Optimal combination of arthroplasty type, fixation method and postoperative rehabilitation protocol for complex proximal humerus fractures in the elderly: A network meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to define the optimal combination of surgical technique and postoperative rehabilitation protocol for elderly patients undergoing either hemiarthroplasty (HA) or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) for acute proximal humerus fracture (PHF) by performing a network meta-analysis of the comparative studies in the literature. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature using PRISMA guidelines of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library was screened from 2007-2023. Inclusion criteria were level I-IV studies utilizing primary HA and/or rTSA published in a peer-reviewed journal, that specified whether humeral stems were cemented or noncemented, specified postoperative rehabilitation protocol, reported results of HA and/or rTSA performed for PHF. Early range of motion (ROM) was defined as the initiation of active ROM at ≤3 weeks after surgery. Level of evidence was evaluated based on the criteria by the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. Clinical outcomes were compared using a frequentist approach to network meta-analysis with a random-effects model that was performed using the netmeta package version 0.9-6 in R. RESULTS: A total of 28 studies (1,119 patients) were included with an average age of 74±3.7 and mean follow-up of 32±11.1 months. In the early ROM cohort (Early), the mean time to active ROM was 2.4±0.76 weeks compared to 5.9±1.04 weeks in the delayed ROM cohort (Delayed). Overall, rTSA-Pressfit-Early resulted in statistically superior outcomes including postoperative forward elevation (126±27.5), abduction (116±30.6), internal rotation (5.27±0.74, corresponding to L3-L1), ASES score (71.8±17), tuberosity union (89%), and lowest tuberosity nonunion rate (9.6%) in patients ≥65 years old with acute PHF undergoing shoulder arthroplasty (all p≤0.05). In total there were 277 (14.5%) complications across the cohorts, of which 89/277 (34%) were in the HA-Cement-Delayed cohort. HA-Cement-Delayed resulted in 2-times higher odds of experiencing a complication when compared to rTSA-Cement-Delayed (p=0.005). Conversely, rTSA-Cement-Early cohort followed by rTSA-Pressfit-Early resulted in a total complication rate of 4.7% and 5.4% (OR, 0.30; p=0.01 & OR, 0.42; p=0.05), respectively. The total rate of scapular notching was higher in the cemented rTSA subgroups (16.5%) versus (8.91%) in the press fit rTSA subgroups (p=0.02). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that patients ≥65 years of age, who sustain a 3-or 4-part PHF achieve the most benefit in terms of range of motion, postoperative functional outcomes, tuberosity union, and overall complication rate when undergoing rTSA with a noncemented stem and early postoperative range of motion when compared to the mainstream preference-rTSA-Cement-Delayed.

Clinical Outcomes in Prospective versus Retrospective Studies on Arthroscopic Bankart Repair: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The majority of the current literature on arthroscopic Bankart repair is retrospective and discrepancies exist regarding clinical outcomes including recurrent instability and return to play amongst studies of different levels of evidence. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to perform a systematic review of the literature to compare the outcomes of prospective and retrospective studies on arthroscopic Bankart repair. METHODS: A search was performed using the PubMed/Medline database for all studies that reported clinical outcomes on Bankart repair for anterior shoulder instability. The search term "Bankart repair" with all results being analyzed via strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Three independent investigators extracted data and scored each included study based on the 10 criteria of the Modified Coleman Methodology Score (CMS) out of 100. A chi-square test was performed to assess if recurrent instability, revision, return to play, and complications are independent of prospective and retrospective studies. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-three studies were included in the analysis with 53 prospective studies and 140 retrospective in design. Encompassing a total of 13,979 patients and 14,019 surgical procedures for Bankart repair for shoulder instability. The rate of re-dislocation in the prospective studies was 8.0% vs. 5.9% in retrospective (p < 0.001). The rate of recurrent subluxation in the prospective studies was 3.4% vs. 2.4% in retrospective (p = 0.004). The rate of revision was higher in retrospective studies at 4.9% vs. 3.9% in prospective studies (p = 0.013) There was no significant difference in terms of overall rate to return to play in prospective and retrospective studies was 90% and 91%, respectively (p=0.548). The overall rate of complications in the prospective cohort was 0.27% and 0.78% in the retrospective studies (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: The overall rates of recurrent dislocations, subluxations are higher in prospective studies compared to retrospective studies. However, rates of revision were reportedly higher in retrospective studies. Complications after arthroscopic Bankart repair are rare in both prospective and retrospective studies, and there was no difference in rates of return to play.

