Outcomes of revision surgery after periprosthetic shoulder infection: a systematic review

Mid- to Long-Term Outcomes of Two-Stage Revision Arthroplasty for Periprosthetic Joint Infection of the Shoulder

Background/Objectives: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) after shoulder arthroplasty is often treated with a two-stage approach, but the data on the mid- to long-term outcomes remain scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of two-stage revision arthroplasty for shoulder PJI with a minimum follow-up of five years. Methods: This retrospective study identified 59 shoulders in 58 patients who underwent the first stage of a two-stage revision arthroplasty for shoulder PJI at our institution between 2007 and 2018. Of these, 29 shoulders in 29 patients (49.2%) did not undergo reimplantation or the patient passed away before reaching five years of follow-up. The remaining 30 shoulders in 29 patients were included in the study. The clinical assessments included the active range of motion, the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, the Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV), the Constant Score (CS), and the 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12), supplemented by detailed clinical and radiological evaluations. Results: The mean age of the 29 patients was 75.9 ± 10.4 years. The average follow-up duration was 8.3 ± 2.8 years. The most common indications for primary shoulder arthroplasty were primary osteoarthritis (n = 12, 40%) and fractures (n = 12, 40%). At the first stage, nine cases (30%) showed negative cultures, while C. acnes and S. epidermidis were each identified in eight cases (26.7%). Four shoulders (13.3%) experienced recurrent infections. At the follow-up, the mean abduction was 86 ± 48.1°, the mean forward flexion was 97.8 ± 50.1°, the mean external rotation was 20.5 ± 19.9°, and the internal rotation reached the lumbosacral region. The mean VAS pain score was 1.5 ± 2.1, the mean SSV was 51.8 ± 28.4%, the mean CS was 54.6 ± 21.0, and the mean SF-12 was 81.0 ± 16.0. Conclusions: Two-stage revision arthroplasty for shoulder PJI results in satisfactory subjective and objective outcomes, with a low overall reinfection rate. However, the high rates of mortality and failure to reimplant must be carefully considered when managing expectations in this challenging cohort.

Shoulder arthroplasty in the management of native shoulder joint infections has a high complication rate and poor functional outcome - a systematic review

Background

Shoulder arthroplasty is a treatment option of the sequelae of native shoulder joint infections. However, the functional outcomes and re-infection rates are unknown. The aim of this review was to analyse the outcome of shoulder arthroplasty in patients with native shoulder infections.

Methods

A review of the online databases MEDLINE and Embase was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. The review was registered prospectively in the PROSPERO database. Studies reporting either primary or secondary infections of native shoulder joints treated with any form of arthroplasty were included and appraised using the methodological index for non-randomised studies (MINORS) tool.

Results

Fourteen studies were eligible for inclusion. Mean age ranged from 56 to 72 years and the mean follow-up from 20.5 months to 8.2 years. Primary shoulder infections were present in 50 patients and secondary infections in 86. 76 patients underwent a two stage: 46 patients a single-stage procedure whilst 14 refused second-stage surgery. Mean post-operative Constant score ranged from 38 to 56.2. The overall reported re-infection rate was 2.3% and complication rate was 26%.

Conclusion

Shoulder arthroplasty in the management of either primary or secondary native shoulder infections has a high complication rate and low functional outcome but low re-infection rates at short-term follow-up.

Cutibacterium acnes in Shoulder Surgery: Is It a Significant Risk Factor for Postoperative Infection?

Cutibacterium acnes, a commensal, lipophilic, anaerobic Gram-positive bacterium, is well known for its potential to cause infections, particularly in the field of orthopedics, notably in the shoulder. However, its indolent strain nature presents challenges in the diagnosis of the bacterium using clinical, laboratory, and culture-based methods. There are controversies surrounding its actual threat as an infection-causing agent, leading to an incomplete consensus on treatment strategies after the infection. Furthermore, research is ongoing to explore preventive procedures before the onset of infection. This review aimed to comprehensively explore the diagnosis and treatment of C. acnes and determine whether it is a risk factor for shoulder joint infections.

Advances and Challenges in Orthopedic Implant-Associated Infections

The number for orthopedic implants and reconstructive joint replacements, including knee and hip implants, underwent a considerable increase, driven by the aging population and increasing prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders [...].

A Literature Review of Cutibacterium Acnes: From Skin Commensal to Pathogen in Shoulder Surgery

Cutibacterium acnes, previously known as Propionibacterium acnes, is a gram-positive rod in the pilosebaceous glands and commonly implicated in acne vulgaris. Its role in prosthetic joint infections, particularly in shoulder surgeries, has recently gained attention due to its prevalence around the shoulder girdle. This review collates evidence on the pathogenic role of C. acnes in shoulder surgeries, discussing preventive measures, risk factors, clinical presentation, investigation, and treatment strategies. C. acnes infections are complex, often presenting with non-specific symptoms and delayed diagnoses. Risk factors include male sex, presence of hair, shoulder steroid injections, and previous shoulder surgeries. Investigations such as inflammatory markers, synovial fluid analysis, diagnostic arthroscopy, tissue cultures, and advanced molecular techniques like next-generation sequencing and multiplex polymerase chain reaction are explored for their effectiveness in detecting C. acnes. Treatment strategies range from prolonged antibiotics and antibiotic spacers to single-stage and two-stage revision surgeries. Studies indicate that single-stage revision may provide better outcomes compared to two-stage revision. Effective management of C. acnes infections requires careful assessment, relevant investigations, and tailored treatment approaches. This review emphasizes the need for further research to address intraoperative contamination and to develop more efficient diagnostic and treatment methods.

