Functional and radiologic outcomes of non-displaced scaphoid waist fractures in adolescents approaching skeletal maturity: Comparison between conservative treatment and percutaneous screw fixation.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of scaphoid waist fractures is generally conservative in children but surgical in adults, given the relatively high risk of non-union in adults. In adolescents, the required therapeutic strategy is less well defined. The objective of this study was to compare the radiographic and clinical parameters, and the rate of complications, between non-surgical orthopedic treatment (OT) and surgical treatment (ST) by percutaneous screw fixation of these fractures in adolescents approaching skeletal maturity. HYPOTHESIS: ST of non-displaced scaphoid waist fractures in adolescents allows radiographic union, a functional result and a complication rate comparable to that of ST. METHODS: This single-center retrospective study included patients who presented with a non-displaced scaphoid waist fracture, with a chronological age (CA) and a bone age (BA) between 14 and 18 years. Clinical and radiographic parameters and complications were analyzed during the trauma and at one year, including functional scores, between two groups of patients; OT and ST. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients had OT (63.8%) and 21 had ST (36.2%). The median CA was 16 years [14.25-16]. The median BA was 16 years [15;17] according to the Greulich and Pyle method and corresponded to R9 [R7-R10] and U7 [U7;U8] according to the Distal Radius and Ulnar (DRU) classification system. All non-unions were found in the OT group (23.4% vs. 0%, p=0.019). The duration of immobilization (8 weeks) and the number of consultations were higher after OT than ST. Functional scores were lower in patients with non-union after OT (p≤0.002) CONCLUSION: OT of scaphoid waist fractures in adolescents results in a higher rate of non-union than ST, similar to the rate found in adults. Findings from this study recommend a surgical approach by percutaneous screw fixation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III; comparative retrospective study.

Long-term prevalence and impact of glenohumeral osteoarthritis after Latarjet-Patte procedure for anterior instability.

INTRODUCTION: The Latarjet procedure provides satisfactory functional results, with low rates of recurrence. It is, however, sometimes claimed to induce osteoarthritis due to the positioning of the bone-block and hardware. The aims of the present study were to assess the long-term prevalence of osteoarthritis following the procedure, to determine risk factors and assess clinical impact. The study hypothesis was that osteoarthritis risk can be reduced by good bone-block positioning. The secondary objective was to assess long-term recurrence of instability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Out of a cohort of 102 patients (106 shoulders) operated on between 1984 and 1998, 77 had complete radiology files for analysis in a previous study published in 2003. Forty-four of these patients were seen again for clinical and radiological assessment at a mean 22 years' follow-up, to be compared to results previously reported at 8 years. Clinical assessment comprised range of motion and Constant and Walch-Duplay scores. X-rays were taken systematically to determine Samilson osteoarthritis stage; 31 patients also underwent CT. RESULTS: In the 44 patients, the rate of osteoarthritis was 34.1%. 90.9% of patients were satisfied. Mean Constant score was 83.5±14 and mean Walch-Duplay score was 71.6±23.4. Advanced age at surgery and at assessment, length of follow-up and age >30 years at first episode of instability were the main factors for onset of osteoarthritis, independently of surgery. Lateral bone-block overhang correlated with onset of osteoarthritis: 71.4%, versus 16.7% in medial or flush bone-block (p=0.0004). Humeral notch, glenoid bone defect and number of preoperative episodes of instability were unrelated to onset of osteoarthritis. Lateral bone-block overhang was the only risk factor related to surgery. The clinical impact of the osteoarthritis was significant only in advanced stages (Samilson 3 and 4). CONCLUSION: Lateral bone-block overhang was the only surgical risk factor for osteoarthritis in the long-term. Strict coracoid positioning is therefore essential, and could be facilitated by specific instrumentation and by arthroscopy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV; retrospective study.