Posterior Shoulder Instability Part II - Glenoid Bone-Grafting, Glenoid Osteotomy, and Rehabilitation/Return to Play - An International Expert Delphi Consensus Statement.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to establish consensus statements on glenoid bone-grafting, glenoid osteotomy, rehabilitation, return to play, and follow-up for posterior shoulder instability. METHODS: A consensus process on the treatment of posterior shoulder instability was conducted, with 71 shoulder/sports surgeons from 12 countries participating based on their level of expertise in the field. Experts were assigned to one of 6 working groups defined by specific subtopics within posterior shoulder instability. Consensus was defined as achieving 80-89% agreement, whereas strong consensus was defined as 90-99% agreement, and unanimous consensus was indicated by 100% agreement with a proposed statement. RESULTS: All of the statements relating to rehabilitation, return to play, and follow-up achieved consensus. There was unanimous consensus that the following criteria should be considered: restoration of strength, range of motion, proprioception, and sport-specific skills, with a lack of symptoms. There is no minimum time point required to return to play. Collision athletes and military athletes may take longer to return because of their higher risk for recurrent instability, and more caution should be exercised in clearing them to return to play, with elite athletes potentially having different considerations in returning to play. The relative indications for revision surgery are symptomatic apprehension, multiple recurrent instability episodes, further intra-articular pathologies, hardware failure, and pain. CONCLUSION: The study group achieved strong or unanimous consensus on 59% of statements. Unanimous consensus was reached regarding the criteria for return to play, collision/elite athletes having different considerations in return to play, indications for revision surgery, and imaging only required as routine for those with glenoid bone-grafting/osteotomies at subsequent follow-ups. There was no consensus on optimal fixation method for a glenoid bone-block, the relative indications for glenoid osteotomy, whether fluoroscopy is required or if the labrum should be concomitantly repaired. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V Expert Opinion.

Posterior Shoulder Instability Part I - Diagnosis, Non-Operative Management, and Labral Repair for Posterior Shoulder Instability - An International Expert Delphi Consensus Statement.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to establish consensus statements on the diagnosis, non-operative management, and labral repair for posterior shoulder instability. METHODS: A consensus process on the treatment of posterior shoulder instability was conducted, with 71 shoulder/sports surgeons from 12 countries participating based on their level of expertise in the field. Experts were assigned to one of 6 working groups defined by specific subtopics within posterior shoulder instability. Consensus was defined as achieving 80-89% agreement, whereas strong consensus was defined as 90-99% agreement, and unanimous consensus was indicated by 100% agreement with a proposed statement. RESULTS: Unanimous agreement was reached on the indications for non-operative management and labral repair which include whether patients had primary or recurrent instability, with symptoms/functional limitations, and whether there was other underlying pathology, or patient's preference to avoid or delay surgery. Additionally, there was unanimous agreement that recurrence rates can be diminished by attention to detail, appropriate indication and assessment of risk factors, recognition of abnormalities in glenohumeral morphology, careful capsulolabral debridement and reattachment, small anchors with inferior placement and multiple fixation points that create a bumper with the labrum, treatment of concomitant pathologies, and a well-defined rehabilitation protocol with strict postoperative immobilization. CONCLUSION: The study group achieved strong or unanimous consensus on 63% of statements related to the diagnosis, nonoperative treatment, and labrum repair for posterior shoulder instability. The statements that achieved unanimous consensus were the relative indications for non-operative management, and the relative indications for labral repair, as well as the steps to minimize complications for labral repair. There was no consensus on whether an arthrogram is needed when performing advanced imaging, the role of corticosteroids/orthobiologics in non-operative management, whether a poster-inferior portal is required.