Revision Surgery for Shoulder Infection after Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: Functional Outcomes and Eradication Rate-A Systematic Review

The outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR) have been reported to be successful. The incidence of deep infections (defined as an infection involving any part of the anatomy other than the skin and subcutaneous tissue) after surgery ranges between 0.03% and 3.4%. This systematic review aims to investigate the outcomes of revision surgery for infection following arthroscopic RCR. Clinical outcomes and eradication rates among patients treated with different surgical and antibiotic therapies are analyzed. A total of five studies were eligible for systematic review. A total of 146 patients were treated and evaluated, of whom 71 (48%) and 75 (52%) underwent arthroscopic and open surgery to manage the infection, respectively. The most common causative bacterium was Cutibacterium acnes (50.4%). Two studies reported the pre-and postoperative ASES score and Constant-Murley score (CMS), and a statistically significant improvement was found after surgery (p < 0.001 for both). Eradication was observed in a total of 138 patients (94.5%); no difference was found between arthroscopic and open revision surgery (92.8% and 96%, respectively, p = 0.90). The frequency-weighted mean duration of the intravenous antibiotic therapy was 6.6 ± 5.4 days, while the overall mean duration of antibiotic therapy, considering intravenous and oral administration, was 43.5 ± 40 days. Patients with infection following arthroscopic RCR undergoing revision surgery experienced a high rate of eradication. A significant improvement in shoulder functionality and less residual pain can be expected.

One- vs. Two-Stage Revision for Periprosthetic Shoulder Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Periprosthetic shoulder infection (PSI) remains a challenging complication after shoulder arthroplasty. Therapeutic options include one- or two-stage revision, irrigation and debridement, and resection arthroplasty. With our systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to compare one- and two-stage revisions for periprosthetic shoulder joint infections and determine the most appropriate therapeutic procedure. We performed an extensive literature search in PubMed, Ovid Medline, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and CINAHL and filtered out all relevant studies. The meta-analysis was performed using the random-effects model, heterogeneity was analyzed using I2, and publication bias was assessed using the Egger's test. A total of 8 studies with one-stage revisions, 36 studies with two-stage revisions, and 12 studies with both one-stage and two-stage revisions were included. According to the random-effects model, the reinfection rate for the entirety of the studies was 12.3% (95% Cl: 9.6-15.3), with a low-to-moderate heterogeneity of I2 = 47.72%. The reinfection rate of the one-stage revisions was 10.9%, which was significantly lower than the reinfection rate of the two-stage revisions, which was 12.93% (p = 0.0062). The one-stage revision rate was significantly lower with 1.16 vs. 2.25 revisions in the two-stage revision group (p < 0.0001). The postoperative functional outcome in one-stage-revised patients was comparable but not statistically significant (p = 0.1523). In one- and two-stage revisions, most infections were caused by Cutibacterium acnes. In summary, our systematic review and meta-analysis show the superiority of single-stage revision regarding reinfection and revision rates in periprosthetic shoulder joint infection.

Periprosthetic shoulder infection management: one-stage should be the way: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

There is still no consensus among surgeons on whether to perform a 1- or 2-stage surgical revision in infected shoulder arthroplasties. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to rigorously synthesize published studies evaluating the clinical outcomes, recurrence of infection, and other clinical complications in order to discuss which is the best strategy for treating periprosthetic joint infection after shoulder arthroplasty.

METHODS

Upon research using the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, in November 2022, studies that presented 1- or 2-stage surgical revision as a treatment for periprosthetic joint infection after shoulder arthroplasty and assessed the reinfection rate on these patients, as well as other clinical outcomes, with a minimum follow-up of 12 months, were included. Study quality was evaluated using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) score. Reinfection and complication rates were extracted, and pooled estimates were calculated using the random-effect model.

RESULTS

After careful screening, 44 studies were included, 5 reporting on 1-stage and 30 on 2-stage revisions and 9 assessing both strategies. A total of 185 shoulders were reported in 1-stage revision studies, whereas 526 shoulders were reported in 2-stage revision studies. The overall pooled random-effects reinfection rate was 6.68% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.76-10.13), with low heterogeneity (I2 = 28%, P = .03). One-stage revision showed a reinfection rate of 1.14% (95% CI: 0.00-4.88), whereas 2-stage revision analysis revealed a reinfection rate of 8.81% (95% CI: 4.96-13.33). There were significant statistical differences between 1- and 2-stage reinfection rates (P = .04). The overall pooled rate for other clinical complications was 16.76% (95% CI: 9.49-25.15), with high heterogeneity (I2 = 70%, P < .01). One-stage revision had a complication rate of 6.11% (95% CI: 1.58-12.39), whereas the 2-stage revision complication rate was 21.26% (95% CI: 11.51-32.54). This difference was statistically significant (P = .03).

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis showing significant statistical differences between 1- and 2-stage surgical revision in infected shoulder arthroplasties. Provided the right conditions exist, 1-stage revision shows better results in infection control, with lower clinical complications and possible better clinical outcomes.

Outcomes after débridement, antibiotics, and implant retention for prosthetic joint infection in shoulder arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Patients who undergo total shoulder arthroplasty usually have excellent long-term outcomes. However, a subset of patients is diagnosed with a prosthetic joint infection (PJI) requiring revision procedures and prolonged recovery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate rates of recurrent shoulder PJI in patients undergoing débridement, antibiotics, and implant retention (DAIR), single-stage revision, and 2-stage revision. We also sought to compare outcomes and complications across procedures.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review was conducted for patients diagnosed with PJI after primary shoulder arthroplasty between January 2010 and August 2021. Patients were included if they underwent treatment with DAIR, single-stage revision, or 2-stage revision. Demographic information, surgical details, complications, laboratory data, postoperative antibiotic regimen, and infectious pathogen were collected. Postoperative patient-reported outcomes were collected: American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation, Shoulder Activity Scale, and PROMIS Upper Extremity. Chi-square, t test, and 1-way analysis of variance were used as appropriate to evaluate each factor.

RESULTS

Sixty-five patients were included in the study, 26% treated with DAIR, 9% treated with single-stage revision, and 65% treated with 2-stage revision. There were no significant differences in patient comorbidities. Patients undergoing DAIR were diagnosed significantly earlier than those undergoing single- and 2-stage revision procedures (12.6 ± 22.9 months vs. 49.6 ± 48.4 vs. 25.0 ± 26.6, P = .010). Recurrent PJI was noted in 23.1% of patients: 29.4% of DAIR patients, no single-stage patients, and 23.8% of 2-stage patients (P = .330). Patients undergoing 2-stage revision with treatment failure had a significantly higher Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (0.2 ± 3.7 vs. 3.7 ± 3.9, P = .027). There was no significant difference in patient-reported outcomes across groups.