Arthroscopic Bankart Repair Versus Immobilization for First Episode of Anterior Shoulder Dislocation Before the Age of 25: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: The risk of recurrence after the first episode of anterior shoulder dislocation is high with nonoperative treatment in younger patients. PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to compare the results of arthroscopic Bankart repair and nonoperative treatment for shoulder dislocation in patients younger than 25 years, with a minimum of 2 years of follow-up. The hypothesis was that surgery would decrease the risk of recurrence. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. METHODS: We included patients aged between 18 and 25 years after a first episode of anterior shoulder dislocation and divided them into 2 groups. The first group was treated surgically with an arthroscopic Bankart repair within 2 weeks after the dislocation; the second group was treated nonoperatively. Both groups were immobilized for 3 weeks in internal rotation and followed the same physical therapy protocol. Standard radiography and computed tomography were performed immediately after reduction of the dislocation, and follow-up was performed at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. The primary outcome measure was instability recurrence, defined as another anterior shoulder dislocation requiring closed reduction by another person (the patient was unable to reduce the dislocated joint themselves), a subluxation, or a positive apprehension test. Secondary outcome measures included range of motion, return to sport, and functional scores such as the short version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score the Walch-Duplay score, and the Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI). RESULTS: A total of 20 patients were included in each group. The mean ± SD age was 21 ± 1.8 years, and there were 33 men (82.5%) and 7 women (17.5%) in the total sample. Recurrence of instability was significantly decreased in the surgical treatment group compared with the nonoperative group (2 [10%] vs 14 [70%], respectively; P = .0001). Fewer patients in the surgical treatment group versus the nonoperative group had another episode of dislocation (0 vs 6 [30%], respectively), subluxation (2 [10%] vs 13 [65%], respectively; P = .003), or a positive apprehension test (1 [5%] vs 11 [58%], respectively; P = .0005). The Walch-Duplay score (88.4 vs 70.3 points; P = .046) and WOSI (11.5 vs 17.7 points; P = .035) were significantly better in the surgical group versus the nonoperative group after a 2-year follow-up. Level of sport was the same or better in 89% of the surgical treatment group vs 53% of the nonoperative treatment group (P = .012). No surgical complication was recorded. We did not find any significant difference in range of motion. CONCLUSION: In patients with first-time shoulder dislocations, arthroscopic labral repair (Bankart procedure) reduced the risk of secondary shoulder dislocation and improved functional outcome versus nonoperative treatment after a 2-year follow-up. Surgical treatment after a first episode of shoulder dislocation could be offered as a primary treatment option in a younger population if these results are confirmed by larger studies with a longer follow-up. REGISTRATION: NCT03315819 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: Diagnostic Accuracy of MRI.

BACKGROUND: Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is challenging to diagnose, as the physical findings and investigations lack sensitivity and/or specificity. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with dynamic manoeuvres can rule out a tumour and detect anatomical abnormalities potentially responsible for compression. The objective of this study was to assess the sensitivity and specificity of MRI for identifying anatomical structures responsible for compression in TOS, using intra-operative findings as the diagnostic reference standard. HYPOTHESIS: MRI is effective in diagnosing the source of compression in TOS, notably within the scalene triangle and at the pleural apex. METHODS: We retrospectively included 48 patients who underwent surgery for TOS after a work-up that included MRI (1.5-T, n=29 and 3-T, n=19). The MRI scans were reviewed for the study by a specialised radiologist who was unaware of the intra-operative findings. The sensitivity and specificity of MRI for diagnosing TOS were estimated using the intra-operative findings as the reference standard. RESULTS: MRI identified a structure potentially responsible for TOS in 34 (71%) patients; thus, the false-negative rate was 14/48 (29%). The sensitivity of MRI was 28% for compression at the suspensory ligament of the pleural dome, 81% for hypertrophy of the anterior scalene muscle, and 50% for an accessory scalene muscle. For diagnosing a cervical rib, MRI had 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity. CONCLUSION: MRI can contribute to the diagnosis of TOS. Specificity is sufficiently high to provide guidance for planning the surgical procedure. Sensitivity, however, is too low for MRI to be useful as a screening test. MRI should be used in combination with the clinical assessment and other investigations to assist in the diagnosis of TOS. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, retrospective cohort study.