Glenohumeral morphological predictors of recurrent shoulder instability following arthroscopic Bankart repair.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate glenohumeral morphological features on a magnetic resonance arthrogram (MRA) to determine risk factors for recurrence of anterior shoulder instability following arthroscopic Bankart repair (ABR). METHODS: A retrospective review of patients who underwent ABR between 2012 and 2017 was performed to identify patients who had recurrence of instability following stabilisation (Group 1). These were pair-matched in a 2:1 ratio for age, gender and sport with a control (Group 2) who underwent ABR without recurrence. Preoperative MRAs were evaluated for risk factors for recurrence, with glenoid bone loss and Hill-Sachs lesions also measured. Multilinear and multilogistic regression models were used to evaluate factors affecting recurrence. RESULTS: Overall, 72 patients were included in this study, including 48 patients without recurrence and 24 patients with recurrent instability. There was a significant difference between the two groups in mean glenoid bone loss (Group 1: 7.3% vs. Group 2: 5.7%, p < 0.0001) and the rate of off-track Hill-Sachs lesions (Group 1: 20.8% vs. Group 2: 0%, p = 0.0003). Of the variables analysed in logistic regression, increased glenoid anteversion (p = 0.02), acromioclavicular (AC) degeneration (p = 0.03) and increased Hill-Sachs width were associated with increased risk of failure. Increased chondral version (p = 0.01) and humeral head diameter in the anteriorposterior view were found to be protective and associated with a greater likelihood of success. CONCLUSION: Glenoid anteversion was a risk factor for recurrent instability, whereas increased chondral version and humeral head diameter were associated with higher rates of success following ABR. Glenoid bone loss, presence of an off-track Hill-Sachs lesion, increased Hill-Sachs width and AC degeneration were also associated with failure. These findings should be used by surgeons to stratify risk for recurrence following ABR. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Utility of Superior Augments in Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty (Exactech, Equinoxe GPS) without Significant Glenoid Deformity.

INTRODUCTION: Superior augment use may help avoid superior tilt while minimizing removal of inferior glenoid bone. Therefore, our goal is to compare superior augments versus no augment baseplates in RSA for patients with rotator cuff dysfunction and no significant superior glenoid erosion. METHODS: A multicenter retrospective analysis of 145 patients who underwent RSA with intraoperative navigation (Exactech, Equinoxe GPS) and three-year follow-up (mean 32-month follow-up, range 20 to 61 months) who had preoperative superior inclination less than 10 degrees and retroversion less than 15 degrees. Patient demographics, radiographic measurements, surgical characteristics, patient-reported outcomes at preoperative and postoperative visit closest to three years, and adverse events at final follow-up were obtained. Operative time, planned inclination, and planned version of the baseplate were obtained. Chi-square test used to compare categorical variables and student t-test used to compare augment and no augment cohorts. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 54 superior augment patients and 91 no augment patients. The augment cohort had lower BMI (27.2 vs. 29.4, p-0.023), higher native superior inclination (5.9 vs. 1.4 degrees, p<0.001). No difference between the augment and no augment cohorts was found regarding age (p=0.643), gender (p=0.314), medical comorbidities (p>0.05), surgical indication (p=0.082), and native glenoid version (p=0.564). The augment cohort had higher internal rotation score (4.6 vs. 3.9, p=0.023), all remaining ROM and PROs preoperatively were not significantly different. At final follow-up, active ROM in all planes was not different between the cohorts. Regarding PROs, the postoperative SAS score was significantly higher (78.0 vs. 73.6, p=0.042), and ASES score trended towards higher (83.6 vs. 77.5, p=0.063) in the augment cohort. The augment cohort had significantly lower proportion of patients planned to have superior baseplate tilt (1.9% vs. 14.3%, p=0.012), and had greater mean inclination correction (6.3 vs. 1.3 degrees, p<0.001), compared to no augment cohort. Adverse events were rare, and there was no significant difference found between the augment and no augment cohorts (5.6% vs. 3.3%, p=0.509). DISCUSSION: Superior augmented baseplate in RSA with minimal superior glenoid erosion is associated with similar ROM and adverse events with somewhat improved postoperative PROs compared to non-augmented baseplates at 3-year follow-up. Additionally, superior augments resulted in a greater proportion of baseplates planned to avoid superior tilt, and trended toward shorter operative times. Further investigation of long-term glenoid baseplate loosening is imperative to fully understand the cost-effectiveness of superior augments in the setting of minimal glenoid deformity.

Artificial Intelligence in Shoulder and Elbow Surgery: Overview of Current and Future Applications.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is amongst the most rapidly growing technologies in orthopedic surgery. With the exponential growth in healthcare data, computing power, and complex predictive algorithms, this technology is poised to aid providers in data processing and clinical decision support throughout the continuum of orthopedic care. Understanding the utility and limitations of this technology is vital to practicing orthopedic surgeons, as these applications will become more common place in everyday practice. AI has already demonstrated its utility in shoulder and elbow surgery for imaging-based diagnosis, predictive modelling of clinical outcomes, implant identification, and automated image segmentation. The future integration of AI and robotic surgery represents the largest potential application of AI in shoulder and elbow surgery with the potential for significant clinical and financial impact. This editorial's purpose is to summarize common AI terms, provide a framework to understand and interpret AI model results, and discuss current applications and future directions within shoulder and elbow surgery.

