Biomechanical analysis of anterior stability after 15% glenoid bone loss: comparison of Bankart repair, dynamic anterior stabilization, dynamic anterior stabilization with Bankart repair, and Latarjet.

BACKGROUND: Dynamic anterior shoulder stabilization (DAS) with Bankart repair is a recently described stabilization technique thought to be more robust than an isolated Bankart repair while avoiding many coracoid transfer-related complications and technical demands. DAS involves transfer of the long head biceps through a subscapularis split to the anterior glenoid to create a sling effect. We hypothesize that DAS with Bankart repair will restore anterior stability in a human-cadaveric model with subcritical (15%) glenoid bone loss. METHODS: Eight cadaveric shoulders were tested using an established shoulder simulator to record glenohumeral translations with an accuracy of ±0.2 mm. Shoulders were tested in 5 states-intact soft tissues, Bankart defect with 15% bone loss, isolated Bankart repair, DAS with Bankart repair, isolated DAS, and Latarjet. A 45 N anterior force was applied through the pectoralis major tendon, and translation of the humeral head was recorded and compared with repeated measures analysis of variance. RESULTS: The anterior translation in the intact (native) glenoid was 4.7 mm at neutral position and 4.6 mm at 45° external rotation. Anterior translation significantly increased after introducing a Bankart defect with 15% glenoid bone loss to 9.1 mm (neutral, P = .002) and 9.5 mm (45° external rotation, P < .001). All repair conditions showed a significant decrease in anterior translation relative to Bankart defect. DAS with Bankart repair decreased anterior translation compared with the Bankart defect: 2.7 mm (neutral, P < .001) and 2.1 mm (45° external rotation, P < .001). DAS with Bankart repair significantly decreased anterior translation compared with the isolated Bankart repair (2.7 mm vs. 4.7 mm, P = .023) and the isolated DAS (2.7 mm vs. 4.3 mm, P = .041) in neutral position. The Latarjet procedure resulted in the greatest reduction in anterior translation compared with the Bankart defect: 1.2 mm (neutral, P < .001) and 1.9 mm (45° external rotation, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: DAS with Bankart repair is a viable alternative to restore anterior glenohumeral stability with a 15% glenoid defect at a greater degree than either DAS or Bankart repair alone. The Latarjet procedure was the most effective in reducing anterior translation but restrained the anterior translation significantly more than the native glenoid.

Minimum 15-year follow-up for clinical outcomes of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS: Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair surgery is one of the most common shoulder procedures performed in the United States. Although several studies have shown considerable symptomatic relief in the short term following surgery, a relatively high rate of recurrent defects has led surgeons to question the long-term durability of this operation. We hypothesized that outcomes at a minimum of 15 years of follow-up in patients who underwent all-arthroscopic rotator cuff repair would be maintained and would remain significantly improved compared with the preoperative status. METHODS: All-arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs were performed in 193 patients from 2003 to 2005. Patient-reported outcomes were collected preoperatively and at 1, 2, 5, and ≥15 years postoperatively. The primary outcome was the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score. Secondary outcomes included Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE), Shoulder Activity Scale (SAS), visual analog scale, and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)-Upper Extremity (UE) scores. Patient demographic characteristics, revision surgical procedures, and complications were recorded. Generalized estimating equations were used to model scores over time, and multiple comparisons between time points were performed using Tukey adjustment. RESULTS: This study included 60 patients with a mean follow-up period of 16.5 years (range, 15.8-17.7 years). The mean ASES score improved from 60.2 ± 18.8 preoperatively to 93.0 ± 9.4 at ≥15 years (P < .0001). The mean visual analog scale pain score decreased from 4.1 ± 0.7 preoperatively to 0.7 ± 0.3 at ≥15 years (P < .0001). The average SANE, SAS, and PROMIS-UE scores at ≥15 years were 87.8 ± 14.8, 8.8 ± 4.3, and 49.6 ± 10.2, respectively. Of 60 patients, 7 underwent revision surgery. Older age and female sex were associated with lower SAS scores at 15 years, whereas female sex was associated with lower PROMIS-UE scores. There were no factors predictive of ASES or SANE scores. CONCLUSION: At long-term follow-up (≥15 years), the patient-reported outcomes of all-arthroscopic rotator cuff repair show significant improvement from baseline preoperative function and remain durable over a period of 15 years. This information is useful in counseling patients regarding the long-term results of this procedure.

