The Trillat procedure: the man and the technique revisited through the lens of arthroscopy.

The Trillat procedure, initially described by Albert Trillat, is historically one of the first techniques for addressing recurrent anterior shoulder instability, incorporating fascinating biomechanical mechanisms. After lowering, medializing, and fixing the coracoid process to the glenoid neck, the subcoracoid space is reduced, the subscapularis lowered, and its line of pull changed, accentuating the function of the subscapularis as a humeral head depressor centering the glenohumeral joint. Furthermore, the conjoint tendon creates a 'seatbelt' effect, preventing anteroinferior humeral head dislocation. Even though contemporary preferences lean towards arthroscopic Bankart repair with optional remplissage, bone augmentation, and the Latarjet procedure, enduring surgical indications remain valid for the Trillat procedure, which offers joint preservation and superior outcomes in two distinct scenarios: (i) older patients with massive irreparable cuff tears and anterior recurrent instability with an intact subscapularis tendon regardless of the extent of glenoid bone loss; (ii) younger patients with instability associated shoulder joint capsule hyperlaxity without concomitant injuries (glenoid bone loss, large Hill-Sachs lesion). Complications associated with the Trillat procedure include recurrent anterior instability, potential overtightening of the coracoid, leading to pain and a significant reduction in range of motion, risk of subcoracoid impingement, and restriction of external rotation by up to 10°, a limitation that is generally well-tolerated. The Trillat procedure may be an effective alternative technique for specific indications and should remain part of the surgical armamentarium for addressing anterior shoulder instability.

Results of Combined All-Arthroscopic Latarjet with Hill-Sachs Remplissage for Significant Bipolar Glenohumeral Bone Loss.

BACKGROUND: Arthroscopic Latarjet using suture-button fixation has shown good clinical results and low recurrent instability in patients with significant glenoid bone loss (18). However, the presence of an associated Hill-Sachs lesion (HSL) is a risk factor for recurrent instability after isolated Latarjet (8,35,36). The aim of the study is to report clinical and radiological results following all-arthroscopic Latarjet combined with Hill-Sachs Remplissage (HSR). METHODS: Monocentric prospective study including 41 patients (mean age 28 ± 7 years) who underwent the combined procedure between 2014-2019 with minimum 2 years follow-up (mean 40 ± 13 months). Indications were glenoid bone loss >10% (mean 23.9% ± 7.5%) and large, deep HSL (Calandra 3). Five (13%) patients had signs of osteoarthrosis stage I preoperatively, four (10%) had previous stabilization surgery (3 cases isolated Bankart and 1 case Bankart combined with HSR), and five (13%) were epileptic. The HSR was performed first followed by guided Latarjet procedure. Primary outcome measures included shoulder stability and function represented by Walch-Duplay and Rowe scores, and subjective shoulder value (SSV) for daily life/sports. Secondary outcome measures included coracoid graft position and union, and glenohumeral osteoarthritis using X-rays and computer tomography (CT). RESULTS: Three patients (7%) had recurrent instability: one due to seizure, one following fall, and one related to graft osteolysis. Two patients were revised because of recurrence with arthroscopic distal clavicle autograft. There were no infections, neurologic complications, or hardware failures. The Walch-Duplay score was 90 (95% CI 76.8-93.2) and the Rowe score 95 (95% CI 77.2-92.2). The Median SSV averaged 96% (95% CI 87.5-97.0) for daily life and 90% (95% CI 75.7-90.2) for sports. Mean external rotation with the arm at side was 60˚ (95%CI 59-70) with a median loss 10° (95%CI 3-17) compared to contralateral side. Among patients playing sport preoperatively, 36 (95%) were able to return to sport: 25 (67%) at same level and 7 (18%) at lower level. The coracoid graft was flush with the glenoid surface in 96% of cases and subequatorial in 89%. The graft developed nonunion in 11% and fractured in 5%. Seven patients (18%) had radiographical signs of grade I osteoarthritis. CONCLUSION: Combined arthroscopic Latarjet and HSR is an efficient solution for dealing with significant bipolar glenohumeral bone loss. The combined procedure deserves consideration in high-risk patients including combined bone loss, recurrent anterior instability after failed stabilization procedures and/or seizure.