Tranexamic Acid for Rotator Cuff Repair: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been conducted to assess the use of tranexamic acid (TXA) in the setting of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR). However, these studies have shown mixed results, with some showing improved intraoperative visualization, subsequent operative times, and pain levels, and others finding no difference. PURPOSE: To perform a systematic review of the RCTs in the literature to evaluate the use of TXA on ARCR. STUDY DESIGN: Meta-analysis; Level of evidence, 1. METHODS: Two independent reviewers performed the literature search based on the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, with a third author resolving any discrepancies. RCTs comparing TXA with a control in ARCR were included. Visualization, postoperative pain, operative time, pump pressures, and shoulder swelling were evaluated. A P value < .05 was deemed statistically significant. RESULTS: Six RCTs with 450 patients were included in this review. Overall, 5 studies evaluated intraoperative visualization, with 3 studies finding a significant difference in favor of TXA. With TXA, patients had a lower mean postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) score of 3.3, and with the control, patients had a mean VAS score of 4.1, which was statistically significant (P = .001). With TXA, the mean weighted operation time was 79.3 minutes, and with the control, the mean operation time was 88.8 minutes, which was statistically significant (P = .001). No study found any difference in intraoperative pump pressures or swelling. CONCLUSION: TXA improved visualization, operative time, and subsequent postoperative pain levels in patients undergoing ARCR.

Evaluation of information from artificial intelligence on rotator cuff repair surgery.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the quality and readability of information regarding rotator cuff repair surgery available using an online AI software. Methods: An open AI model (ChatGPT) was used to answer 24 commonly asked questions from patients on rotator cuff repair. Questions were stratified into one of three categories based on the Rothwell classification system: fact, policy, or value. The answers for each category were evaluated for reliability, quality and readability using The Journal of the American Medical Association Benchmark criteria, DISCERN score, Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease Score and Grade Level. Results: The Journal of the American Medical Association Benchmark criteria score for all three categories was 0, which is the lowest score indicating no reliable resources cited. The DISCERN score was 51 for fact, 53 for policy, and 55 for value questions, all of which are considered good scores. Across question categories, the reliability portion of the DISCERN score was low, due to a lack of resources. The Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease Score (and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level) was 48.3 (10.3) for the fact class, 42.0 (10.9) for the policy class, and 38.4 (11.6) for the value class. Conclusion: The quality of information provided by the open AI chat system was generally high across all question types but had significant shortcomings in reliability due to the absence of source material citations. The DISCERN scores of the AI generated responses matched or exceeded previously published results of studies evaluating the quality of online information about rotator cuff repairs. The responses were U.S. 10th grade or higher reading level which is above the AMA and NIH recommendation of 6th grade reading level for patient materials. The AI software commonly referred the user to seek advice from orthopedic surgeons to improve their chances of a successful outcome.

Complications following arthroscopic Bankart repair: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Complications are rare after arthroscopic Bankart repair, and as a result, there is a lack of guidance over rates of complications that can be used to consent patients. The purpose of this study is to systematically review the literature to assess the complications after arthroscopic Bankart repair, other than recurrent instability. METHODS: A literature search of MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library was performed based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Clinical studies reporting on the complications after arthroscopic Bankart repair were included. RESULTS: A total of 194 studies were included in the analysis, with 13,979 patients and 14,019 shoulders undergoing arthroscopic Bankart repair. The overall complication rate was 0.67%, with frozen shoulder being the most common complication occurring in 0.32%. Persistent pain occurred in 0.17%. The rates of nerve, hardware, and wound complications were 0.07%, 0.05%, and 0.03%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The arthroscopic Bankart repair has a very low rate of complications. Frozen shoulder and persistent pain are the most frequently encountered complications.