CONCLUSION

Patients undergoing treatment of shoulder PJI with DAIR did not have an increased rate of reinfection compared with single-stage and 2-stage revision procedures. Patients treated with DAIR were diagnosed with PJI significantly earlier than those undergoing single-stage and 2-stage revision procedures. There was no difference in complication rates between groups. This information adds to the body of work detailing outcomes after DAIR for shoulder PJI and provides encouraging data for use in this patient population. Future studies with a larger sample size may be conducted to further investigate specific pathogens, infection timelines, and antibiotic regimens that reduce the risk of treatment failure.

Femoral head allograft for glenoid bone loss in primary reverse shoulder arthroplasty: functional and radiologic outcomes

BACKGROUND

Several techniques have been adopted during primary reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) to manage glenoid bone defect. Among bone grafts, humeral head autograft is currently the mainstream option. However, autologous humeral heads may be unavailable or inadequate, and allografts may be a viable alternative. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the functional and radiologic outcomes of femoral head allografts for glenoid bone defects in primary RSA.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study with prospective data collection enrolling 20 consecutive patients who underwent RSA with femoral head allografts for glenoid bone defects. Indications for surgery were eccentric cuff tear arthropathy in 10 cases (50%), concentric osteoarthritis in 9 cases (45%), and fracture sequelae in 1 case (5%). Each patient was evaluated preoperatively and at follow-up by radiologic and computed tomography (CT) and by assessing the range of motion (ROM) and the Constant-Murley score (CMS). A CT-based software, a patient-specific 3D model of the scapula, and patient-specific instrumentation were used to shape the graft and to assess the position of K-wire for the central peg. Postoperatively, CT scans were used to identify graft incorporation and resorption.

RESULTS

After a median follow-up of 26.5 months (24-38), ROM and CMS showed a statistically significant improvement (all P = .001). The median measures of the graft were as follows: 28 mm (28-29) for diameter, 22° (10°-31°) for angle, 4 mm (2-8 mm) for minimum thickness, and 15 mm (11-21 mm) for maximum thickness. Before the surgery, the median glenoid version was 21.8° (16.5°-33.5°) for the retroverted glenoids and -13.5° (-23° to -12°) for the anteverted glenoids. At the follow-up, the median postoperative baseplate retroversion was 5.7° (2.2°-1.5°) (P = .001), and this value was close to the 4° retroversion planned on the preoperative CT-based software. Postoperative major complications were noted in 4 patients: 2 dislocations, 1 baseplate failure following a high-energy trauma, and 1 septic baseplate failure. Partial graft resorption without glenoid component failure was observed in 3 cases that did not require revision surgery.

CONCLUSION

The femoral head allograft for glenoid bone loss in primary RSA restores shoulder function, with CMS values comparable to those of sex- and age-matched healthy individuals. A high rate of incorporation of the graft and satisfactory correction of the glenoid version can be expected after surgery. The management of glenoid bone defects remains a challenging procedure, and a 15% risk of major complication must be considered.

Custom-made Glenoid Baseplate and Intra-Operative Navigation in Complex Revision Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Case Report

Prosthetic instability is one of the most challenging complications to manage when considering reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA). Additional tools are available to improve accuracy in planning and execution of arthroplasties, such as 3-dimensional (3D) virtual planning based on computer tomography (CT) scan and intra-operative navigation. We report a case of an 84-year-old male treated for RSA prosthetic instability combined with severe glenoid deformity and bone loss, and subclinical periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). The definitive surgery consisted in implanting a customized metaglene component realized on the basis of the bone defect detected in the 3D-CT scan and implanted with the aid of computer-assisted intra-operative navigation. The patient was periodically followed-up for a year with clinical and radiological evaluations with the absence of further prosthetic dislocations nor PJI, a good overall satisfaction, a satisfying range of motion, and acceptable functional scores (American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Score 62, Constant-Murley Score 36). This is the first description, to our knowledge, of a customized glenoid baseplate implanted with the aid of intraoperative navigation. The combined use of 3D-CT planning and intra-operative computer-assisted navigation allows to manage complex cases of prosthetic revision surgery even where extensive bone defects are present.

Shoulder brace has no detrimental effect on basic spatio-temporal gait parameters and functional mobility after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

BACKGROUND

The risk of falls in patients undergoing orthopedic procedures is significant in terms of health and socioeconomic effects.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Is there an influence of the shoulder abduction brace (SAB) on gait parameters in patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR)?

METHODS

Thirty-five patients undergoing ARCR, who used a 15° SAB in the postoperative period, were included in a prospective study. Participants underwent gait analysis preoperatively (T0), 24 h after surgery (T1), 1 week (T2), and 4 weeks after surgery (1 week after SAB removal) (T3) by using a wearable inertial sensor (BTS G-Walk sensor). Gait Parameters (cadence, speed, right (R) and left (L) step length, gait and propulsion-R and L symmetry indices) and functional mobility (agility and balance) were assessed using the 10-meter test (10MWT) and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, respectively.

RESULTS

There were 22 men and 13 women with a median age of 56 (IQR 48.0-61.0) years. The right upper limb was involved in 83% of cases. Regarding the 10MWT, speed was significantly higher at T0 than at T1 (p < 0.01) and significantly lower at T1 than at T3 (p < 0.05). Cadence was significantly lower at T1 than at T3 (p < 0.05). Propulsion-R was significantly higher at T3 than at T1 (p < 0.01), whereas propulsion-L was significantly lower at T1 than at T0 (p < 0.05) and significantly higher at T2 and T3 than T1 (p < 0.01 for all). No significant differences were found for R and L step lengths as well as for symmetry index (p > 0.05). Regarding TUG test, the final turning phase was significantly higher at T2 than at T3 (p < 0.01).

SIGNIFICANCE

The results demonstrated that the use of the SAB affected gait speed and propulsion only 24 h after ARCR, but no effects were reported at long-term observations.

