Anatomical total shoulder arthroplasty in young patients with osteoarthritis

AIMS: Controversy about the use of an anatomical total shoulder arthroplasty (aTSA) in young arthritic patients relates to which is the ideal form of fixation for the glenoid component: cemented or cementless. This study aimed to evaluate implant survival of aTSA when used in patients aged < 60 years with primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis (OA), and to compare the survival of cemented all-polyethylene and cementless metal-backed glenoid components. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 69 consecutive aTSAs were performed in 67 patients aged < 60 years with primary glenohumeral OA. Their mean age at the time of surgery was 54 years (35 to 60). Of these aTSAs, 46 were undertaken using a cemented polyethylene component and 23 were undertaken using a cementless metal-backed component. The age, gender, preoperative function, mobility, premorbid glenoid erosion, and length of follow-up were comparable in the two groups. The patients were reviewed clinically and radiographically at a mean of 10.3 years (5 to 12, sd 26) postoperatively. Kaplan-Meier survivorship analysis was performed with revision as the endpoint. RESULTS: A total of 26 shoulders (38%) underwent revision surgery: ten (22%) in the polyethylene group and 16 (70%) in the metal-backed group (p < 0.0001). At 12 years' follow-up, the rate of implant survival was 74% (sd 0.09) for polyethylene components and 24% (sd 0.10) for metal-backed components (p < 0.0002). Glenoid loosening or failure was the indication for revision in the polyethylene group, whereas polyethylene wear with metal-on-metal contact, instability, and insufficiency of the rotator cuff were the indications for revision in the metal-backed group. Preoperative posterior subluxation of the humeral head with a biconcave/retroverted glenoid (Walch B2) had an adverse effect on the survival of a metal-backed component. CONCLUSION: The survival of a cemented polyethylene glenoid component is three times higher than that of a cementless metal-backed glenoid component ten years after aTSA in patients aged < 60 years with primary glenohumeral OA. Patients with a biconcave (B2) glenoid have the highest risk of failure

Clinical and structural outcome twenty years after repair of isolated supraspinatus tendon tears

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the clinical and structural outcome 20 years after repair of isolated supraspinatus tendon tears. We hypothesized that the results would deteriorate over time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this retrospective multicenter study, 137 patients were recalled for a clinical and imaging assessment. Six patients (4.3%) had died from unrelated causes, 52 (38.0%) were lost to follow-up, and 13 (9.5%) had undergone reoperations. This left 66 patients for clinical evaluation. Radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging were additionally performed for 45 patients, allowing assessment of osteoarthritis, tendon healing, fatty infiltration (FI), and muscle atrophy. RESULTS: The Constant Score (CS) improved from 51.5 ± 14.1 points preoperatively to 71 points (P < .05) with a mean Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV) of 77.2% ± 22%. Tendon discontinuity (Sugaya IV-V) was present in 19 of 45 patients (42 %), and there was advanced FI (Goutallier III-IV) of the supraspinatus in 12 (27%) and of the infraspinatus muscle in 16 (35%). Supraspinatus atrophy was present in 12 patients (28%), advanced arthritis in 6, and cuff tear arthropathy in 12 (30%). The CS and SSV were significantly inferior for shoulders with FI of stages III to IV (P < .05). The CS was lower in cuff tear arthropathy and correlated with infraspinatus FI. CONCLUSIONS: At 20 years after surgical repair of isolated supraspinatus tears, the clinical outcome remains significantly above the preoperative state. FI of the infraspinatus is the most influential factor on long-term clinical outcome

Arm lengthening after reverse shoulder arthroplasty: a review

The purpose of this review is to provide a better understanding of biomechanical changes induced by reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA), discuss the different techniques of radiographic assessment of upper limb lengthening after RSA and determine the ideal soft tissue tension that provides the best functional outcome without increasing the risk of complications