlated to outcomes after TSA; therefore, one may proceed with TSA without concern of their effect on postoperative outcomes.

Nonoperative management versus reverse shoulder arthroplasty for treatment of 3- and 4-part proximal humeral fractures in older adults.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of 3- and 4-part proximal humeral fractures in the older adult is controversial. No study has directly compared reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) with nonoperative treatment for these fractures. The purpose of this study was to compare clinical and patient-reported outcomes between RSA and nonoperative treatment groups. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on all 3- and 4-part proximal humeral fractures treated with either RSA or nonoperative treatment with minimum 1-year follow-up. All patients in the nonoperative cohort were offered RSA but declined. Objective patient data were obtained from medical records. Patient-reported outcomes including visual analog scale score, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation score, Penn Shoulder Score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, resiliency score, and Veterans Rand-12 scores were obtained at follow-up. Statistical analysis was performed by use of the Student t test for continuous variables and χ2 analysis for nonparametric data. RESULTS: We analyzed 19 nonoperative and 20 RSA patients with a mean follow-up period greater than 2 years (29 months in nonoperative group and 53 months in RSA group). There were no differences in range of motion between groups (forward elevation, 120° vs 119° [P = .87]; external rotation, 23° vs 31° [P = .06]). No differences between the nonoperative and RSA groups were noted for any patient-reported outcomes. Among patients receiving RSA, there was no difference in outcomes in those undergoing surgery less than 30 days after injury versus those receiving delayed RSA. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that there are minimal benefits of RSA over nonoperative treatment for 3- and 4-part proximal humeral fractures in older adults.

Liposomal bupivacaine versus indwelling interscalene nerve block for postoperative pain control in shoulder arthroplasty: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Pain management strategies following shoulder arthroplasty vary significantly. Liposomal bupivacaine (LB) is an extended-release delivery of a phospholipid bilayer encapsulating bupivacaine that can result in drug delivery up to 72 hours. Prior studies in lower extremity surgery demonstrated efficacy of LB in comparison to a single-shot peripheral nerve block; however, no study has investigated LB in a total shoulder arthroplasty population. Therefore, this study compared LB vs. an indwelling interscalene nerve block (IINB). METHODS: This is a prospective, randomized study of 83 consecutive shoulder arthroplasty patients; 36 patients received LB and a "bridge" of 30 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine, and 47 patients received an IINB. Postoperative visual analog scale pain levels, opiate consumption measured with oral morphine equivalents, length of hospital stay, and postoperative complications were recorded. Continuous variables were compared using an analysis of variance with significance set at P < .05. RESULTS: Visual analog scale pain scores were statistically higher in the LB cohort immediately postoperatively in the postanesthesia care unit (7.25 vs. 1.91; P = .000) as well as for the remainder of postoperative day 0 (4.99 vs. 3.20; P = .005) but not for the remainder of admission. Opiate consumption was significantly higher among the LB cohort in the postanesthesia care unit (31.79 vs. 7.47; P = .000), on postoperative day 0 (32.64 vs. 15.04; P = .000), and for the total hospital admission (189.50 vs. 91.70, P = .000). Complication numbers and length of stay were not statistically different. CONCLUSION: Use of an IINB provides superior pain management in the immediate postoperative setting as demonstrated by decreased narcotic medication consumption and lower subjective pain scores.

Resilience correlates with outcomes after total shoulder arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Resilience, characterized by an ability to bounce back or recover from stress, is increasingly recognized as a psychometric property affecting many outcomes' domains including quality of life, suicide risk in active-duty military personnel, and recovery in cancer patients. This study examines the correlation between resilience, as measured by the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), and traditional outcome scores including the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE), and Penn scores in patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). METHODS: Seventy patients undergoing primary anatomic TSA were followed up for a minimum of 2 years (mean, 30 ± 3 months). Patients were stratified into groups a priori, based on deviation from the mean of the BRS score, into low-resilience (LR), normal-resilience (NR), and high-resilience (HR) patients, and outcome scores were calculated for each group. RESULTS: Postoperative BRS scores significantly correlated with ASES, Penn, and SANE scores (r = 0.41-0.44, P < .004 for all scores). When we evaluated patients based on resilience group, the LR group had a Penn score that was 34 points lower than that in the HR group. Likewise, the LR group had a SANE score that averaged 40 points lower than that in the HR group (SANE score of 53 points in LR group and 92 points in HR group, P = .05). When we evaluated ASES subscores, it appeared that the pain subscale was responsible for most of the difference between the LR and HR groups (29 points and 48 points [out of 50 points], respectively; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Resilience is a major predictor of postoperative outcomes after TSA. Patients who are classified as having LR have outcome scores that are 30 to 40 points lower on traditional outcome scales than patients with HR.

Recommendations for Evaluating and Selecting Appropriately Valued Outcome Measures.