Clinical outcomes are unchanged after a mean of 12 years after reverse shoulder arthroplasty: a long-term re-evaluation

Background

The medium-term results of reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) that has been performed by a single surgeon have been previously reported. The purpose of this study was to investigate the minimum 10-year clinical and radiographic outcomes of these patients.

Methods

In this prospective cohort study, 27 patients were evaluated after RSA for massive rotator cuff tear with or without eccentric osteoarthritis (OA) or concentric OA with the Constant-Murley Score (CMS), range of motion (ROM), and a radiologic assessment.

Results

At a mean 12-year follow-up, the CMS and ROM were significantly improved when compared with the baseline values (all P < .001). Once stratified by diagnosis, no difference in the ROM or total CMS was found between patients with massive rotator cuff tear with/without eccentric OA and those with concentric OA. Neither ROM nor CMS decreased when compared to the mid-term values of the previous study, for both the overall population and the diagnosis-stratified groups. Scapular notching was reported in 66.7% of cases that was similar to the data reported at mid-term follow-up. The calcification rate was 59.3% at the long-term evaluation, and there were no differences between the same case-series population (51.9%; P = .785) and the whole population at mid-term follow-up (47%; P = .358).

Conclusion

RSA led to excellent clinical and functional outcomes for patients up to 17 years postoperatively, and there was no decrease in the CMS over time. No loosening of implants was noted, and the rate of scapular notching was 66%, mostly grade 1 or 2.

Arthroscopic capsular release for frozen shoulder: when etiology matters

PURPOSE

No therapeutic intervention is universally accepted for frozen shoulder, and the most effective management to restore motion and diminish pain has yet to be defined. The aim of this study was to investigate functional and psychological outcomes in patients who underwent arthroscopic capsular release for a frozen shoulder.

METHODS

A retrospective study with prospective data collection was conducted with 78 patients suffering from frozen shoulder resistance to conservative treatment. Considering the etiology, there were 36 (46.2%) idiopathic, 31 (39.7%) postoperative, and 11 (14.1%) posttraumatic cases. Preoperatively, each patient was evaluated with the range of motion (ROM) assessment and the Constant-Murley score (CMS). At follow-up, the 4-point subjective satisfaction scale (SSS), the ROM assessment, the SF-12 questionnaire, the numerical rating scale (NRS) for the subjective assessment of pain, the CMS and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were assessed.

RESULTS

After a mean follow-up of 54.2 ± 22.3 months, ROM and CMS showed a statistically significant improvement between pre- and postoperative values (all p < 0.001). Before surgery, the mean CMS was 36.9% that of sex- and age-matched healthy individuals, and all patients showed a CMS lower than the normative data. At the final follow-up visit, the mean CMS was 99.9% that of sex- and age-matched healthy individuals, and 49 (62.8%) patients showed a CMS equal to or higher than the normative data. The mean increase in the CMS was 56.1 ± 8.3 points. The mean SSS, HADS-A, HADS-D, and NRS were 3.7 ± 0.5, 2.5 ± 1.6, 2.2 ± 1.3, and 2.2 ± 1.0, respectively. All patients returned to their previous level of work and sports activity after 2 and 2.5 months, respectively. The multivariate analysis showed the association between a higher postoperative CMS and the idiopathic etiology of a frozen shoulder (p = 0.004, β = 3.971). No intraoperative complications occurred. Postoperatively, four patients (5.1%) were treated with intra-articular steroid injections to manage residual symptoms. One patient (1.3%) with a postoperative frozen shoulder showed persistent symptoms and underwent a new successful arthroscopic capsular release.

CONCLUSION

High patient satisfaction and statistically significant ROM and CMS recovery can be achieved after arthroscopic capsular release to manage frozen shoulder. Better functional outcomes are expected when the etiology is idiopathic. Results can help surgeons identify the patients who will most benefit from surgery and should be discussed with the patient.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

High infection control rate after systematic one-stage procedure for shoulder arthroplasty chronic infection

PURPOSE

The two stage revision procedure is the gold standard surgical technique in chronic shoulder periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). Series of one stage revision have been published with similar outcomes but with preoperative selection of patients. The aim of this work was to report the outcomes (infection eradication, functional, and radiographic) after systematic one stage revision, without preoperative selection of patients, in chronic shoulder PJI.

METHODS

This was a retrospective monocentric study including 40 patients (14 women and 26 men) with a diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection after a shoulder arthroplasty. A one stage shoulder prosthesis revision was performed in all patients, for a PJI evolving for more than three weeks, without preoperative patient selection. The primary endpoint was the absence of signs of persistent infection at a minimum follow-up of two years. Secondary endpoints were clinical and radiological outcomes.

RESULTS

At the last follow-up, 36/40 patients had no recurrence of infection after the one stage revision, i.e., 90% of our series. In 45% (18/40) of the cases, the microbial organism was not known at the time of the one stage revision. Cutibacterium acnes was the most frequent pathogen, found in 67.5% (27/40) of the patients. The infection was polymicrobial in 40% (16/40) of the cases. At last follow-up, mean absolute Constant score was 48.4% (16-93) and weighted score was 65.5% (22-100), and satisfaction was evaluated by the patients as excellent or good in 75% (30/40). About 20% (8/40) of the patients had a postoperative complication.

CONCLUSION

A one stage revision procedure, combined with appropriate antibiotic therapy, made it possible to eradicate the PJI in 90% of the shoulders in our series with satisfactory functional outcomes.

One-stage revision for infected shoulder arthroplasty: prospective, observational study of 37 patients

Background

Periprosthetic joint infection is a severe complication of joint replacement surgery. Thus two-stage exchange remains the gold standard, one-stage exchange is now widely recommended. We hypothesized that, for patients with chronic periprosthetic shoulder infection (PSI), treatment with a one-stage exchange would be an effective approach to eradicate infection, relieve pain, and restore function to the involved shoulder.

