Clinical outcomes and recurrence rate of 4 procedures for recurrent anterior shoulder instability: ASA, remplissage, open, and arthroscopic Latarjet: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to compare the clinical outcomes of 4 surgical techniques in patients with recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation, glenoid bone loss (GBL) <15% and Instability Severity Index (ISI) score >3. METHODS: A retrospective multicenter study was conducted on 226 patients who underwent 1 of 4 different techniques (Bankart plus arthroscopic subscapularis augmentation (ASA), Bankart plus remplissage, Latarjet, Arthro-Latarjet). The inclusion criteria were: recurrent dislocation, GBL <15%, and ISI score >3. The exclusion criteria were: GBL >15%, voluntary instability, multidirectional instability, preexisting osteoarthritis, throwing athletes' first dislocation, and ISI score<3. Follow-up ranged from 24 months to 6 years. Hyperlaxity was clinically evaluated according to Neer and Coudane-Walch tests. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Rowe score and the Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI) for each technique. Before surgery, all patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanning. The Pico area method was used to assess the percentage of GBL. The operations were performed by 10 experienced surgeons; the functional outcomes were evaluated by 2 independent observers. RESULTS: A total of 226 patients who met the inclusion criteria were included in the present series. A total of 89.2% of patients in the ASA group reported an excellent Rowe score at the final follow-up, and their scores on the WOSI scale, improved from 838 to 235 points. A total of 79.9% of patients in remplissage (R) group reported an excellent Rowe score at the final follow-up, and their scores on the WOSI scale improved from 1146 to 465 points. A total of 98.5% of patients in the Latarjet (L) group reported an excellent Rowe score at the final follow-up, and their scores on the WOSI scale improved from 1456 to 319 points. A total of 81.6% of patients in the Arthro-Latarjet (AL) group reported an excellent Rowe score at the final follow-up, and their scores on the WOSI scale improved from 1250 to 221 points. The recurrence rates were as follows: ASA group (7%), remplissage group (6.1%), L group (1.5%), Arthro-Latarjet group (0%). Patients in the open L group had 15.5% (10/66) more complications. CONCLUSION: The use of ASA and remplissage to augment the Bankart repair have been demonstrated to be effective for restoring joint stability, yielding good clinical outcomes similar to the L procedure in patients affected by recurrent anterior dislocation with GBL <15% and an ISI score score >3. Soft tissues augmentations of the Bankart repair have been demonstrated to be effective for addressing anterior soft tissue deficiency dysfunction and critical Hill-Sachs lesions.

Reliability of forced internal rotation and active internal rotation to assess lateral instability of the biceps pulley.

PURPOSE: the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between positive painful forced internal rotation (FIR) and lateral pulley instability in the presence of a pre-diagnosed posterosuperior cuff tear. The same investigation was conducted for painful active internal rotation (AIR). METHODS: a multicenter prospective study was conducted in a series of patients scheduled to undergo arthroscopic posterosuperior cuff repair. Pain was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (DASH) was administered. The VAS score at rest, DASH score, and presence/absence of pain on FIR and AIR were recorded and their relationships with lesions of the lateral pulley, cuff tear patterns and shape of lesions were analyzed. RESULTS: the study population consisted of 115 patients (mean age: 55.1 years) recruited from 12 centers. The dominant arm was affected in 72 cases (62.6%). The average anteroposterior extension of the lesion was 1.61 cm. The mean preoperative VAS and DASH scores were 6.1 and 41.8, respectively. FIR and AIR were positive in 94 (81.7%) and 85 (73.9%) cases, respectively. The lateral pulley was compromised in 50 cases (43.4%). Cuff tears were partial articular in 35 patients (30.4%), complete in 61 (53%), and partial bursal in 19 (16.5%). No statistical correlation between positive FIR or AIR and lateral pulley lesions was detected. Positive FIR and AIR were statistically associated with complete lesions. Negative FIR was associated with the presence of partial articular tears. CONCLUSIONS: painful FIR in the presence of a postero-superior cuff tear does not indicate lateral pulley instability. When a cuff tear is suspected, positive FIR and AIR are suggestive of full-thickness tear patterns while a negative FIR suggests a partial articular lesion. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: level I, validating cohort study with good reference standards.

Platelet-rich plasma augmentation for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: After reinsertion on the humerus, the rotator cuff has limited ability to heal. Growth factor augmentation has been proposed to enhance healing in such procedure. PURPOSE: This study was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of growth factor augmentation during rotator cuff repair. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. METHODS: Eighty-eight patients with a rotator cuff tear were randomly assigned by a computer-generated sequence to receive arthroscopic rotator cuff repair without (n = 45) or with (n = 43) augmentation with autologous platelet-rich fibrin matrix (PRFM). The primary end point was the postoperative difference in the Constant score between the 2 groups. The secondary end point was the integrity of the repaired rotator cuff, as evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging. Analysis was on an intention-to-treat basis. RESULTS: All the patients completed follow-up at 16 months. There was no statistically significant difference in total Constant score when comparing the results of arthroscopic repair of the 2 groups (95% confidence interval, -3.43 to 3.9) (P = .44). There was no statistically significant difference in magnetic resonance imaging tendon score when comparing arthroscopic repair with or without PRFM (P = .07). CONCLUSION: Our study does not support the use of autologous PRFM for augmentation of a double-row repair of a small or medium rotator cuff tear to improve the healing of the rotator cuff. Our results are applicable to small and medium rotator cuff tears; it is possible that PRFM may be beneficial for large and massive rotator cuff tears. Also, given the heterogeneity of PRFM preparation products available on the market, it is possible that other preparations may be more effective.