The Arthroscopically Guided Bristow-Latarjet Procedure With Cortical Button Fixation: A Minimum 10-Year Follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Despite improved visualization, the use of arthroscopic surgery to perform the Latarjet procedure has not decreased the rates of complications and glenohumeral osteoarthritis (OA) in the long term. Many of the reported complications are related to the use of screws for bone block fixation with freehand drilling. PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term (at a minimum 10-year follow-up) clinical and radiological outcomes of the arthroscopic Bristow-Latarjet procedure using a posterior guided drilling technique and suture button for coracoid bone graft fixation. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent the arthroscopic Bristow-Latarjet procedure with suture button fixation between 2011 and 2013 were reviewed by 2 independent evaluators. Complications and revision surgery were recorded, and we evaluated patient-reported outcomes including subjective scores, recurrence of shoulder instability (dislocation or subluxation), range of motion limitations, and return to sports. Patients had radiographs taken at least 10 years after surgery to assess glenohumeral OA according to the Samilson-Prieto classification system and computed tomography scans to assess bone block positioning and healing. RESULTS: A total of 65 consecutive patients (68 shoulders) with a mean follow-up of 135 months (range, 120-156 months) were included. The mean age at the time of surgery was 25 ± 8 years; 7 patients had previous failed Bankart repair. At follow-up, 94% (64/68) of the shoulders had no recurrence of instability. The 4 cases of instability recurrence were traumatic and occurred at 3 weeks (a fall), 4 months, 2 years, and 7 years after surgery. No hardware failures, coracoid fractures, or neurological complications were observed. Overall, 61 patients (94%) were still participating in sports, with 44 (68%) at the same or higher level. Range of motion showed nonsignificant restrictions in external rotation with the arm at the side (7° ± 9°) and with the arm at 90° of abduction (9° ± 10°) compared with the contralateral side. Additionally, 11 shoulders (16%) had some residual anterior apprehension on clinical examination. At last follow-up, 77% (47/61) of the shoulders had no OA development or progression. Previous failed Bankart repair was a risk factor for the development of OA. Patients with OA had significantly lower Subjective Shoulder Value scores (79% vs 91%, respectively; P = .01) and decreased external rotation with the arm at the side (40° vs 65°, respectively; P = .001) compared with patients with no or little OA. CONCLUSION: The arthroscopically guided Bristow-Latarjet procedure with suture button fixation is a safe and durable surgical treatment method for recurrent anterior shoulder instability, allowing a high rate of return to sports without significant motion restrictions and no or little OA in the long term.

Epileptic patients with shoulder anterior instability.

Chronic epilepsy may cause important bipolar bony lesions. We aim to compare the specific pathoanatomic metrics of the bony lesions in chronic shoulder anterior instability that occur in the epileptic population vs non-epileptic population. METHODS: From 2006 to 2020, we included epileptic and non-epileptic patients with anterior recurrent shoulder instability. We randomly adjusted the patients of the two groups according to the sex, age and type of management. We included 50 patients. For each included patient, we performed an in-depth CT-scan analysis and comparison of the glenoid bone loss: PICO method using the best-fit circle; and the Hill-Sachs lesion: the depth and width were given as a percentage of the humeral head diameter on an axial view. We also evaluated the engaging character of the involved lesion using the On-track/Off-track analysis. Those characteristics were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: We found a glenoid bone loss in 32 patients. Glenoid bone loss was not significantly greater in patients with epilepsy (p=0.052). A Hill-Sachs lesion was found in 42 patients (22 in epileptic group and 20 in non-epileptic group). Hill-Sachs lesions were significantly deeper and larger in the epileptic group. (depth: 22% vs 9%, p<0.001; width: 43% vs 28%, p=0.003). In the epileptic group 90% of the bone lesions were OFF-track versus 30% in the non-epileptic group. Thus, the epileptic patients presented more engaging bony lesions than non-epileptic patients (p=0.001) (OR=23). CONCLUSIONS: In a population of epileptic patients, Hill-Sachs lesions are larger and deeper than in patients with non- epileptic shoulder instability. By contrast, there is no significant difference regarding the characteristics of the glenoid bone loss if present. This implies that bone lesions in instable shoulders of epileptic patients need at least a bony stabilization procedure on the humeral side in the majority of cases.

Outcomes of Corrective, Concentric (C2) Glenoid Reaming combined with Pyrocarbon Hemiarthroplasty for B2, B3 Glenoid Arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Posterior humeral subluxation (PHS) in B2/B3 glenoid is a cause of asymmetric long-term stress on the glenoid and the potential reason for glenoid loosening in anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (ATSA) and painful glenoid erosion in hemiarthroplasty with metallic heads (HA-Metal). We hypothesized that corrective and concentric reaming (CCR) of the glenoid associated with pyrocarbon hemiarthroplasty (HA-PYC) could improve the centering of the humeral head and decrease the risk of persistent painful glenoid erosion in young/active patients with B2/B3 glenoid. METHODS: Between 2014 and 2020, 41shoulders (in 35 patients, mean age of 57.9 years) underwent HA-PYC combined with CCR reaming for B2 (n=30) or B3 (n=11) osteoarthritis. Patients were prospectively followed with computed tomography (CT) scans performed preoperatively, immediate postoperatively and at last follow-up (> 2 years). The primary outcomes were 3D-corrected CT-scan measurements of glenoid version, PHS, progression of glenoid erosion. Secondary outcomes included functional outcome scores, return to activities, and revision rate and complications. RESULTS: At a mean follow-up of 4.5 years (2 to 9.5 years), the prosthesis survival was 95% (39/41). No patient has been reoperated for painful glenoid erosion. The mean glenoid retroversion decreased from 17.1° ± 7.5 preoperatively to 8.3° ± 8.2 at last follow-up (p=0.001), and the mean PHS from 74% to 56.5% (p=0.001) based on the scapular plane and from 59.9% to 50.3% based on the glenoid plane. The humeral head was recentered in 97% according to the glenoid surface and 71% according to the scapular plane. Correction of PHS in the scapular plane was highly correlated to correction of glenoid retroversion (p<0.001). CT-scan measurements showed that the average total medialization was 3.7 ± 3.2 mm (2.0 ± 1.8 mm due to reaming and only 1.7 ± 2.4 mm due to erosion). The Adjusted Constant score increased from 43% ± 13 to 97% ± 16 and the Subjective Shoulder Value from 38% ± 14 to 84 % ± 12 (p<0.001). Overall, 84% of active patients returned to work and all patients returned to sports. CONCLUSION: In B2/B3 glenoid arthritis, corrective, concentric glenoid reaming combined with HA-PYC improves centering of the humeral head and shows a low risk of painful glenoid erosion at mid-term follow-up. The combined procedure results in excellent functional outcomes and high prosthesis survivorship at mid-term follow-up. HA-PYC and CCR is offering an alternative shoulder arthroplasty for young/active patients with B2/B3 glenoid osteoarthritis who want to return to work or sports practice.