Materials and methods

This monocenter cohort study in a Bone and Joint Infection Referral Center (11/2003-05/2020) included all patients with confirmed PSI treated by one-stage revision. Data were extracted from the prospective database, including demographics, infection characteristics, and functional evaluations (range of motion and Constant Score at admission and last follow-up). The primary outcome was the 2-year reinfection-free rate.

Results

We included 37 patients. The refection-free rate was 5%. The most commonly isolated pathogen was Cutibacterium acnes (68%), isolated alone (15 patients, 41%) or as polymicrobial infections (10 patients, 27%). The Constant Score increased significantly from 24 to 53 (P = .001). Range of motion (forward elevation, abduction) was also significantly improved after surgery. Mean active forward elevation increased significantly by 45° from 60° to 105° postoperatively (P < .001), mean abduction increased by 42° from 55° to 97° (P < .001).

Discussion

Results from our prospective cohort-extracted series suggest that one-stage revision is a reliable treatment with a low infection recurrence rate. Improved functional outcomes can be achieved with one-stage exchange. Our patients' overall functional results were similar to those previously reported for one-stage revision and better than those reported after two-stage exchange. Patients with multiple previous surgeries seem to have worse functional outcomes than the subgroup without surgery before the index arthroplasty.

Conclusions

Our results and literature search findings suggest that one-stage revisions effectively eradicate PSIs, with good functional outcomes.

Management of periprosthetic joint infection of shoulder arthroplasty: Single-stage versus two-stage protocols. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature

Background

The treatment of shoulder prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) requiring removal of the prosthesis is not well defined. This article aims to systematically review and compare the results of the literature in single-stage and two-stage protocols in the treatment of shoulder PJI.

Methods

An in-depth search on PubMed/Scopus/Web of Science databases and cross-referencing search was carried out concerning the articles reporting detailed data on the topic.

Results

A total of 486 shoulder PJIs were included: 137 treated with single-stage and 349 with two-stage procedure. A similar distribution between early and not-early infections (19.1% vs 80.9%) was found between the two groups. The overall rate of success in terms of PJI eradication was significantly higher in the single-stage group (95.6% vs 85.7%, p < 0.001). The non-infection-related complications rate was 13.8% in the single-stage group and 37.6% in the two-stage group (p < 0.001), the non-infection-related revision rate was 8% and 18.9%, respectively (p = 0.005).

Discussion

The single-phase protocol showed a higher success rate in eradicating the infection and a lower complication rate. However, the low number of patients included, the low quality of the articles, the lack of data on clinical severity and bacteriological virulence suggest caution in conclusions.

Is there value in the routine practice of discarding the incision scalpel from the surgical field to prevent deep wound contamination with Cutibacterium acnes? An update

BACKGROUND

Cutibacterium acnes is the most common microbe implicated in periprosthetic infection in shoulder arthroplasty. We present an update of a previous pilot study in which we demonstrated the persistence of C acnes on the skin and contamination of the scalpel used for the initial skin incision despite a robust presurgical skin preparation protocol.

METHODS

We collected a consecutive case series of patients undergoing primary or revision anatomic or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty performed by a single fellowship-trained surgeon at a tertiary referral hospital from November 2019 to December 2022. The scalpel blade used for the initial skin incision in each patient was swabbed, with cultures being held for 21 days according to a C acnes-specific protocol. Demographic data, medical comorbidities, surgical information, culture results, and infections were documented.

RESULTS

We identified 100 patients (51 men and 49 women) who met the inclusion criteria (mean age, 66.91 years; age range, 44-93 years). Cultures returned positive findings for C acnes in 12 patients (12%), 11 of whom were men (odds ratio, 13.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.73-194.87). No association was found between positive culture findings and age, body mass index, medical comorbidities, or procedure type. No postoperative infections occurred in this patient cohort, and the patients will continue to be monitored for the development of infection.

CONCLUSION

Despite stringent presurgical preparation and scrub protocols, a significant portion of patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty have C acnes in culturable quantities on their skin at the time of incision. C acnes contamination is much more common in male patients. These findings should be taken into consideration regarding preventive measures such as discarding the initial scalpel and avoiding unnecessary dermal contact during the procedure.

Success of staged revision reverse total shoulder arthroplasty in eradication of periprosthetic joint infection

INTRODUCTION

Management of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in shoulder arthroplasty remains a challenge, with no established gold standard treatment. This study presents the unique experience of a high-volume single-surgeon, single-institution approach on staged revision reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) for infection. The authors theorize that staged revision RTSA is an effective treatment for PJI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between 2013 and 2018, 38 patients underwent a staged RTSA for treatment of PJI. Patient histories were collected and classified using Cierny-Mader classification. Infection workup for all patients included radiographs, laboratory indices, and computed tomographic aspiration arthrogram. PJI was identified based on high clinical and radiographic suspicion, elevated serologic markers, and/or aspirate culture results per 2018 International Consensus Meeting Shoulder guidelines on Orthopedic Infections. All patients underwent first stage with implant removal, irrigation and débridement, and antibiotic spacer placement. Next, intravenous antibiotics were administered by infectious disease consultants for a minimum of 6 weeks. Infection workup was then repeated and, if normalized, final-stage revision commenced with antibiotic spacer removal and revision to RTSA. If indices were persistently abnormal, an additional stage of débridement and spacer placement procedure was performed. Treatment failure was defined as recurrent periprosthetic infection after final prosthesis implantation or persistently elevated indices despite adequate débridement and spacer placement.

RESULTS

Mean age of the cohort was 68 (standard deviation [SD] 8.9) years and mean follow-up was 33 (SD 14) months with 34 Cierny-Mader C hosts and 4 B hosts. Patients underwent a mean of 2 (SD 1.1) previous surgeries. The staged revision protocol was successful in 34 (89.5%) patients for management of PJI. Four patients (10.5%) were considered failures with recurrent infections at a mean of 13 months (range 2-26 months) after the final RTSA implantation and underwent repeat staged revisions. Of the 34 patients who had successful infection eradication, 31 had 2-stage treatment and 3 had to undergo 3 stages. There were no treatment-associated mortalities and 10 major complications (26%), including permanent neuropathy, instability, and periprosthetic fractures. The most common cultured microorganism was Cutibacterium acnes (18%), with no polymicrobial infections detected.