Similar outcomes between biceps tenodesis and SLAP repair for SLAP tears in younger patients - A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to systematically review the comparative studies in the literature to ascertain if biceps tenodesis or superior-labrum anterior to posterior (SLAP) repair results in superior clinical outcomes in the treatment of type II SLAP tears in patients under 40. METHODS: A systematic search of articles in Pubmed, EMBASE and The Cochrane Library databases was carried out according to the PRISMA guidelines. Cohort studies comparing biceps tenodesis to repair in type II SLAP tears in patients under 40 were included. Clinical outcomes were extracted including return to play, reoperations, ASES, and VAS for pain. All statistical analysis was performed using Review Manager. A p-value of <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: Five studies were included. Biceps tenodesis resulted in comparable rates of return to play compared to SLAP repair (78.5% vs 67.7%, p â€‹= â€‹0.33), and there was no significant difference in return to play in overhead athletes (83.6% vs 74%, p â€‹= â€‹0.82). There was no significant difference in ASES score (87.2 vs 86.2, p â€‹= â€‹0.27) or VAS score for pain (1.8 vs 2.1, p â€‹= â€‹0.48). There was no significant difference in re-operation rates (2.9% vs 10.8%, p â€‹= â€‹0.22). CONCLUSION: This study found that biceps tenodesis has no significant difference in rates of return to play in athletes, as well as in functional outcome scores and rates of revision surgery in younger patients compared to SLAP repair. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, Systematic review of Level III studies.

Radiographic comparison of eccentric stemmed vs. concentric stemless prosthetic humeral head positioning after anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: Maintaining premorbid proximal humeral positioning is an essential consideration of anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (aTSA), as malposition of the prosthetic humeral head can result in poor clinical outcomes. Stemless aTSA prosthetic heads are usually concentric, while stemmed aTSA prosthetic heads are typically eccentric in nature. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the ability to restore native humeral head position between stemmed (eccentric) vs. stemless (concentric) aTSA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Postoperative anteroposterior radiographs of 52 stemmed and 46 stemless aTSAs were analyzed. A best-fit circle was created using previously published and validated techniques to represent the premorbid humeral head position and axis of rotation. This circle was juxtaposed with another circle following the arc of the implant head. Next, the offset in center of rotation (COR), radius of curvature (RoC), and humeral head height above the greater tuberosity (HHH) were measured. Additionally, based on prior studies, an offset of >3 mm at any point between the implant head surface and premorbid best-fit circle was considered significant and further classified as overstuffed or understuffed. RESULTS: RoC deviation was significantly greater in the stemmed cohort than the stemless cohort (1.19 ± 1.37 mm vs. 0.65 ± 1.17 mm, P = .025). There was no statistically significant difference in deviation from premorbid humeral head between the stemmed and stemless cohorts for COR (3.20 ± 2.28 mm vs. 3.23 ± 2.09 mm, P = .800) or HHH (1.12 ± 3.27 mm vs. 0.92 ± 2.70 mm, P = .677). When comparing overstuffed implants to appropriately placed implants, there was a significant difference in overall COR deviation in stemmed implants (3.93 ± 2.51 mm vs. 1.92 ± 1.05 mm, P < .001). Superoinferior COR deviation (stemmed: 2.38 ± 3.01 mm vs. -0.61 ± 1.59 mm, P < .001; stemless: 2.70 ± 1.75 mm vs. -0.16 ± 1.87 mm, P < .001), mediolateral COR deviation (stemmed: 0.79 ± 2.65 mm vs. -0.62 ± 1.27 mm, P = .020; stemless: 0.40 ± 1.41 mm vs. -1.13 ± 1.96 mm, P = .020), and HHH (stemmed: 3.61 ± 2.73 mm vs. 0.50 ± 1.31 mm, P < .001; stemless: 3.98 ± 1.18 mm vs. 0.53 ± 1.41 mm, P < .001) were significantly different between overstuffed implants and appropriate implants in both the stemmed and stemless cohorts. DISCUSSION: Stemless and stemmed aTSA implants have similar rates of reproducing satisfactory postoperative humeral head COR with both producing COR deviation most commonly in the superomedial direction. Deviation in HHH contributes to overstuffing in both stemmed and stemless implants, COR deviation contributes to overstuffing in stemmed implants, while RoC (humeral head size) is not associated with overstuffing. Based on this study, it appears that neither eccentric nor concentric prosthetic heads are superior in recreating premorbid humeral head position.

