Surgical Stabilization of Shoulder Instability in Patients With or Without a History of Seizure: A Comparative Analysis

Poor midterm clinical outcomes and a high percentage of unsatisfying results are reported after seizure-related shoulder injuries, especially after posterior proximal humerus fracture-dislocations

BACKGROUND

Treating seizure-related shoulder injuries is challenging, and an evidence-based consensus to guide clinicians is lacking. The aim of this prospective single-center observational clinical trial was to evaluate the clinical results of a cohort of patients undergoing treatment of seizure-related shoulder injuries, to categorize them according to the lesion's characteristics, with special focus on patients with proximal humerus fracture-dislocations (PHFDs), and to define groups at risk of obtaining unsatisfactory results. We hypothesized that patients with a PHFD, considered the worst-case scenario among these injuries, would report worse clinical results in terms of the quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire (qDASH) as compared to the other patients.

METHODS

Patients referred to a tertiary epilepsy center who have seizure-related shoulder injuries and with a minimum follow-up of 1 year were included. A quality-of-life assessment instrument (EQ-5D-5L), a district-specific patient-reported outcome measure (qDASH), and a pain assessment tool (visual analog scale [VAS]) were used for the clinical outcome evaluation. Subjective satisfaction and fear of new shoulder injuries was also documented. Categorization and subgroup analysis according to the presence and features of selected specific lesions were performed.

RESULTS

A total of 111 patients were deemed eligible and 83 were available for follow-up (median age 38 years, 30% females), accounting for a total of 107 injured shoulders. After a median follow-up of 3.9 (1.6-8.2) years, overall moderate clinical results were reported. In addition, 34.1% of the patients reported a VAS score ≥35 mm, indicating moderate to severe pain, and 34.1% a qDASH score ≥40 points, indicating severe disability of an upper limb. These percentages rose to, respectively, 45.5% and 48.5% in the subgroup of patients with PHFDs and to 68.8% and 68.8% in patients experiencing posterior PHFD. Overall, 46.9% of the patients considered themselves unsatisfied with the treatment and 62.5% reported a persistent fear of a new shoulder injury.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with seizure-related shoulder injuries reported only moderate clinical results at their midterm follow-up. Older age, male sex, and absence or discontinuation of antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment were identified as characterizing features of patients with posterior dislocation episodes. In patients with PHFD, a tendency to worse clinical results was observed, with posterior PHFD patients emerging as a definite subgroup at risk of reporting unsatisfying results after treatment.

Latarjet operation carries three times the risk of failure in seizure versus non-seizure recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder joint: outcome of a systematic review with meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation (RASD) in cases of seizure disorders (SDs) total 50%-80% of all SD-associated shoulder instabilities. Based on the extent of bone loss, treatment options include bony and soft-tissue reconstructions, arthroplasty, and arthrodesis. The primary objective of this paper was to review the treatment options for RASD in SDs.

METHODS

Several bibliographic databases were searched for RASD treatment options in SD patients. The demographic outcome measures, the failure rate (defined as the relative risk of recurrence of dislocation postoperation), and the postoperative seizure recurrence rate were recorded.

RESULTS

We pooled 171 cases (187 shoulders) from 11 studies. Of these, one, five, two, two, and one reports studied Bankart's operation with remplissage (27 cases/29 shoulders), the Latarjet procedure (106/118), bone block operation (21/23), arthroplasty (11/11), and arthrodesis (6/6), respectively, in treating SD-associated RASD. The relative risk of failure between SD and non-SD patients was 3.76 (1.3610.38) after the Latarjet operation. The failure rates were 17% and 13% for Bankart's operation with remplissage and the Latarjet procedure in SD patients, respectively, but 0% each for bone block operation, arthroplasty, and arthrodesis. The total rate of seizure recurrence after operation was 33% of the pooled cases.

CONCLUSIONS

SD recurrence in the postoperative period, the size of the bone block, and the muscular attachments to a small coracoid autograft are the determinants of failure among various reconstructive operations in SD-associated RASD. Level of evidence: III.

Location and size of the reverse Hill-Sachs lesion in patients with traumatic posterior shoulder instability

BACKGROUND

In patients with traumatic posterior shoulder instability, little is known about the precise location and size of the reverse Hill-Sachs lesion.

