Influence of sportive activity on functional and radiographic outcomes following reverse total shoulder arthroplasty: a comparative study

Editorial Commentary: Even With a High Retear Rate, Shoulder Capsular Reconstruction Outcomes are Promising, But Are We Seeing an Increase in Strength?

Superior capsular reconstruction was developed to restore patient biomechanics for patients with massive irreparable rotator cuff tears that preclude shoulder arthroplasty. Recent studies have shown excellent short-term clinical outcomes and improved pain and functional scores but high rates of complications including retear, loss of fixation, or incomplete healing. An alternative option, reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, is a reliable and safe method to ensure good muscle strength and return to play in this patient group.

Functional and radiographic outcomes of reverse shoulder arthroplasty with a minimum follow-up of 10 years

BACKGROUND

The use of reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) is becoming increasingly prevalent. However, few studies have been published reporting the long-term outcomes of RSA. This study aims to report the clinical, radiographic, and patient-reported outcomes of the Delta Xtend reverse shoulder prosthesis, performed by a single surgeon and with a minimum follow-up of 10 years.

METHODS

All RSA procedures performed between 2005 and 2012 were identified. Patients were contacted and invited for a follow-up visit including clinical assessment, radiographs, and patient-reported outcome measures. Patients with a follow-up of less than 10 years were excluded. The revision-free implant survival was calculated at 10 years. Between 2005 and 2012, 119 procedures in 116 patients meeting inclusion criteria were identified. Of these patients, 35 were deceased before reaching the 10-year follow-up and 23 could not be reached. In total, 63 RSAs could be included in 61 patients (response rate: 75%). The median follow-up was 11.7 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 10.5-13.2).

RESULTS

Of the 61 patients, 7 patients underwent a revision after a median of 3 years (IQR: 0.2-9.8) during the total follow-up period. The 10-year implant survival was 94% (95% confidence interval: 84-98). At final follow-up, the median anterior elevation was 135° (IQR: 130°-160°), the median abduction was 120° (IQR: 100°-135°), and the median level reached with internal rotation was L5 (IQR: sacrum-L5). The median Auto-Constant score was 68 (IQR: 53-78), the median Subjective Shoulder Value was 80 (IQR: 70-93), and the median pain score was 0.2/10 (IQR: 0-2). In total, radiographs could be obtained in 25 patients (40%). Scapular notching occurred in 10 patients (40%), which was classified as Sirveaux-Nerot grade IV in 3 patients (12%). Ossification occurred in 10 patients (40%), and stress shielding in 2 patients (8%). Radiolucencies were observed around the humeral component in 24 patients (96%) and around the glenoid component in 13 patients (52%).

CONCLUSION

The long-term results of RSA with a Delta Xtend prosthesis are favorable, with long-term improvement in range of motion and patient-reported outcome measures, and a satisfactory implant survival rate. Interestingly, the radiographical analysis showed high prevalence of signs associated with loosening, which did not seem to translate to high complication rates or inferior results.

The effect of subscapularis repair in reverse total shoulder arthroplasty depends on the design of the implant: a comparative study with a minimum 2-year follow-up

INTRODUCTION

The role of the subscapularis (Ssc) tendon does not yet have a well-defined role in RSA. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate if the repair of the Ssc in RSA improves overall clinical and radiographic results and if it has the same results using a medialized design humeral stem compared to a lateralized design.

METHODS

Eighty-four consecutive patients undergoing RSA were retrospectively analyzed. Nine patients were lost at FU. Two implants with similar glenosphere design and different stem design (medialized and lateralized) were used. The Ssc was repaired in case of good quality of the fibers and reducibility without tension intraoperatively. Patients were divided into four groups for data analysis depending on whether they had received a medialized or lateralized design and Ssc repair or not. Patients were reviewed at an average follow-up of 40.8 ± 13.1 months. Clinical outcome measures included Active range of motion (ROM), strength, visual analog scale (VAS), Constant-Murley score (CMS), and the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score (ASES). Radiographic evaluation at final follow-up was performed to assess scapular notching, stress shielding, and radiolucent lines.

RESULTS

No statistically significant clinical differences (p > 0.05) emerged between Lat/Ssc+ and Lat/Ssc-. Conversely, the patients belonging to the Med/Ssc- group reported statistically worse (p < 0.05) results than the Med/Ssc + group in terms of VAS, ASES and CMS. Statistically worse (p < .05) results in the Med/Ssc- group than in the Med/Ssc + were found also in active ROM achieved in FE, ABD, ER1 and ER2, and in the strength obtained in FE, ABD and ER2. Scapular notching was reported in 3 shoulders (15.7%) in Lat/Ssc+ group and in 7 shoulders (50%) in Lat/Ssc- group, while it was reported in 4 shoulders (14.2%) in Med/Ssc + group and in 6 shoulders (42.8%) in Med/Ssc- group. Stress shielding was observed in 6 cases in Lat/Ssc+ group (31.6%), in 8 cases in Lat/Ssc- group (57.1%), in 3 cases (10.7%) in Med/Ssc + group and 4 cases in Med/Ssc- group (28.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients undergoing RSA show clinical improvements at mid-term follow-up with a low rate of complications, regardless of the use of a medialized or a lateralized humeral stem design. Ssc repair is associated with better functional outcomes in the cohort of medialized stem, while it did not yield significant differences in the cohort of lateralized stem.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III; Retrospective Cohort Comparison; Treatment Study.

Return to Sports Activity After Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

Background

There are little published data on return to sports (RTS) after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA).

Purpose

To (1) determine the rate and timing of RTS after RTSA in an Asian population, (2) analyze predictive factors for RTS, and (3) determine the relationship between RTS after RTSA and clinical/radiological outcomes.

Study Design

Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods

A retrospective review was performed on consecutive patients with diagnosis of irreparable rotator cuff tear (RCT), cuff tear arthropathy (CTA), or degenerative osteoarthritis who underwent RTSA between May 2017 and May 2020. Included were patients who played sports preoperatively in ≤3 years and had ≥2-year follow-up. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on responses to a telephone survey about RTS after RTSA: those who returned to sports (group A) and those who did not (group B). Patient characteristics, pre- and postoperative clinical features and functional scores, and radiologic outcomes (acromial fracture, scapular notching, heterotopic ossification, and loosening of humeral and glenoid component) were compared between the groups.

Results

Of 59 eligible patients, 44 patients (28 in group A, 16 in group B) were included. The RTS rate after RTSA was 63.6%, and the mean RTS time was 9.1 months (range, 3-36 months). There was a significant group difference in body mass index (BMI) (group A, 24.3 ± 2.1; group B, 27.1 ± 4.4; P = .01) and preoperative diagnosis (CTA/irreparable RCT/degenerative osteoarthritis diagnoses: group A, 13/12/3; group B, 3/6/7; P = .03). Patients in group A showed significantly higher forward flexion (P = .03) and higher Simple Shoulder Test score (P = .02) than group B at final clinical follow-up. No significant difference in radiological outcomes was found between the groups.

Conclusion

Patients with a low BMI and those diagnosed with CTA or irreparable RCT were found to have better RTS rates after undergoing RTSA, and forward flexion and Simple Shoulder Test scores at final follow-up were significantly higher in the RTS group, with no significant differences in complications.