Glenohumeral arthrodesis outcomes and complications: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to systematically review the evidence in the literature to determine the clinical outcomes following glenohumeral arthrodesis. METHODS: Two independent reviewers performed a literature search in the PubMed database based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies were included if they reported on outcomes following shoulder arthrodesis from the years of 2000-2022. Functional outcomes that were collected included the Subjective Shoulder Value, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons shoulder index score, visual analog scale pain score, and Oxford Shoulder Score. Range-of-motion data were also collected. RESULTS: This review included 17 studies, with a total of 316 patients, that met the inclusion criteria. The majority of the patients were male (67.4%), and the average age was 38.4 years (range, 7-82 years). The overall fusion rate was 88.7%, and the time to fusion was on average, 3.9 months (range, 2-8 months). Shoulder arthrodesis resulted in improvement in each of the functional outcomes assessed: Subjective Shoulder Value (preoperatively, 18.8; postoperatively, 43.9; and percent change, 132.8%), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons shoulder index score (postoperatively, 62.1), visual analog scale pain score (preoperatively, 8.5; postoperatively, 3.03; and percent change, 62.4%), and Oxford Shoulder Score (preoperatively, 9.4; postoperatively, 30.9; and percent change, 328.7%). The abduction, forward flexion, external rotation, and internal rotation range-of-motion measurements postoperatively were 57°, 64°, 3°, and 48°, respectively. Complications were reported in 33.6% of patients, with fractures (20.9%) and infections (18.6%) being the most common sources of complication. CONCLUSION: Shoulder arthrodesis provides improvement in functional outcomes for end-stage glenohumeral injuries; however, it is also associated with high rates of complications.

Association between radiographic soft-tissue thickness and increased length of stay, operative time, and infection rate after reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) is a widely performed surgical procedure to address various shoulder pathologies. Several studies have suggested that radiographic soft-tissue thickness may play a role in predicting complications after orthopedic surgery, but there have been limited studies determining the use of radiographic soft-tissue thickness in RSA. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether radiographic soft-tissue thickness could predict clinical outcomes after RSA and compare the predictive capabilities against body mass index (BMI). We hypothesized that increased radiographic shoulder soft-tissue thickness would be a strong predictor of operative time, length of stay (LOS), and infection in elective RSA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective review of patients undergoing RSA at an academic institution was conducted. Preoperative radiographic images were evaluated including measurements of the radius from the humeral head center to the skin (HS), deltoid radius-to-humeral head radius ratio (DHR), deltoid size, and subcutaneous tissue size. Different correlation coefficients were used to analyze various types of relationships, and the strength of these associations was classified based on predefined boundaries. Subsequently, multivariable linear and logistic regressions were performed to determine whether HS, DHR, deltoid size, and subcutaneous tissue size could predict LOS, operative time, or infection while controlling for patient factors. RESULTS: HS was the most influential factor in predicting both operative time and LOS after RSA, with strong associations indicated by standardized ß coefficients of 0.234 for operative time and 0.432 for LOS. Subcutaneous tissue size, deltoid size, and DHR also showed stronger predictive values than BMI for both outcomes. In terms of prosthetic joint infection, HS, deltoid size, and DHR were significant predictors, with HS demonstrating the highest predictive power (Nagelkerke R2 = 0.44), whereas BMI did not show a statistically significant association with infection. Low event counts resulted in wide confidence intervals for odds ratios in the infection analysis. CONCLUSION: Greater shoulder soft-tissue thickness as measured with concentric circles on radiographs is a strong predictor of operative time, LOS, and postoperative infection in elective primary RSA patients.

Posterior Shoulder Instability but Not Anterior Shoulder Instability Is Related to Glenoid Version.

Purpose: To assess and compare glenoid version in patients with anterior shoulder instability (ASI), posterior shoulder instability (PSI), and a control group. Methods: The operative notes of all patients that had undergone arthroscopic shoulder instability repair between January 2017 and May 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were then analyzed, and glenoid version was measured by a single blinded observer. A P value <.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There were 100 patients included in the ASI group, 65 in PSI group, and 100 in the control group. The mean glenoid versions for the ASI group were -16°, -9.1°, and -9.2° for the vault version, simplified vault version, and chondrolabral version, respectively. The mean glenoid versions for the PSI group were -21°, -13.4°, and -16.6° for the vault version, simplified vault version, and chondrolabral version, respectively. The mean versions for the control group were -17.8°, -9.5°, and -9.8° for the vault version, simplified vault version and chondrolabral version, respectively. ANOVA testing and post hoc comparisons revealed the PSI group to be significantly more retroverted than both other groups P < .001. The ASI group's degree of glenoid version was not significantly different to that of the control P = .009. Conclusion: Patients with PSI have a higher degree of retroversion in comparison to those with ASI and control. There is no significant difference in glenoid version among patients with ASI when compared with control. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Pain associated psychological distress is more strongly associated with shoulder pain and function than tear severity in patients undergoing rotator cuff repair.

