Coracoid bone graft resorption after Latarjet procedure is underestimated: a new classification system and a clinical review with computed tomography evaluation.

BACKGROUND: This study proposes a simple and reliable classification system to evaluate the severity of the bone resorption of the transferred coracoid bone block after the Latarjet procedure. The incidence and severity of the graft resorption was also investigated. METHODS: Between January 2009 and January 2012, 63 patients underwent an open Latarjet procedure and were included. Four independent surgeons used the classification system we proposed to evaluate the severity of the graft resorption on the computed tomography scan performed 1 year postoperatively. Each surgeon did the evaluation twice at a 3-month interval. The interobserver and intraobserver reliability of the classification system were analyzed using intraclass correlation coefficients. Among these 63 patients, 57 patients were available for clinical evaluation at 2 years postoperatively. RESULTS: The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, Constant-Murley score, and Rowe score were improved significantly after the surgery. No redislocation occurred during follow-up. The incidence of graft resorption was 90.5% based on the computed tomography evaluation. The coracoid graft resorption was classified as grade 0 in 6 patients, grade I in 26, grade II in 25, and grade III in 6. The classification system had excellent interobserver and intraobserver reliability. CONCLUSION: The open Latarjet procedure is effective in treating anterior shoulder instability with marked glenoid bone loss. The incidence of the graft resorption at 1 year postoperatively is high. Our classification system on the graft resorption after Latarjet procedure has good interobserver and intraobserver reliability.

[Primary shoulder arthroplasty for treatment of complex proximal humeral fractures with the trabecular metal prosthesis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical results of primary shoulder arthroplasty for the treatment of complex proximal humeral fractures with the trabecular metal prosthesis. METHODS: In the study, 57 consecutive patients with complex proximal humeral fractures underwent primary shoulder arthroplasty with the trabecular metal prosthesis, of whom 45 patients were available for the final follow-up (78.9%), and were retrospectively assessed. There were 15 men and 30 women with the average age of (64.9±10.6) years (range: 45 to 85 years), and 14 left shoulders and 31 right shoulders were involved. The mean time from injury to surgery was (10.2±4.8) days. According to Neer's classification, there were 3 patients with a three-part fracture, 4 with a three-part dislocation, 2 with a four-part fracture, 22 with a four-part dislocation, 4 with a four-part valgus-impaction, and 10 with a head splitting. Thirty-nine patients were treated with hemiarthroplasty, and the rest with total shoulder arthroplasty. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up time of (18.7±8.1) months (range: 12 to 41 months), the average range of motion of patients were 130.4°±36.5° for forward elevation, 37.6°±16.6° for external rotation and L3 level (±3 vertebrae) for internal rotation. The average VAS pain score, ASES score, Constant-Murley score and UCLA score were 0.5±1.2 (0-4), 81.4±13.9 (43-100), 81.6±13.6 (52-100) and 28.5±5.1 (16-35), respectively. The average patient satisfaction rate was 95.6%. The greater tuberosity healed anatomically in 42 patients, which was confirmed by the postoperative radiographs, while the greater tuberosity nonunion was found in the other three patients. Superior migration of humeral head was found in two patients. There were no complications, such as infection, prosthetic loosening or neurovascular injury, related to the surgery. CONCLUSION: Primary shoulder arthroplasty for complex proximal humeral fractures with the trabecular metal prosthesis could yield good clinical results. The healing rate of the greater tuberosity was 93.3%.

Do Different Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors Impair Rotator Cuff Healing in a Rabbit Model?

BACKGROUND: The effect of selective and non-selective cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors on tendon healing was variable. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the influence of non-selective COX inhibitor, ibuprofen and flurbiprofen axetil and selective COX-2 inhibitor, celecoxib on the tendon healing process in a rabbit model. METHODS: Ninety-six New Zealand rabbits were used as rotator cuff repair models. After surgery, they were divided randomly into four groups: ibuprofen (10 mg·kg-1·d-1), celecoxib (8 mg·kg-1·d-1), flurbiprofen axetil (2 mg·kg-1·d-1), and control group (blank group). All drugs were provided for 7 days. Rabbits in each group were sacrificed at 3, 6, and 12 weeks after tendon repair. Tendon biomechanical load failure tests were performed. The percentage of type I collagen on the bone tendon insertion was calculated by Picric acid Sirius red staining and image analysis. All data were compared among the four groups at the same time point. All data in each group were also compared across the different time points. Qualitative histological evaluation of the bone tendon insertion was also performed among groups. RESULTS: The load to failure increased significantly with time in each group. There were significantly lower failure loads in the celecoxib group than in the control group at 3 weeks (0.533 vs. 0.700, P = 0.002), 6 weeks (0.607 vs. 0.763, P = 0.01), and 12 weeks (0.660 vs. 0.803, P = 0.002), and significantly lower percentage of type I collagen at 3 weeks (11.5% vs. 27.6%, P = 0.001), 6 weeks (40.5% vs. 66.3%, P = 0.005), and 12 weeks (59.5% vs. 86.3%, P = 0.001). Flurbiprofen axetil showed significant differences at 3 weeks (failure load: 0.600 vs. 0.700, P = 0.024; percentage of type I collagen: 15.6% vs. 27.6%, P = 0.001), but no significant differences at 6 and 12 weeks comparing with control group, whereas the ibuprofen groups did not show any significant difference at each time point. CONCLUSIONS: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can delay tendon healing in the early stage after rotator cuff repair. Compared with nonselective COX inhibitors, selective COX-2 inhibitors significantly impact tendon healing.

Do reduction and healing of the bony fragment really matter in arthroscopic bony Bankart reconstruction?: a prospective study with clinical and computed tomography evaluations.

BACKGROUND: Bony Bankart lesions can be treated with arthroscopic repair. However, few studies have evaluated the importance of bony fragment reduction and healing to stability of the glenohumeral joint after arthroscopic bony Bankart repair. PURPOSE: To evaluate functional results after surgery and determine the correlation between reduction and healing of the fracture and postoperative stability of the glenohumeral joint. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: A total of 50 patients (47 men, 3 women; average age, 27.6 years; range, 16.5-50.1 years) with bony Bankart lesions and recurrent anterior shoulder dislocations were treated with arthroscopic reduction and internal fixation with suture anchors. The average follow-up period was 32.5 months (range, 24.3-61.2 months). Preoperative and postoperative range of motion and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), Constant-Murley, and Rowe scores were compared to evaluate the results of the surgeries. Sequential 3-dimensional computed tomography (CT) scans were available for 37 patients and were analyzed to investigate the effect of the bony defect of the glenoid and the correlation between the success of the surgery and reduction and healing of the bony fragment. RESULTS: After surgery, active forward elevation was significantly improved (P < .05). No significant differences were found regarding external and internal rotations after surgery. The ASES, Constant-Murley, and Rowe scores improved significantly after surgery. Redislocations occurred in 3 patients, and a positive anterior apprehension sign was detected in 1 patient during follow-up. The overall failure rate was 8.0% (4/50). The CT scans during the follow-up period showed a nonunion of the bony fragment in 13.5% of cases (5/37). The reconstructed size of the glenoid was <80% in 3 of the 4 failure cases but >80% in all of the successful cases. CONCLUSION: Arthroscopic reduction and fixation of a bony Bankart lesion can achieve good results in selected cases. The size of the reconstructed glenoid is crucial to the success of the surgery.