DISCUSSION

Although there are multiple treatment options for PJI management, staged revision remains an effective means of treatment. Although there were several patients who required an additional stage of treatment, and a significant complication rate, staged revision RTSA proved successful in the ultimate eradication of the PJI.

Revision surgery for periprosthetic elbow infection: eradication rate, complications, and functional outcomes-a systematic review

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the outcomes of revision surgery after periprosthetic elbow infection (PEI).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Eighteen studies with 332 PEI that underwent revision surgery were included. Demographics, laboratory and microbiological data, types of implants, surgical techniques with complications and reoperations, eradication rates, and clinical and functional outcomes were reported.

RESULTS

Staphylococcus aureus was the most common microorganism (40%). Pre-operatively, the mean white blood cell count was 8400 ± 4000 per microliter; the mean C-reactive protein level was 41.6 ± 66.9 mg/dl, and the mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 45 ± 66.9 mm/h. The Coonrad-Morrey total elbow prosthesis represented 41.2% of the infected implant, and it also represented the most common system used for the PEI revision surgery. Two-stage revision and debridement and implant retention (DAIR) were the most common procedures performed for PEI, and, on the whole, they represented 35.7 and 32.7%, respectively. The eradication rate was 76% with 2-stage, 71% with resection arthroplasty (RA), 66.7% with 1-stage, 57.7% with DAIR, and 40% with arthrodesis (EA). DAIR showed a significantly lower eradication rate than 2-stage (P = 0.003). The mean postoperative Mayo Elbow Performance Score was significantly higher in patients who underwent DAIR, and 2-stage compared with RA (P < 0.001 for all). Postoperative flexion-extension ROM was significantly higher in patients who underwent DAIR compared with 1-stage, 2-stage, and RA (P < 0.001 for all). Moreover, 1-stage and 2-stage showed a significantly greater postoperative flexion-extension ROM compared with RA (P < 0.001 for all). Reoperations occurred in 40% of patients after EA, 33.3% after 1-stage, 26.9% after DAIR and RA, and 24.1% after 2-stage. Conversion to amputation occurred in 2.2% of patients after RA and 1% after DAIR.

CONCLUSIONS

Two-stage revision and DAIR are the most common procedures used to manage PEI; however, the former procedure showed a significantly higher eradication rate. Resection arthroplasty showed a high eradication rate, but postoperative lower clinical and functional outcomes limit the indications for this technique. One-stage procedure showed a limited role in the current practice of PEI treatment.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV.

Two-stage shoulder arthroplasty after deep infection of the shoulder caused by arthroplasty, osteosynthesis or other surgical procedures: microbial spectrum, complications and functional outcome after at least 1 year follow-up

PURPOSE

Infection represents probably the most challenging complication in shoulder arthroplasty and all other surgical procedures of the shoulder. A deep infection of the shoulder is often combined with a destruction of the joint and a loss of function. In many cases the arthroplasty is the last resort for these patients to obtain a satisfactory function. The objective of this study was to determine outcome data on microbiota and clinical results of a two-stage shoulder arthroplasty procedure after deep infection of the shoulder.

METHODS

Twenty-six patients with a deep shoulder infection after arthroplasty, osteosynthesis, or rotator-cuff repair were included, while two patients had an empyema without prior surgery. All underwent initial surgical debridement with implantation of an antibiotic-loaded spacer, followed by postoperative systemic antibiotics. The patients obtained definitive shoulder arthroplasty in a second surgery. None of the patients had to undergo more than two surgeries before the arthroplasty. The follow-up analysis including microbiota results, complication rates, and functional outcomes could be determined after at least 1 year in 60% of patients (n = 16).

RESULTS

The most frequently detected microorganisms were S. epidermidis (31%, n = 10) and Cutibacterium acnes (19%, n = 6). In 28% (n = 9) of cases multi-drug resistant bacteria were detected and in 35% (n = 8) of cases more than one microorganism was found. The overall revision rate was 42%, 11 of 26 patients, in the first 8 weeks after arthroplasty. Reasons for revision were joint dislocations in 23% (n = 6), 15% (n = 4) postoperative hematomas, one (4%) re-infection and one (4%) periprosthetic fracture. At follow-up after 19.3 ± 5.5 months postoperatively, a mean abduction of 113.4°, anteversion of 122.8° and external rotation of 14° was found, with an average age and gender-adjusted Constant Score of the affected shoulder of 63. The subjects' pain and impairment in normal life measured by a questionnaire with school grades were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) as compared to prior shoulder arthroplasty.

CONCLUSION

The most relevant bacteria in the study cohort were Staphylococcus subspecies and to a lower extent Cutibacterium acnes. A high number of multi-drug resistant and mixed microbiota spectra were detected, defining a need to adapt therapeutic regimen targeting these microbiotas. The two-stage shoulder arthroplasty after a deep infection resulted in excellent infection control with however high early postoperative rates for joint dislocation (23%) and hematomas (15%). At follow-up a stable joint was achieved with a sufficient functional outcome and satisfying outcome for activities of daily living and pain.

CLINICAL TRIAL

Trial registration number: DRKS00016927, date of registration: 2019/03/19.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of skin preparation methods for the reduction of Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes) in shoulder surgery: a systematic review

Background

Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) is the most common pathogen responsible for post-operative shoulder infections. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of skin preparation methods against C. acnes in shoulder surgery.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted evaluating the effectiveness of skin preparation methods in the reduction of C. acnes in patients undergoing shoulder surgery. Outcomes were assessed based on the effectiveness of the method used; side effects and cost were also analysed.

Results

Of the 19 included studies, 9 evaluated pre-surgical home treatments: 8 assessed benzoyl peroxide (BPO) and 6 concluded it is effective in reducing C. acnes. Nine studies assessed surgical skin preparation and concluded that Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) was not effective; in contrast hydrogen peroxide reduced C. acnes. Finally, one study evaluated an aseptic protocol using CHG and concluded that it was not effective.