A validated algorithm using current literature to judge the appropriateness of anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty utilizing the RAND/UCLA appropriateness method.

BACKGROUND: Currently, appropriateness criteria evaluating when to perform total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) is lacking. In the absence of society guidelines and limited quality evidence, the RAND/University California in Los Angeles (UCLA) method provides a suitable alternative to evaluate appropriateness and assist in clinical decision making. Given the rise in utilization, appropriateness criteria for TSA have the potential to be an extremely powerful tool for improving quality of care and controlling costs. Thus, the goal of this study was to test explicit criteria to assess the appropriateness of TSA decision making using the RAND/UCLA appropriateness method. METHODS: A review of recent scientific literature to gather available evidence about the use, effectiveness, efficiency, and the risks involved in surgical intervention was performed by a shoulder/elbow fellowship trained physician. Based on pertinent variables including age, rotator cuff status, previous surgical management, mobility, symptomatology, and imaging classifications, 186 clinical scenarios were created. Appropriateness criteria for TSA were developed using a modified Delphi method with a panel consisting of American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) members. A second panel of ASES members rated the same scenarios, with reliability testing performed to compare groups. RESULTS: Panel members reached agreement in 40 (64%) indications. TSA was appropriate in 15 (24%) of indications. For patients with severe symptomatology, TSA was often appropriate for patients aged <75 years and inconclusive or inappropriate for patients aged >75 years. Among patients aged <65 years, TSA varied between appropriate and inconclusive, often dependent on Walch classification. For patients with moderate symptomatology, TSA was inappropriate or inconclusive for patients aged <65 or >75 years. When compared to the second panel's results, moderate agreement was obtained with a weighted kappa statistic of 0.56. CONCLUSIONS: Using the RAND/UCLA method, ASES members created an appropriateness decision tree for pertinent patient variables. This presents the data in a manner that streamlines the clinical decision-making process and allows for rapid and more reliable determination of appropriateness for practitioners. The decision tree is based on a combination of clinical experience from high-volume ASES-member surgeons and a comprehensive review of current evidence. This tool can be used as part of a broader set of factors, including individual patient characteristics, prior studies, and expert opinion, to inform clinical decision making, improve quality of care, and control costs.

Corrective Proximal Humerus Osteotomy with Blade Plate Osteosynthesis in Adolescents: A Report of 2 Cases.

CASE: Two cases are presented to highlight the indications, surgical technique, and early clinical outcomes associated with proximal humerus corrective osteotomy using a 90° cannulated blade plate in adolescent patients. CONCLUSION: A complex deformity of the proximal humerus in the adolescent patient poses an uncommon yet debilitating clinical condition that is challenging to manage. We report a unique method for surgical correction and fixation using an infant hip osteotomy 90° blade plate that restores native shoulder anatomy, improves function, and has led to early clinical success.

Computed Tomography-Based Preoperative Planning Provides a Pathology and Morphology-Specific Approach to Glenohumeral Instability With Bone Loss.