Long term (Minimum 10 Years) Survival and Outcomes of Pyrocarbon Interposition Shoulder Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: There is major controversies surrounding the use and longevity of Pyrocarbon Interposition Shoulder Arthroplasty (PISA). The objective of this study was to investigate the long-term survival and outcomes (minimum 10-year) following PISA for osteoarthritis (OA) in young /active patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of prospectively collected data of patients who underwent PISA (InSpyre, Tornier-Stryker, USA) for OA between 2009 and 2012. Arthroplasty survival was known for 71 patients followed longitudinally for a minimum of 10 years. The clinical and radiological outcomes were assessed in 62 patients (62 shoulders) reviewed with radiographs. The mean age at surgery was 60 years (range, 23-72 years) and 31 shoulders (50%) underwent prior surgery before PISA. The diagnosis was primary osteoarthritis (POA=29), post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA=23), post-instability osterarthritis (PIOA=10). Clinical failure was defined as repeat surgical intervention involving prosthesis revision. Clinical outcomes were assessed with Constant score (CS) and Subjective shoulder Value (SSV). The mean duration of follow-up was 11 ± 0.6 years (range, 10 to 14 years). RESULTS: Overall, the survival rate was 90% (95% CI: 82.8-96.8) at 5 years and 87% (95% CI: 79-94.8) at 10 years follow-up. Survival was 100% in PTOA (type 1 fracture sequelae) and in PIOA as well as 95% in primary OA with type-A glenoid. Revision surgery was significantly higher in biconcave (type-B2) glenoid (44%) compared to concentric (type-A) glenoid (2%), respectively (p=0.002). Among the 7 patients who were revised to RSA, 5 had painful glenoid erosion and 2 had bipolar (glenoid and humeral) erosion with thinning and finally fracture of the greater tuberosity (GT). Two shoulders with glenohumeral erosion were associated with secondary rotator cuff tears (one supraspinatus and one subscapularis tear). The mean time to revision and revision was 4 ± 1.7 years. Glenoid wear was more often superior (81%) than central (19%), p<0.001. For those shoulders not revised, the mean CS and SSV significantly increased from 39 ±14 to 70 ±14 points and 34% ±15 to 75% ±17, respectively (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: PISA is an efficient and durable surgical procedure for the treatment of young/active patients with post-traumatic OA, post-instability OA, and primary OA with concentric (type A) glenoid erosion, but not for those with biconcave (type B2) glenoid. Biconcave (type B2) glenoid and subscapularis tear or insufficiency are risk factors for failure and revision.

Restoration of internal rotation after reverse shoulder arthroplasty may vary depending on etiology in patients younger than 60 ​years of age: a multicenter retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) offers promising functional outcomes for young patients, yet challenges persist in restoring internal rotation (IR). This study aimed to assess the restoration of IR after RSA in patients younger than 60 years of age and analyze the factors affecting IR recovery. METHODS: A retrospective multicenter study was conducted, examining the functional outcome of patients who underwent RSA, with a minimum follow-up period of 2 years. Two subgroups of patients who underwent primary RSA were analyzed separately with respect to active internal rotation with the elbow at the side (AIR1): "difficult AIR1" and "easy AIR1." RESULTS: The study included 136 patients (overall series) with a mean age of 51.6 years. The overall series showed statistically significant improvement in active range of motion (RoM), pain, and Constant scores, especially with active IR (p â€‹< â€‹0.01). According to etiology, statistically significant improvement (p â€‹< â€‹0.05) in active IR was observed for fracture sequelae, primary osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis, whereas no statistically significant improvement in IR was observed for tumor, revision, and cuff-tear arthropathy (p â€‹> â€‹0.05). In subgroup analysis, patients with easy AIR1 displayed a statistically significant lower body mass index and better Constant score mobility, as well as improved motion in forward elevation and active IR (p â€‹< â€‹0.05). No statistically significant associations were found between improved IR and prosthetic design or subscapularis repair. Scapular notch, lysis of the graft, and teres minor atrophy were significantly associated with better active IR (p â€‹< â€‹0.05). CONCLUSION: RSA improves active RoM, pain, and functional outcomes in patients aged under 60. However, the degree of improvement in IR may vary depending on several factors and the underlying etiologies. These insights are crucial for patient selection and counseling, guiding RSA optimization efforts. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

The glenoid track concept is insufficient to predict Bankart failures: a computed tomography scan study.

