A comprehensive evaluation of the association of radiographic measures of lateralization on clinical outcomes following reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Although reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) has excellent reported outcomes and satisfaction, patients often have postoperative limitations in range of motion (ROM), specifically internal rotation. Increased lateralization is thought to improve ROM following RTSA. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between radiographic measurements of lateralization and postoperative ROM and clinical outcome scores following RTSA. The authors hypothesized that increased radiographic lateralization would be associated with improved postoperative ROM, specifically internal rotation, but have no significant association with clinical outcome scores. METHODS: Patients who underwent RTSA with a 135° neck-shaft angle prosthesis and minimum 2-year clinical and radiographic follow-up were included and retrospectively reviewed. Postoperative radiographs were evaluated for several lateralization measurements including the lateralization shoulder angle (LSA), distance from the lateral border of the acromion to the lateral portion of the glenosphere, distance from the glenoid to the most lateral aspect of the greater tuberosity, and the distance from the lateral aspect of the acromion to the most lateral aspect of the greater tuberosity. Linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the independent association of each radiographic measurement of lateralization on forward flexion, external rotation, internal rotation, and the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES) index score at 2 years postoperation. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to identify significant thresholds of each radiographic lateralization measurement. RESULTS: A total of 203 patients were included. For internal rotation, a greater LSA (P = .007), shorter acromion to glenosphere distance (meaning more glenoid lateralization) (P = .005), and a greater acromion to greater tuberosity distance (with the tuberosity more lateral to the acromion) (P = .021) were associated with improved internal rotation. Overall, ROC analysis demonstrated very little significant data, the most notable of which was the LSA, which had a significant cutoff of 82° (sensitivity 57%, specificity 68%, P = .012). CONCLUSION: Of the numerous radiographic measures of lateralization after RTSA, the LSA is the most significantly associated with outcomes, including improved internal rotation and a decrease in forward flexion and ASES score. The clinical significance of these statistically significant findings requires further study, as the observed associations were for very small changes that may not represent clinical significance.

Intramedullary Screw Fixation for Midshaft Clavicle Fractures.

Operative fixation for acute displaced midshaft clavicle fractures provides improved functional outcomes and patient satisfaction over nonoperative treatment. Although open reduction and plate fixation is most commonly used, intramedullary fixation produces similar patient outcomes with fewer symptomatic hardware or scar complications. The purpose of this Technical Note is to detail a straightforward and cost-efficient method of intramedullary clavicle fracture fixation using a headless cannulated screw.

Ultrasound-Guided Deflation and Arthroscopic Removal of a Migrated Subacromial Balloon Spacer.

Full-thickness massive irreparable rotator cuff tears present a demanding challenge for the surgeon. The subacromial balloon spacer is a novel biodegradable implant used to treat massive, irreparable rotator cuff tears. There have, however, been several isolated reports of balloon migration. This Technical Note describes ultrasound-assisted balloon deflation followed by arthroscopic removal of a symptomatic dislodged balloon.

A Radiographic Analysis of Proximal Humeral Anatomy in Patients with Primary Glenohumeral Arthritis and Implications for Press-Fit Stem Length.

While short stems in total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) preserve bone stock and facilitate revision surgery, they have been associated with higher rates of malalignment and loosening in some cases compared to standard length stems. The purpose of this study was to analyze the intramedullary canal in progressive increments distal to the greater tuberosity to provide anatomic information about the optimal length of press-fit short stems for alignment and stability in TSA. We hypothesized that the humeral canal diameter will remain variable for the first 50 to 75 mm distal to the greater tuberosity and will become consistent thereafter. A retrospective review of 99 consecutive patients undergoing TSA with CT scans was performed. Intramedullary anterior-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) width as well as diameter were analyzed on two-dimensional computed tomography following multiplanar reconstruction. Measurements were taken at consistent distances distal to the greater tuberosity (GT). The transition point was measured at the proximal level of the humerus where endosteal borders of the medial and lateral cortices became parallel. The mean transition point was 73 mm from the GT (range: 53 to 109 mm). ML and AP widths became consistent 80 mm distal to the GT. IM diameter became consistent after 90 mm distal to the GT and a stem length of 90 mm extended past the transition point in 91.9% of cases. In TSA, a humeral stem length of 90 mm is required to predictably reach points at which the humeral canal becomes cylindrical and consistent in diameter. This information may aid data-driven decisions on humeral stem length during press-fit fixation, assuring consistency of alignment and implant stability, while maintaining ease of revision associated with a short stem implant. Level of evidence: III.

Patient-Reported Outcomes of Knotted and Knotless Glenohumeral Labral Repairs Are Equivalent.

We conducted a study to compare the clinical results and operative times of knotted and knotless fixation of anterior and posterior glenohumeral labral repairs and superior labrum anterior to posterior (SLAP) repairs. We retrospectively evaluated data that had been prospectively collected from a Surgical Outcomes System database. Knotted and knotless techniques for 226 repairs (59 isolated anterior labral, 95 posterior labral, 72 SLAP) were compared on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), including American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, visual analog scale pain score, and Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey score, obtained before surgery and 6 months and 1 year after surgery. Operative time was recorded as well. One-year follow-up was available for all 226 repairs. There was no statistically difference in PROMs between knotted and knotless anterior labral or SLAP repairs at any point (P > .05). ASES scores were higher 6 months after surgery in the knotless group (88.6 vs 84.2; P = .022), but scores 1 year after surgery were the same (88.6 vs 89.8; P = .451). Operative time per anchor was shorter for knotless anterior labral repairs (26 vs 31 min; P = .02) and knotless posterior labral repairs (18 vs 21 min; P = .031) and trended shorter for knotless SLAP repairs (26 vs 37 min; P = .080). There is no difference in PROMs between knotted and knotless labral repairs. Operative times were shorter for anterior and posterior knotless anchors than for knotted anchors. Obtaining equivalent outcomes in less operative time may help decrease healthcare costs and minimize potential complications.