PURPOSE: To use computed tomography (CT) to determine a reproducible method of coracoid measurement to compare the ability of the classic Latarjet technique and the congruent arc modification (CAM) to restore native glenoid diameter and to develop a preoperative planning algorithm for glenoid restoration with a goal of achieving an on-track shoulder. METHODS: Coracoid dimensions were measured on multiplanar reconstructed shoulder CT scans of patients aged 18 to 45 years obtained between December 1, 2019, and March 13, 2020. Patients were excluded if CT demonstrated osteophyte formation, glenoid dysplasia, coracoid fracture, or tumor. The proportion of glenoid diameter able to be restored using classic Latarjet technique and CAM were calculated. A treatment algorithm was proposed considering the amount of bone loss present and coracoid dimensions. RESULTS: Coracoid dimensions of 117 consecutive patients were measured and varied considerably (length: 17.5-31.8 mm, width: 9.1-20.5 mm, thickness: 6.1-15.7 mm). While most patients had harvestable coracoid length ≥20 mm (male: 96.3% vs female: 94.4%, P = .65), only 27.8% of female patients had coracoid thickness ≥10 mm. When comparing Latarjet techniques, there was no difference in the proportion of patients in whom 30% glenoid diameter could be fully restored, but CAM was able to restore at least 35% in more male and female patients (98.8% vs 79.0% and 100% vs 61.1%, respectively, P = .00001). Intra- and inter-rater reliability was excellent ( intraclass correlation coefficient ≥0.950 for all dimensions). CONCLUSIONS: We describe a reliable method of measuring coracoid dimensions for preoperative planning of glenoid restoration. The classic Latarjet technique reliably restores the glenoid anteroposterior diameter with bone loss of up to 30%. The majority of female patients have coracoid thickness <10 mm, which may increase the risk of graft fracture when using CAM. The decision to use the classic Latarjet technique or CAM considers each individual's glenoid and coracoid dimensions with a goal of achieving an on-track shoulder. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our reliable method of coracoid measurement demonstrated the differing abilities of the classic Latarjet and CAM to restore the native glenoid diameter. An evidence-based algorithm using these measurements was developed to assist in preoperative planning for glenohumeral instability in the setting of bone loss, with a goal of achieving an on-track shoulder. Alternative techniques may be considered if an on-track shoulder cannot be achieved with Latarjet.

Proximal humerus reconstruction in orthopedic oncology.

Proximal humeral reconstructive options following radical resection of proximal humeral primary and metastatic bone malignancies have evolved over time. With the relatively recent advent of the reverse total shoulder (RTSA), this technique has been increasingly employed in this setting over hemiarthroplasty techniques. An array of options, including proximal humeral allograft-prosthetic composites (including both RTSA and hemiarthroplasty), megaprostheses, and osteoarticular allografts, is reviewed from the perspective of their indications, techniques, complications, and published results. An extensive case-based pictorial presentation illustrates these options.

Technology Used in the Prevention and Treatment of Shoulder and Elbow Injuries in the Overhead Athlete.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the current technology available for the prevention and treatment of shoulder and elbow injuries in the overhead athlete. RECENT FINDINGS: Shoulder and elbow injuries are common in recreational and high-level overhead athletes. Injury prevention in these athletes include identifying modifiable risk factors, offering effective preventative training programs, and establishing safe return-to-sport criteria. The advent and use of technologies and wearable devices with concomitant development of software and data analytic programs has significantly changed the role of sports technology in injury identification and prevention. Over the last few decades, leveraging new technologies to better understand and treat patients has become an increasing focus of healthcare. Technologies currently being applied to the treatment of the overhead athlete include kinesiotaping, heart rate monitors, accelerometers/gyroscopes, dynamometers/force plates, camera-based monitoring systems (optical motion analysis), and inertial sensor monitoring units. Advances in technology have made it possible to acquire large amounts of data on athletes that may be used to guide treatment and injury prevention programs; however, literature validating the clinical efficacy of many of these technologies is limited. Further research is needed to continue to allow team physicians to provide better, cost-efficient, and individualized care to the overhead athlete using technology.

The Virtual Shoulder and Knee Physical Examination.

The COVID-19 crisis has forced a sudden and dramatic shift in the way that clinicians interact with their patients, from outpatient encounters to telehealth visits utilizing a variety of internet-based videoconferencing applications. Although many aspects of pre-COVID-19 outpatient sports medicine care will ultimately resume, it is likely that telehealth will persist because of its practicality and because of patient demand for access to efficient and convenient health care. Physical examination is widely considered a critical obstacle to a thorough evaluation of sports medicine patients during telehealth visits. However, a closer reflection suggests that a majority of the examination maneuvers are possible virtually with limited, if any, modifications. Thus, we provide a comprehensive shoulder and knee physical examination for sports medicine telehealth visits, including (1) verbal instructions in layman's terms that can be provided to the patient before or read verbatim during the visit, (2) multimedia options (narrated videos and annotated presentations) of the shoulder and knee examination that can be provided to patients via screen-share options, and (3) a corresponding checklist to aid in documentation.