Background: The glenoid track concept identifies patients with "off-track" (engaging) Hill-Sachs lesions (HSLs) as poor candidates for arthroscopic Bankart repair (ABR) due to the high risk of shoulder instability recurrence. Purpose: To retrospectively calculate the glenoid track index, using preoperative computed tomography (CT) scans, in a cohort of patients with failed ABR. We hypothesized that all patients with a failed ABR would have engaging ("off-track") HSLs on preoperative CT scan. Type of Study: CT scan study. Methods: Preoperative CT scan of 45 patients, seen in our facility for failed ABR, was used to retrospectively calculate the glenoid track index. The risk of recurrence was also calculated for each patient using Instability Severity Index Score (ISI-Score) and Glenoid Track Instability Management Score (GTIMS). There were 37 failed isolated ABRs and 8 associated HS remplissage. The mean t age at surgery was 24 years (range, 15-52) and instability recurred at a mean of 29 months postoperative (range, 3-167). Results: Preoperative CT scan imaging identified "off-track" bony lesions in 85% of patients (38/45) and "on-track" lesions in 15% (7/45). No significant differences were noted between the 2 groups (off-track vs. on-track) regarding patient age, hyperlaxity, sports participation, size of HS lesion, or ISI-Score. The mean glenoid bone loss was 15.7% (range, 4-36%) with mean HS width was greater than 20 mm in 66% of CT scans. The preoperative ISI-Score was predictive of failures (>3 points in all patients) with no difference between on-track and off-track patients (6.3 ± 1.7 vs. 6.6 ± 1.7, P = .453). By contrast, the GTIMS did not predict failures as there was a significant difference between GTIMS for on-track and off-track patients (2.1 ± 1.3 vs. 6.6 ± 1.7). Conclusions: The glenoid track concept alone is insufficient to predict Bankart failures: in the present series of failed ABR, 15% of shoulders had "on-track" (non-engaging) lesions on preoperative CT scan. In patients, with "on-track" bony lesions, the ISI-Score is a useful predictive tool to detect patients at risk of failure, while the GTIMS is not.

Hallucination Rates and Reference Accuracy of ChatGPT and Bard for Systematic Reviews: Comparative Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Large language models (LLMs) have raised both interest and concern in the academic community. They offer the potential for automating literature search and synthesis for systematic reviews but raise concerns regarding their reliability, as the tendency to generate unsupported (hallucinated) content persist. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to assess the performance of LLMs such as ChatGPT and Bard (subsequently rebranded Gemini) to produce references in the context of scientific writing. METHODS: The performance of ChatGPT and Bard in replicating the results of human-conducted systematic reviews was assessed. Using systematic reviews pertaining to shoulder rotator cuff pathology, these LLMs were tested by providing the same inclusion criteria and comparing the results with original systematic review references, serving as gold standards. The study used 3 key performance metrics: recall, precision, and F1-score, alongside the hallucination rate. Papers were considered "hallucinated" if any 2 of the following information were wrong: title, first author, or year of publication. RESULTS: In total, 11 systematic reviews across 4 fields yielded 33 prompts to LLMs (3 LLMs×11 reviews), with 471 references analyzed. Precision rates for GPT-3.5, GPT-4, and Bard were 9.4% (13/139), 13.4% (16/119), and 0% (0/104) respectively (P<.001). Recall rates were 11.9% (13/109) for GPT-3.5 and 13.7% (15/109) for GPT-4, with Bard failing to retrieve any relevant papers (P<.001). Hallucination rates stood at 39.6% (55/139) for GPT-3.5, 28.6% (34/119) for GPT-4, and 91.4% (95/104) for Bard (P<.001). Further analysis of nonhallucinated papers retrieved by GPT models revealed significant differences in identifying various criteria, such as randomized studies, participant criteria, and intervention criteria. The study also noted the geographical and open-access biases in the papers retrieved by the LLMs. CONCLUSIONS: Given their current performance, it is not recommended for LLMs to be deployed as the primary or exclusive tool for conducting systematic reviews. Any references generated by such models warrant thorough validation by researchers. The high occurrence of hallucinations in LLMs highlights the necessity for refining their training and functionality before confidently using them for rigorous academic purposes.

Comparison of Return to Sports and Competition After the Arthroscopic Bristow-Latarjet Procedure Versus Arthroscopic Bankart Repair in Adolescents With Recurrent Anterior Shoulder Instability.