Background: Psychological distress has been associated with declining shoulder function in patients with rotator cuff tears (RCTs). Thus, we aimed to 1) evaluate the absence or presence of differences in shoulder pain, function, or pain-associated psychological distress in patients with increasing RCT severity and 2) assess whether psychological distress is associated with shoulder pain and function while adjusting for RCT severity. Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent rotator cuff repair and completed the optimal screening for prediction of referral and outcome (OSPRO) survey from 2019 to 2021 were included. OSPRO is composed of 3 domains that estimate pain associated psychological distress (negative mood, negative coping, and positive coping). Demographics, tear characteristics, and three patient reported outcomes (PRO), including the visual analog scale (VAS), Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation, and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES) were collected. Patients were analyzed with analysis of variance and chi-square tests and stratified based on severity of RCTs into three groups: partial-thickness, small-to-medium full-thickness, and large-to-massive full-thickness tear. Linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between OSPRO scores and PROs, adjusting for severity of RCT. Results: Eighty-four patients were included: 33 (39%) had partial-thickness, 17 (20%) had small-to-medium full-thickness, and 34 (41%) had large-to-massive tears. Regarding PROs and psychological distress, there were no significant differences amongst the three cohorts. In contrast, multiple significant associations between psychological distress and PROs were found. Within the negative coping domain, fear avoidance dimensions demonstrated the strongest correlation to PROs: fear-avoidance behavior for physical activity (ASES Beta -0.592, P < .001; VAS 0.357, P < .001) and work (ASES Beta -0.442, P < .001; VAS 0.274, P = .015). Several other dimensions within the negative coping, negative mood, and positive coping domains also demonstrated significant associations to PROs. Discussion: These findings suggest that in patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, preoperative psychological distress can more strongly influence patient perception of shoulder pain and diminished shoulder function than RCT severity.

Arthroscopic Distal Clavicle Bone Block Technique for Anteroinferior Instability With Critical Bone Loss.

Arthroscopic distal clavicle autograft represents a locally available source of autograft for bone block augmentation in patients with anterior shoulder instability with glenoid bone loss. Anatomic and biomechanical studies have supported distal clavicle autograft use as comparable to coracoid graft with regard to restoration of glenoid articular surface, with the theoretical advantage of minimizing complications associated with coracoid transfer procedures, such as neurologic injury and coracoid fracture. The current technique describes a modification of those previously described, including a mini-open approach for distal clavicle autograft harvest, orientation of the distal clavicle with the medial clavicle graft against the glenoid (congruent arc), an all-arthroscopic technique of graft passage, and graft placement and fixation using specialized drill guides and four suture buttons to reproducibly place and secure the graft with final capsulolabral advancement over the graft to render it extra-articular.

Impact of reverse shoulder arthroplasty design and patient shoulder size on moment arms and muscle fiber lengths in shoulder abductors.

BACKGROUND: Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) increases the moment arm of the deltoid; however, there is limited knowledge on the accompanying changes in muscle architecture that play a role in muscle force production. The purpose of this study was to use a geometric shoulder model to evaluate the anterior deltoid, middle deltoid, and supraspinatus regarding (1) the differences in moment arms and muscle-tendon lengths in small, medium, and large native shoulders and (2) the impact of 3 RSA designs on moment arms, muscle fiber lengths, and force-length (F-L) curves. METHODS: A geometric model of the native glenohumeral joint was developed, validated, and adjusted to represent small, medium, and large shoulders. Moment arms, muscle-tendon lengths, and normalized muscle fiber lengths were assessed for the supraspinatus, anterior deltoid, and middle deltoid from 0° to 90° of abduction. RSA designs were modeled and virtually implanted, including a lateralized glenosphere with an inlay 135° humeral component (lateral glenoid-medial humerus [LGMH]), a medialized glenosphere with an onlay 145° humeral component (medial glenoid-lateral humerus [MGLH]), and a medialized glenosphere with an inlay 155° humeral component (medial glenoid-medial humerus [MGMH]). Descriptive statistics were used to compare moment arms and normalized muscle fiber lengths. RESULTS: As shoulder size increased, the moment arms and muscle-tendon lengths for the anterior deltoid, middle deltoid, and supraspinatus increased. All RSA designs achieved greater moment arms for the anterior and middle deltoid, with the MGLH design achieving the largest increase. The resting normalized muscle fiber length of the anterior and middle deltoid was substantially increased in the MGLH (1.29) and MGMH (1.24) designs, shifting the operating ranges of these muscles to the descending portions of their F-L curves, whereas the LGMH design maintained a resting deltoid fiber length (1.14) and operating range similar to the native shoulder. All RSA designs demonstrated a decrease in the native supraspinatus moment arm in early abduction, with the largest decrease in the MGLH design (-59%) and minimal decrease in the LGMH design (-14%). The supraspinatus operated on the ascending limb of its F-L curve in the native shoulder and remained on this portion of the F-L curve for all RSA designs. CONCLUSION: Although the MGLH design maximizes the abduction moment arm for the anterior and middle deltoid, overlengthening of the muscle may compromise deltoid muscle force production by forcing the muscle to operate on the descending portion of its F-L curve. In contrast, the LGMH design increases the abduction moment arm for the anterior and middle deltoid more modestly while allowing the muscle to operate near the plateau of its F-L curve and maximizing its force-producing potential.