Conclusions

It was demonstrated that BPO as home treatment is effective in reducing C. acnes load on skin; it rarely causes side effects and is also cost-effective. This study highlights non-effectiveness of CHG. There was some evidence that the addition of hydrogen peroxide could have a positive effect in the reduction of C. acnes skin load; however, more studies are required.

The 50 Highest Cited Papers on Shoulder Arthroplasty

The purpose of this study was to determine the 50 most cited articles on shoulder arthroplasty (SA) and their characteristics. The Thomson ISIWeb of Science was searched with the following search terms: "shoulder arthroplasty", "shoulder replacement", "shoulder prosthesis" and "shoulder implant". All papers dealing with SA, including its perioperative and postoperative management, were included in this study. Citations ranged from 797 to 52 for the 50 highest cited papers on SA. According to absolute numbers, the top 10 papers were cited at least 118 times. Overall, 78% (n = 43) were clinical and the remaining articles were basic science research (one anatomic, six biomechanical). The most prevalent level of evidence was IV (72%). The Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery published 40% of the studies. The majority of studies were conducted in the United States and eight other countries. The publication years of the most-cited articles ranged from 1991 to 2020, with the 2000s accounting for the most articles (96%) and the period from 2006 to 2010 with the absolute largest number of articles (17). This article provides a building block in the SA surgery.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis with Cefazolin Is Associated with Lower Shoulder Periprosthetic Joint Infection Rates Than Non-Cefazolin Alternatives

BACKGROUND

Although prophylactic antibiotics are considered the standard of care, data with regard to the comparative efficacy of specific antibiotics in the prevention of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) have remained limited. This study evaluated whether perioperative antibiotic choice affects rates of PJI development in shoulder arthroplasty.

METHODS

From 2000 to 2019, all primary shoulder arthroplasty types (hemiarthroplasty, anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty, reverse shoulder arthroplasty) performed for elective and trauma indications with perioperative antibiotic data and a minimum follow-up of 2 years were identified from a single institution. Demographic characteristics, PJI risk factors, and PJI-free survivorship data were retrieved. Multivariable analyses were conducted to determine the association between the antibiotic administered and the development of PJI.

RESULTS

Of 7,713 shoulder arthroplasties, cefazolin was administered in 6,879 procedures (89.2%) and non-cefazolin antibiotics consisting of vancomycin (465 procedures [6.0%]), clindamycin (345 procedures [4.5%]), and alternative regimens (24 procedures [0.31%]) were administered in 834 procedures (10.8%). PJIs occurred in 101 shoulder arthroplasties (1.3%), with Cutibacterium acnes as the most common pathogen (44 procedures [43.6%]). PJI-free survivorship was greater in shoulder arthroplasties in which cefazolin was administered compared with those in which non-cefazolin antibiotics were administered, with 0.91% greater survival free of PJI at 1 month, 1.4% at 1 year, and 2.7% at 15 years (p < 0.001). Cefazolin administration, compared with non-cefazolin administration, was associated with a 69% reduction in all-cause PJI risk and a 78% reduction in C. acnes PJI risk (p < 0.001). A higher risk of PJI for both groups was observed with vancomycin; the hazard ratio [HR] was 2.32 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22 to 4.40; p = 0.010) for all-cause PJI and 2.94 (95% CI, 1.12 to 7.49; p = 0.028) for C. acnes PJI. A higher risk of PJI was also observed for both groups for clindamycin; the HR was 5.07 (95% CI, 2.83 to 9.05; p < 0.001) for all-cause PJI and 8.01 (95% CI, 3.63 to 17.42; p < 0.001) for C. acnes PJI.

CONCLUSIONS

In primary shoulder arthroplasty, cefazolin administration was associated with a significantly lower rate of PJI compared with non-cefazolin alternatives, including both vancomycin and clindamycin. These risk discrepancies were observed across all infectious pathogens and may be considered even greater when C. acnes was the infecting bacterium.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Outcomes of Bi-unicompartmental Versus Total Knee Arthroplasty for the Treatment of Medial and Lateral Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Comparative Studies

PURPOSE

The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate differences in functional outcomes between simultaneous bi-unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (Bi-UKA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for the treatment of medial and lateral knee osteoarthritis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

According to the PRISMA statement, a comprehensive search was conducted to identify studies reporting comparative results of the Bi-UKA versus the TKA. Of 953 titles, 6 studies met the inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

A total of 286 patients were identified, of which 137 underwent Bi-UKA and 149 TKA. TKA reported a mean hip-knee-ankle (HKA) angle of 179.4 ± 2.4 compared to that in Bi-UKA measuring 177.2 ± 2.7 (p = 0.0001, 95% CI - 3.02 to - 1.38). No difference was found in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) pain (4 ± 1.6 and 4.2 ± 1.3 for Bi-UKA and TKA, respectively; p = 0.4996, 95% CI - 0.86 to 0.43). Bi-UKA was favorable in terms of WOMAC function (7.5 ± 1.9 and 9 ± 1.9 for Bi-UKA and TKA, respectively; p = 0.001, 95% CI - 2.29 to - 0.61) and WOMAC stiffness (1.6 ± 1 and 2.4 ± 0.7 for Bi-UKA and TKA, respectively; p = 0.0001, 95% CI - 1.18 to - 0.42). Bi-UKA showed a better Knee Society Score (KSS) in comparison to TKA (79.7 ± 7.8 and 75.4 ± 10.5 for Bi-UKA and TKA, respectively; p = 0.0021, 95% CI 1.58-7.02). The differences in postoperative outcomes scores between Bi-UKA and TKA were lower than their respective minimum clinically important differences.

CONCLUSIONS

When Bi-UKA and TKA are compared for the treatment of medial and lateral knee osteoarthritis, Bi-UKA are favorable in terms of WOMAC and KSS even though these values are lower than the minimum clinically important differences; moreover, similar postoperative hip-knee-ankle angle can be expected 3 years after Bi-UKA and TKA.