BACKGROUND: The use of isolated soft tissue repair versus bone block stabilization for the treatment of recurrent anterior shoulder instability in adolescents has no scientific evidence. PURPOSE: To compare the clinical outcomes of adolescent patients who underwent isolated arthroscopic Bankart (iB) repair with those who underwent the arthroscopic Bristow-Latarjet procedure in addition to Bankart (BLB) repair. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: A total of 60 shoulders in adolescents (aged 13-18 years) were reviewed with a minimum 2 years' follow-up: iB repair (n = 36) and arthroscopic Bankart repair with an additional Bristow-Latarjet procedure (BLB; n = 24). The characteristics of the patients in each group in terms of age at the first instability episode, age at surgery, hyperlaxity, participation in at-risk sports, and Instability Severity Index Score were comparable. The mean follow-up was longer in the iB group (7.7 vs 4.1 years, respectively), whereas the rates of patients engaged in competition and those with glenoid lesions were higher in the BLB group. The primary outcome measures were failure, defined as the recurrence of instability (clinical dislocation or subluxation), and return to sports. The mean follow-up was 6.2 years (range, 2-16 years). RESULTS: At the last follow-up, the rate of recurrence was significantly higher in the iB group, with 22% (8/36) failures, than in the BLB group, with 8% (2/24) instability recurrences (P < .05). The rate of return to sports at the same level was significantly higher after the BLB repair than after iB repair (79% vs 47%, respectively; P < .001). No statistical difference was found in patient-reported outcome scores between treatment groups (P > .05). Although failures occurred early after the BLB repair, 88% of failures after iB repair occurred after 2 years. On multivariate analysis, adolescents in the iB group with >3 episodes of preoperative dislocation and shoulder hyperlaxity (external rotation >90°) had a 60% recurrence rate (P < .005). CONCLUSION: Adolescent patients undergoing the BLB repair had a lower rate of recurrent instability and higher rates of return to sports and competition than those undergoing iB repair. Patients with shoulder hyperlaxity (external rotation >90°) and >3 dislocations had an unacceptable failure rate of 60% after iB repair.

Intramedullary nailing of humeral shaft fractures: percutaneous nailing in the lateral position through the Neviaser approach is a reliable technique.

BACKGROUND: Displaced humeral shaft fractures are frequently treated by osteosynthesis in the active patient. We aimed to evaluate the results of intramedullary nailing (IMN) in the lateral position with the Neviaser approach and to compare them with those from IMN nailing in the standard position and conventional approach. METHODS: In the retrospectively evaluated, single-center study, we compared 20 cases of long IMN for fractures of the proximal or middle third of the humerus shaft (Multilock; Synthes Laboratory) in the lateral position with the percutaneous Neviaser approach with 52 cases of IMN in the standard position. The mean age of patients was 62 ± 21 years. Clinical outcomes were analyzed: Constant score, subjective shoulder evaluation score and range of motion. Radiographically, entry point at the proximal part of the humerus, the healing rate and the possible association between the critical shoulder angle (CSA) and the correct positioning of the nail were assessed. RESULTS: With a mean follow-up of 26 ± 2 months, the healing rate was 89% (64/72) in the overall series, (eight patients in non-union), with no difference between the two groups. The overall mean active anterior elevation (AAE) was 125 ± 22°, mean external rotation (ER1) was 35 ± 17°, and mean internal rotation (IR) was at L3. The mean Constant score was 58 ± 23 and subjective shoulder evaluation score 73 ± 12%. ranges of motion were better in the lateral than standard position group (AAE 133 ± 17 vs. 122 ± 23, P = .03; ER1 47 ± 13 vs. 30 ± 16, P < .001; IR T12 vs. L5, P = .02). The nail was less often protruding in the lateral than standard position group (1/20 [5%] vs. 20/52 [38.5%], P = .002). The nail was better positioned from the anteroposterior view (nail centered: 16/20 [75%] vs. 26/52 [50%], P = .047) and lateral view (nail centered: 18/20 [90%] vs. 34/52 [65.4%], P = .02) in the lateral than standard position group. We found no association between nail position, type of approach and CSA. CONCLUSIONS: In the short-term follow-up, osteosynthesis of humeral shaft fractures by using long IMN in the lateral position with the Neviaser approach is a reliable technique. The positioning of the nail, in particular its entry point, and the clinical results were better with the lateral position and Neviaser approach than with the standard position and conventional approach. Further studies with a larger number of patients, assessment of the learning curve, and analysis of the impact of this technique on comorbidities (unchanged cerebral perfusion) are needed to fully validate this technique.

Can Pyrocarbon be used as a functional spacer for the treatment of recalcitrant shoulder infections?