METHODS

Forty-nine shoulders of 47 patients with traumatic posterior instability were included in this study based on the following inclusion criteria: (1) a primary or recurrent traumatic posterior shoulder dislocation and (2) the initial event being caused by trauma. Patients were excluded if they had (1) no history of trauma, (2) prior shoulder surgery, (3) no computed tomographic (CT) examination, or (4) were seizure cases. Three-dimensional images of the humerus reconstructed from CT images were reviewed using an image analysis software. The location and size of the reverse Hill-Sachs lesion were measured and described on a clock face on the humeral head.

RESULTS

The reverse Hill-Sachs lesion was observed in 25 of 49 shoulders (51%). The reverse Hill-Sachs lesions were located between 1:37 and 2:48. The depth of the reverse Hill-Sachs lesion (mean ± standard deviation) was 5.8 ± 2.2 mm. The extent of the reverse Hill-Sachs lesion was 35° ± 12°. The average orientation of the reverse Hill-Sachs lesion, represented by an angle measured from the 12 o'clock position, was 64° ± 12° and pointing toward 2:09 on a clock face. The mean length and width of reverse Hill-Sachs lesions were 9.7 ± 4.7 mm and 11.1 ± 3.6 mm, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The reverse Hill-Sachs lesion was a semicircular compression fracture located on the anteromedial aspect of the humeral head. Compared with shoulders with anterior shoulder instability, the humeral defect was smaller and located more inferiorly in shoulders with posterior instability.

Early Treatment of Shoulder Pathology Is Necessary but Not Enough Is Being Performed

Delayed treatment of shoulder instability results in bone loss requiring more-complicated surgery, in turn resulting in less-optimal outcomes. Similarly, delayed treatment of repairable rotator cuff tears results in irreparable tears requiring more-complicated surgery and resulting in less-optimal outcomes. Delayed treatment of shoulder pathology is a problem. Solutions include education and research investigation.

Outcomes of Arthroscopic Latarjet Procedure for Anterior Glenohumeral Instability in Patients With Epilepsy: A Case-Control Study

BACKGROUND

Unacceptably high rates of redislocation, reoperation, osteoarthritis, and coracoid nonunion have been reported in patients with a seizure disorder after surgery for shoulder instabilitiy.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the objective and subjective functional and radiologic results of the arthroscopic Latarjet procedure for anterior shoulder instability in patients with epilepsy and compare them with the results of patients without epilepsy.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS

A retrospective and comparative case-control analysis of patients operated for shoulder instability with arthroscopic Latarjet was conducted. Nineteen patients (21 unstable shoulders) with a seizure disorder (epilepsy group) were matched with 21 patients without a history of seizure (control group). Demographics, surgical indications, and imaging data were collected. Clinical outcomes at a minimum 2 years of follow-up (range, 2-9 years) postoperatively included Rowe score, Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI), Constant-Murley Shoulder Outcome (CMSO) score, and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE). The incidence of complications, recurrent instability, redislocation, revision surgery, repeated seizure(s), and presence of osteoarthritis, coracoid nonunion, and osteolysis were also examined.

RESULTS

After a mean follow-up of 4.5 years, no significant differences in functional results were found between patients with and without epilepsy on the average Rowe (P = .917), WOSI (P = .621), CMSO (P = .600), and SANE (P = .859) scores. A total of 5 patients (7 shoulders) continued to have seizures postoperatively, but no seizure-related glenohumeral instability was documented. One dislocation and 1 subluxation were documented while participating in sports in each study group, comprising a recurrence rate of 9.5%, but no significant differences were found at comparison (P = .605). A bone defect did not influence the results, as no significant difference was found between the 2 groups. Osteoarthritic changes of the glenohumeral joint were observed in 5 shoulders (23.8%) in the epilepsy group and in 3 (14.3%) in the control group (P = .451). No case of coracoid nonunion or osteolysis was recorded. There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative athletic activity (P = .660). However, patients with epilepsy had significantly lower pre- and postoperative sports participation (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Arthroscopic Latarjet stabilization can lead to improved functional and subjective outcomes and should be considered in patients with epilepsy with recurrent anterior glenohumeral instability. These results can be achieved regardless of the presence of bone defect and the postoperative control of seizures and are similar to those in patients without epilepsy.