The changing healthcare environment has essentially mandated that outcome scores play an increasing role in orthopaedic research and clinical care. Value is defined as the best outcome at the lowest cost. The reasoning behind the collection of outcome scores can be examined from several perspectives. The process of selecting an appropriate outcome measure involves analyzing its psychometrics in addition to other aspects, such as responsiveness, reliability, validity, and the ability to detect change in a reasonable manner. A minimal clinically important difference measures clinical change, and a minimal detectable change measures statistical change. Orthopaedic surgeons are most interested in minimal clinically important differences because they indicate meaningful clinical changes. Guidelines for selecting appropriately valued outcome measures include the consideration of patient-reported outcomes, proper psychometrics, validated scores, and cost effectiveness.

Best Practices for Periarticular Infiltration With Liposomal Bupivacaine for the Management of Pain After Shoulder Surgery: Consensus Recommendation.

Postsurgical pain, like that associated with major upper extremity surgery, can be significant and usually require the use of opioid analgesics. However, opioids are associated with significant adverse effects, including respiratory depression, which often drive the use of multimodal therapy with nonopioid analgesics, including local and regional analgesia techniques. However, use of older local anesthetics provides a limited duration of analgesia. An innovative formulation of liposomal bupivacaine (Exparel), which is approved for surgical site infiltration, can provide a longer duration of analgesia. Because optimal pain relief relies on the success of the surgical site infiltration technique, a group convened to address best practices for periarticular injection techniques for shoulder surgery. This article reviews the neuroanatomy of the shoulder, recommends optimal solutions (i.e., analgesic cocktails) and volume for injection, and provides a detailed description of the infiltration technique to develop the best approach to periarticular injection for major shoulder surgery.

Preseason shoulder range of motion screening as a predictor of injury among youth and adolescent baseball pitchers.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 6 million youngsters play organized baseball yearly, and injuries are common. Defining of risk factors for injuries in the throwing shoulder has largely been confined to the professional thrower. Unfortunately, these risk factors apply to only 1% of pitchers at risk for injury. Risk factors for injury in youth pitchers have received far less attention than those in more mature professional pitchers. Development of such an understanding would help clarify injury prevention efforts for the other 99% of pitchers actively participating in competitive baseball. This study intended to determine the ability of range of motion (ROM) measures to predict arm injuries in baseball pitchers aged 8 to 18 years. METHODS: Supine passive shoulder ROM was assessed in 115 pitchers with a digital inclinometer. Two trials of ROM were measured before the season. Arm injuries were prospectively tracked. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to identify athletes who were at high risk for injury. Statistical significance was set a priori (α = .05). RESULTS: There were 33 injured and 82 uninjured pitchers. Side-to-side differences of horizontal adduction >15° and internal rotation >13° may discriminate between those adolescent pitchers at 4 and 6 times greater risk of injury, respectively. CONCLUSION: Preseason ROM differences were able to identify those adolescents at high risk for injury during the season. It appears that the risk profile for adolescent pitchers includes horizontal adduction differences that differ from the established prospective profile in adult pitchers.

A positive tangent sign predicts the repairability of rotator cuff tears.

HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesize that patients with a positive tangent sign will have rotator cuff tears that are not able to be repaired primarily. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of the charts of patients who had undergone surgery for repair of a rotator cuff tear. The operative note was reviewed to determine whether the cuff tear was primarily repaired. The magnetic resonance imaging study of each patient was reviewed to assess for a positive or negative tangent sign. The reviewer was blinded to the result of each measurement. RESULTS: Eighty-one patients met the inclusion criteria. Of the 79 included in our analyses, 17 had a positive tangent sign and 62 had a negative tangent sign. There was only 1 patient with a negative tangent sign who had an irreparable rotator cuff tear. There were 3 patients with a positive tangent sign who had a repairable rotator cuff. With a pretest prevalence of irreparable tears of 18.9%, a positive finding suggested a post-test probability of 82.3% with a positive tangent sign and a post-test probability of only 1.6% when the tangent sign was negative. CONCLUSION: Our results showed decision-making value in both a negative tangent sign and a positive tangent sign. The tangent sign is an easily performed and reproducible tool with good intraobserver and interobserver reliability that is a powerful predictor of whether a rotator cuff tear will be repairable.

Prevention of complications in shoulder arthroplasty: understanding options and critical steps.

Total shoulder arthroplasty provides reliable pain relief of osteoarthritic shoulder pain. The keys to success with shoulder arthroplasty are adhering to appropriate indications, understanding the surgical implications of various pathologies, and applying good surgical technique. Many complications of total shoulder arthroplasty may be avoided with good preoperative preparation. Some key surgical steps that may help avoid the more common complications include proper patient positioning, adequate soft-tissue releases for rebalancing, identification of the axillary nerve, correction of glenoid version, the adjustment of humeral component size and version as needed for stability, and meticulous subscapularis repair. Additional precautions can include postoperative immobilization to protect soft-tissue repairs followed by structured rehabilitation.