Background: The most common treatment approach in periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) and chronic shoulder joint infection (SJI) is a two-stage revision involving interval placement of an antibiotic cement spacer or a resection arthroplasty. Knowing that Pyrocarbon has a smooth surface that prevents pathogen adhesion, the question arises whether it could be used as a temporary or permanent functional spacer? Purpose: The primary objective of the present study was to assess the rate of infection eradication after temporary or definitive implantation of Pyrocarbon Interposition Shoulder Arthroplasty (PISA) in patients with recalcitrant PJI or SJI. Our secondary objective was to assess mid-term clinical and radiographic outcomes. Methods: Fifteen patients (mean age: 52 ± 19 years) with chronic shoulder infection underwent, after joint débridement, implantation of PISA (InSpyre; Tornier-Stryker, Kalamazoo, MI, USA) with tailored perioperative antibiotics. In 7 cases, PJI occurred after hemiarthroplasty (n = 2), reverse shoulder arthroplasty (n = 2), hemireverse (n = 2), and resurfacing arthroplasty (n = 1). In 8 cases, SJI occurred in the context of failed surgery after fracture sequelae (n = 4), instability (n = 2), and cuff arthropathy (n = 2). Preoperatively, patients had a mean of 3 previous failed surgeries before PISA implantation. Patients were evaluated with clinical, laboratory, and radiographic assessment at a minimum of 2 years after surgery. Results: At a mean follow-up of 55 ± 18 months, no patient experienced reinfection after temporary (3 cases) or definitive (12 cases) PISA implantation. The adjusted Constant score increased from 33% ± 20 preoperatively to 65% ± 28 at last follow-up and SSV from 22% ± 19 to 63% ± 23 (P < .001). Active forward elevation increased from 27° ± 19 to 113° ± 30, external rotation from 7° ± 21 to 25° ± 25, and internal rotation level 3 ± 2 to level 5 ± 2 points (P < . 001). On final radiographs of definitive PISA, complete humeral densification, or a neocortex, formed around the implant in 64% (7/11). Conclusion: Our data suggest that, after washout, débridement and tailored antibiotics, PISA can be used as a temporary or definitive functional spacer for the treatment of recalcitrant shoulder infections and presents the following advantages: (1) PISA does not seem to be a risk for recurrent infection thanks to the antibacterial property of Pyrocarbon; (2) PISA can be used as a temporary or a definitive spacer without causing bone erosion, thanks to the low modulus of elasticity of Pyrocarbon; (3) PISA can be used as a salvage procedure in case of complete glenoid or humeral destruction, thanks to the sphericity of the implant needing no implant anchorage.

Postoperative Shoulder Function Assessment: Proposing the Concept of "Forgotten Shoulder" Over "Normal Shoulder" as the New Standard in Single Assessment Numerical Evaluation.

A major limitation of Patient-Reported Outcomes Measures (PROMs) postoperatively is the ceiling effect, where patients report the maximum score, making it difficult to differentiate between different conditions. Our findings regarding the SSV-Sport reveal a significant ceiling effect post-surgery, indicating the need for improvements in PROMs, including the Single Assessment Numerical Evaluation (SANE). One of the problems with SANE is scoring a 'normal' joint as the maximum. Patients might tolerate some subtle imperfections in their recovery and still consider their joint 'normal'. Proposing the concept of a 'forgotten' joint into the SANE could be a more accurate assessment tool and c which could diminish the ceiling effect. We suggest a shift from 'normal joint' to 'forgotten joint' as a standard for evaluating postoperative recovery and function in SANE.

Is preoperative 3D planning reliable for predicting postoperative clinical differences in range of motion between two stem designs in reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: We aim to predict a clinical difference in the postoperative range of motion (RoM) between 2 reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) stem designs (Inlay-155° and Onlay-145°) using preoperative planning software. We hypothesized that preoperative 3D planning could anticipate the differences in postoperative clinical RoM between 2 humeral stem designs and by keeping the same glenoid implant. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients (14 men and 23 women, 76 ± 7 years) underwent a BIO-RSA (bony increased offset-RSA) with the use of preoperative planning and an intraoperative 3-dimensional-printed patient-specific guide for glenoid component implantation between January 2014 and September 2019 with a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Two types of humeral implants were used: Inlay with a 155° inclination (Inlay-155°) and Onlay with a 145°inclination (Onlay-145°). Glenoid implants remained unchanged. The postoperative RSA angle (inclination of the area in which the glenoid component of the RSA is implanted) and the lateralization shoulder angle were measured to confirm the good positioning of the glenoid implant and the global lateralization on postoperative X-rays. A correlation between simulated and clinical RoM was studied. Simulated and last follow-up active forward flexion (AFE), abduction, and external rotation (ER) were compared between the 2 types of implants. RESULTS: No significant difference in RSA and lateralization shoulder angle was found between planned and postoperative radiological implants' position. Clinical RoM at the last follow-up was always significantly different from simulated preoperative RoM. A low-to-moderate but significant correlation existed for AFE, abduction, and ER (r = 0.45, r = 0.47, and r = 0.57, respectively; P < .01). AFE and abduction were systematically underestimated (126° ± 16° and 95° ± 13° simulated vs. 150° ± 24° and 114° ± 13° postoperatively; P < .001), whereas ER was systematically overestimated (50° ± 19° simulated vs. 36° ± 19° postoperatively; P < .001). Simulated abduction and ER highlighted a significant difference between Inlay-155° and Onlay-145° (12° ± 2°, P = .01, and 23° ± 3°, P < .001), and this was also retrieved clinically at the last follow-up (23° ± 2°, P = .02, and 22° ± 2°, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to evaluate the clinical relevance of predicted RoM for RSA preoperative planning. Motion that involves the scapulothoracic joint (AFE and abduction) is underestimated, while ER is overestimated. However, preoperative planning provides clinically relevant RoM prediction with a significant correlation between both and brings reliable data when comparing 2 different types of humeral implants (Inlay-155° and Onlay-145°) for abduction and ER. Thus, RoM simulation is a valuable tool to optimize implant selection and choose RSA implants to reach the optimal RoM.