Association Between Supraspinatus Tendon Retraction, Histologic Myofiber Size, and Supraspinatus Muscle Atrophy on MRI.

BACKGROUND: Atrophy of the rotator cuff is a negative prognostic indicator after rotator cuff repair. Although full-thickness rotator cuff tears accompanied by tendon retraction are commonly associated with decreased muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), it is unclear whether this is accompanied by histologic atrophy of rotator cuff myofibers. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of supraspinatus tendon retraction and myofiber size on supraspinatus atrophy on MRI. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: Supraspinatus muscle biopsy specimens were obtained from consecutive patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Rotator cuff tears were classified according to size. Preoperative MRI was used to measure tendon retraction and CSA of the supraspinatus muscle in the Y-shaped view. The occupation ratio of the supraspinatus was calculated by dividing the supraspinatus CSA by the supraspinatus fossa CSA. Muscle biopsy specimens were examined using laminin to quantify myofiber CSA. The association between supraspinatus tear size and measures of histologic and MRI muscle atrophy were compared using standard statistical tests. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of muscle atrophy on MRI. RESULTS: A total of 38 patients were included: 8 with no tear, 14 with a partial-thickness tear, and 16 with a full-thickness tear. Increasing tear size was associated with greater distance of tendon retraction (P < .001), smaller mean histologic myofiber size (P = .004), lower mean supraspinatus CSA on MRI (P < .001), and lower occupation ratio: 0.73 (control), 0.66 (partial tear), 0.53 (small to medium full-thickness tear), and 0.38 (large to massive full-thickness) (P < .001). On Pearson correlation analysis, tendon retraction demonstrated strong correlation with occupation ratio (-0.725; P < .001) and weak correlation with myofiber size (-0.437; P = .006), while occupation ratio showed moderate correlation with myofiber size (0.593; P < .001). Multivariable linear regression analysis demonstrated that increasing tendon retraction (P < .001), age (P = .034), and smaller histologic myofiber CSA (P = .047) were independently associated with greater supraspinatus atrophy on MRI. CONCLUSION: Supraspinatus muscle atrophy appreciated on MRI is independently associated with patient age, tendon retraction, and atrophy of the supraspinatus myofibers at the histologic level.

Injury prevention strategies at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup display a multifactorial approach and highlight subjective wellness measurements.

OBJECTIVE: To report the injury prevention programs utilised by top-level female footballers competing internationally. METHODS: An online survey was administered to physicians of the 24 competing national teams at the 2019 Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Women's World Cup. The survey included 4 sections regarding perceptions and practices concerning non-contact injuries: (1) risk factors, (2) screening tests and monitoring tools, (3) preventative strategies, and (4) reflection on their World Cup experience. RESULTS: Following responses from 54% of teams, the most common injuries encountered included muscle strains, ankle sprains, and anterior cruciate ligament ruptures. The study also revealed the most important injury risk factors during the FIFA 2019 World Cup. Intrinsic risk factors include accumulated fatigue, previous injury, and strength endurance. Extrinsic risk factors include reduced recovery time between matches, congested match schedule, and the number of club team matches played. The 5 most used tests for risk factors were flexibility, joint mobility, fitness, balance, and strength. Monitoring tools commonly used were subjective wellness, heart rate, minutes/matches played, and daily medical screening. Specific strategies to limit the risk of an anterior cruciate ligament injury included the FIFA 11+ program and proprioception training. CONCLUSION: The present study revealed multifactorial approaches to injury prevention strategies for women's national football teams at the FIFA 2019 World Cup. Challenges to injury prevention program implementation reflect time limitations, schedule uncertainties, and varying club team recommendations. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.