Total shoulder arthroplasty for primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis: does posterior humeral subluxation persist after correction of the glenoid version at 5 years minimum?

BACKGROUND: Primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis is associated with both excessive posterior humeral subluxation (PHS) and excessive glenoid retroversion in 40% of cases. These morphometric abnormalities are a particular issue because they may be responsible for a deterioration in long-term clinical and radiologic outcomes. The aim of this study was to perform a computed tomographic (CT) analysis of patients who underwent total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) for primary osteoarthritis (OA) with B2-, B3-, or C-type glenoids in whom an attempt was made to correct for excessive glenoid retroversion and excessive posterior humeral subluxation intraoperatively. MATERIAL: We performed a retrospective, single-center study including 62 TSA patients with a preoperative PHS of the glenohumeral joint (31 men, 31 women, 70 ± 9 years) between January 2000 and January 2014. Glenoids were classified as B2 (32 cases), B3 (13 cases), or C (17 cases). Glenoid retroversion was corrected by anterior asymmetric reaming. Patients were reviewed for clinical and CT scan assessment with a mean follow-up of 8.3 years (minimum 5 years). At final follow-up, the CT images were reconstructed in the scapular plane. A PHS index >65% defined persistence. RESULTS: The revision-free rate was estimated at 93%. Correlation between PHS and retroversion was moderate preoperatively (ρ = 0.58) and strong at final follow-up (ρ = 0.73). Postoperative CT scans on average showed a surgical correction of PHS compared to preoperatively (79% vs. 65% respectively, P < .05) and retroversion (20° vs. 10° respectively, P < .05). At final follow-up, 25 of 62 patients had a persistence in the 2-dimensional (2D) model and 41 of 62 in the corrected 2D model. Persistence of PHS had no influence on clinical outcomes but did demonstrate a significantly higher glenoid loosening rate (20% vs. 59%, P < .05). CONCLUSION: Correlation between PHS and retroversion was moderate preoperatively and strengthened at long-term follow-up. Anterior asymmetric reaming allowed for a surgical improvement of both PHS and retroversion, but it was not sufficient to maintain a correction over time. Glenoid loosening was more frequent in case of PHS persistence but seemingly without clinical relevance.

Subjective Shoulder Value for Sport Is a Simple, Reliable, and Valid Score to Assess Shoulder Function in Athletes.

PURPOSE: To validate the subjective shoulder value for sport (SSV-Sport) by measuring its correlation with existing patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and defining its psychometric properties. METHODS: Between May 2021 and May 2022, we established 2 patient groups. Group 1 included those (1) aged 18 years or older, who were (2) consulting for the first time for any shoulder condition, (3) regularly participated in sports, and were capable of accessing a questionnaire independently. There were asked to rate their SSV and SSV-Sport at admission and 2 weeks later; they also were asked to answer a questionnaire including other PROMS. Group 2 comprised patients who had (1) undergone shoulder stabilization surgery and had (2) a minimum follow-up period of 6 months. RESULTS: For the shoulder disability patients (group 1, n = 62), there was a strong and significant correlation between SSV-Sport and other PROMs: Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Sport (r = 0.84), Walch-Duplay (r = 0.65), Rowe (r = 0.74), Western Ontario Shoulder Instability (r = 0.78), and SSV (r = 0.75) (P = .0001). The SSV-Sport was reliable at baseline and 2 weeks after (0.91, 95% confidence interval 0.85-0.94), and was responsive to change (P < .001). For the anterior instability patients (group 2, n = 83), SSV was on average 50 points greater than SSV-Sport (29.2 vs 79.4, P < .001) for preoperative values. In both groups, the values of SSV were constantly and significantly higher than the values of SSV-Sport (81.9 ± 21.3 vs 54.8 ± 30.9; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The SSV-Sport is an easily administered, reliable, responsive, and valid measure of shoulder function in athletes that is highly correlated with other PROMs. SSV-Sport is better adapted than SSV to quantify pre- and postoperative shoulder deficiency in athletes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, cohort study (diagnosis).

Long-term results of revision rotator cuff repair for failed cuff repair: a minimum 10-year follow-up study.

HYPOTHESIS: Rotator cuff repair remains associated with high retear rates, which range from 13% to 79%. The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term clinical and structural results after revision rotator cuff repair at a minimum 10-year follow-up. METHODS: We retrospectively studied the records of all patients who underwent revision rotator cuff repair in 3 different institutions between July 2001 and December 2007 with a minimum 10-year follow-up. A total of 54 patients (61% males, mean age 52 ± 6 years old) met the inclusion criteria. Outcome measures included pain (visual analog scale [VAS]), range of motion (ROM), Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV), and the Constant score. Superior migration, osteoarthritis, and acromiohumeral interval (AHI) were assessed on standard radiographs. Fatty infiltration and structural integrity of the repaired tendon were evaluated on magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomographic arthrogram. RESULTS: At a mean 14.1 years (10.4-20.5), range of motion did not progress significantly in elevation and internal rotation between pre- and postoperation (158° [range, 100°-180°] to 164° [range, 60°-180°], P = .33, and L3 [range, sacrum-T12] to T12 [range, buttocks-T7], P = .34, respectively) and decreased in active external rotation from 45° (range, 10°-80°) to 39° (range, 10°-80°) (P = .02). However, VAS, SSV, and Constant score were all significantly improved at last follow-up (P < .001). AHI decreased significantly (P = .002) from 10 mm (7-14 mm) to 8 mm (0-12 mm). Two percent of the supraspinatus/infraspinatus tendons were Sugaya 1, 24% were Sugaya 2, 35% were Sugaya 3, 12% were Sugaya 4, and 27% were Sugaya 5. Goutallier score progressed for all muscles, but this did not reach significance and mean Goutallier remained <2 for all 4 muscles at last follow-up. Hamada score progressed from 0% >grade 2 preoperatively to 6% >grade 2 at last follow-up. CONCLUSION: Revision rotator cuff repair provides significant pain relief and improvement in functional scores at long-term follow-up. The mild progression of fatty infiltration, AHI, and Hamada score suggests that despite high retear rates (39% of stage 4 and 5 in the Sugaya classification), revision repair could possibly have a protective role on the evolution toward cuff tear arthropathy.

Early morbidity and mortality after one-stage bilateral shoulder arthroplasty.

PURPOSE: One-stage bilateral shoulder arthroplasty has the advantage of requiring a single hospital stay and a single anaesthesia. The topic has been little reported, unlike one stage bilateral hip and knee arthroplasty, which have demonstrated their interest. The aim of the present study was to determine peri- and early post-operative morbidity and mortality after this procedure. The study hypothesis was that peri- and early post-operative morbidity and mortality in one stage bilateral shoulder arthroplasty is low in selected patients and that satisfaction is high. METHODS: A single-centre retrospective study assessed peri- and early post-operative morbidity and mortality in one stage bilateral shoulder arthroplasty. Twenty-one patients, aged < 80 years, with ASA score ≤ 3, were consecutively operated on between 1999 and 2020. Indications comprised primary osteoarthritis, aseptic osteonecrosis, inflammatory arthritis, massive rotator cuff tear, and dislocation fracture, involving both shoulders. RESULTS: There were no early deaths. The complication rate was 10% (4/21 cases). No prosthesis dislocation or sepsis was reported. Mean blood loss was 145 ± 40 cc, mean surgery time 164 ± 63 min, and mean hospital stay five ± four days. Only one patient required postoperative transfusion. Functional results at six months showed significantly improved range of motion and good patient satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: One-stage bilateral shoulder arthroplasty was feasible in selected patients. Mortality was zero, and morbidity was low. Surgery time was reasonable and required no repositioning. Postoperative home help is indispensable for patient satisfaction during rehabilitation.

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation-Enhanced Physical Therapist Intervention for Functional Posterior Shoulder Instability (Type B1): A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Functional posterior shoulder instability (FPSI) (type B1) is a severe type of instability, mainly in teenagers and young adults, that leads to loss of function, pain, and stigmatization among peers. An experimental nonsurgical treatment protocol based on neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) showed very promising early results in the treatment of FPSI. The hypothesis of this study was that NMES-enhanced physical therapy leads to better outcomes than physical therapy alone as the current gold standard of treatment in patients with FPSI. METHODS: In this multicenter randomized controlled trial, patients with FPSI were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either 6 weeks of physical therapy or 6 weeks of physical therapy with simultaneous motion-triggered NMES. Baseline scores as well as outcome scores at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the intervention were obtained. The predefined primary outcome of this trial was the Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI) at the 3-month time point. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients were randomized and eligible for the trial. The group that received physical therapy with simultaneous motion-triggered NMES showed a significantly better main outcome measurement in terms of the 3-month WOSI score (64% [SD = 16%] vs 51% [SD = 24%]). Two-thirds of the patients from the physical therapist group crossed over to the group that received physical therapy with simultaneous motion-triggered NMES due to dissatisfaction after the 3-month follow-up and showed a significant increase in their WOSI score from 49% [SD = 8%] to 67% [SD = 24%]. The frequency of instability episodes showed a significant improvement in the group that received physical therapy with simultaneous motion-triggered NMES at the 3-month follow-up and beyond, while in the physical therapist group, no significant difference was observed. CONCLUSION: The current study shows that NMES-enhanced physical therapy led to statistically significant and clinically relevant improvement in outcomes in the treatment of FPSI compared to conventional physical therapy alone-from which even patients with prior unsatisfactory results after conventional physical therapy can benefit. IMPACT: Based on the results of this study, NMES-enhanced physical therapy is an effective new treatment option for FPSI, a severe type of shoulder instability. NMES-enhanced physical therapy should be preferred over conventional physical therapy for the treatment of patients with FPSI.