Outcomes after resection arthroplasty versus permanent antibiotic spacer for salvage treatment of shoulder periprosthetic joint infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Although revision to new components is favored after shoulder periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs), implant exchange is not always feasible. In certain cases, definitive treatment may be retainment of an antibiotic spacer or resection arthroplasty. The purpose of this investigation was to systematically review the literature for studies reporting on outcomes after resection arthroplasty or permanent antibiotic spacer for salvage treatment of shoulder PJIs.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. PubMed, SCOPUS, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for Level I-IV studies that reported on the final treatment of periprosthetic shoulder infections using resection arthroplasty or a permanent antibiotic spacer. Data recorded included study demographics, causative infectious organism, shoulder-specific range of motion and outcome measures, and infection eradication rate. Study methodological quality was analyzed using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies score. Forest plots of proportions and meta-analyses of single means were generated for infection eradication rates and outcomes, respectively. Heterogeneity was quantified using the I² statistic. A P value of .05 was set as significant.

RESULTS

The initial search yielded 635 articles (211 duplicates, 424 screened, 57 full-text review). Twenty-three articles (126 resection arthroplasty and 177 retained antibiotic spacer patients, 51% females, mean age range 37-78.5 years, mean Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies score 9.6 ± 0.7) were included and analyzed. The pooled infection eradication rate was 82% (72%-89%) after resection arthroplasty and 85% (79%-90%) after permanent antibiotic spacer. The pooled mean forward flexion (71.5° vs. 48.7°; P < .001) and mean American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score (53.5 vs. 31.0; P < .001) were significantly higher for patients treated with a permanent antibiotic spacer compared with resection arthroplasty. No significant differences were found for mean external rotation (13.5° vs. 20.5°; P = .07), abduction (58.2° vs. 50.3°; P = .27), or visual analog scale pain (3.7 vs. 3.4; P = .24) between groups. There was a statistically significant, but not clinically significant, difference in mean Constant score between permanent antibiotic spacer and resection arthroplasty patients (33.6 vs. 30.0; P < .001).

CONCLUSION

When implant exchange after shoulder PJI is not feasible, permanent antibiotic spacers and resection arthroplasty are both salvage procedures that provide similar rates of infection eradication. Although both can decrease pain levels, the permanent antibiotic spacer may result in better functional outcomes compared with resection arthroplasty.

Periprosthetic Infections of the Shoulder Joint: Characteristics and 5-Year Outcome of a Single-Center Series of 19 Cases

Periprosthetic shoulder infection (PSI) remains a devastating complication after total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). Furthermore, there is a paucity in the literature regarding its diagnostic and therapeutic management, especially the absence of therapy concepts devised exclusively for PSI. The aim of the presenting study is to examine the characteristics and outcome of patients with PSI who were treated according to well-established algorithms developed originally for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) of the hip and knee and determine if these algorithms can be applied to PSI. This single-center case series included all patients with a PSI presenting between 2010 and 2020. Recorded parameters included age, sex, affected side, BMI, ASA score, Charlson comorbidity index, preoperative anticoagulation, indication for TSA (fracture, osteoarthritis or cuff-arthropathy), and type of infection (acute or chronic PSI). The outcome was divided into treatment failure or infect resolution. Staphylococcus epidermidis and aureus were the commonest infecting pathogens. Acute PSI was mainly treated with debridement, irrigation, and retention of the prosthesis (DAIR) and chronic cases with two/multiple-stage exchange. The treatment failure rate was 10.5%. C-reactive protein was preoperatively elevated in 68.4% of cases. The mean number of operative revisions was 3.6 ± 2.6, and the mean total duration of antibiotic treatment was 72.4 ± 41.4 days. The most administered antibiotic was a combination of clindamycin and fluoroquinolone. In summary, the data of the current study suggest that therapeutical algorithms and recommendations developed for the treatment of PJI of the hip and knee are also applicable to PSI.

One Versus 2-Stage Revision for Shoulder Arthroplasty Infections: A Systematic Review and Analysis of Treatment Selection Bias

BACKGROUND

There is controversy regarding the optimal treatment for infection following shoulder arthroplasty. The purpose of this systematic review is to analyze the bias in treatment selection, infection clearance rates, and functional outcomes after 1 versus 2-stage revision surgery for periprosthetic shoulder infections.

METHODS

A systematic search strategy following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was conducted in 4 phases. Articles were identified using MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase (Elsevier), and Cochrane Library databases with Boolean search terms related to infection after shoulder arthroplasty. Included articles were analyzed for quality, and data were extracted for use. Preoperative treatment selection bias was analyzed and postoperative infection clearance rates and functional outcome scores were compared between 1 and 2-stage revision surgery for periprosthetic shoulder infection.

RESULTS

Overall, 163 1-stage shoulder procedures and 289 2-stage shoulder procedures were included in the analysis. Cutibacterium acnes was the organism most frequently grown on culture (37%) followed by coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (19%). The overall infection clearance rate was 95.6% for 1-stage and 85.2% for 2-stage procedures. In a comparison of the change in outcome scores from preoperatively to postoperatively between 1-stage and 2-stage revision, the Constant-Murley Score (CMS) improved 21.0 points (1-stage) versus 22.8 points (2-stage), the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score improved 26.2 points versus 33.6 points, and the Simple Shoulder Test (SST) score improved 3.5 points versus 6.4 points, respectively. Overall, 23 of 26 studies cited a reason for selection of a 1 versus 2-stage procedure, which was due to standard treatment protocol in 10 studies, based on the timing of the infection (acute versus subacute versus chronic) in 5, due to a combination of factors (age, comorbidities, intraoperative appearance, adequacy of debridement, bone loss) in 6, and due to preoperative identification of a specific organism in 2.

CONCLUSIONS

One-stage revisions resulted in higher infection clearance rates; however, 2-stage revisions resulted in greater functional improvement as measured with ASES and SST scores from the preoperative assessment to the final postoperative follow-up. The decision between 1 and 2-stage revisions is due to a combination of factors including pathogen type, timing of infection, findings on the preoperative clinical examination, the patient's own decision, the surgeon's preference, and the intraoperative soft-tissue/osseous appearance, which may have biased the overall results. There is no consensus in the literature on the decision between 1 and 2-stage treatment for periprosthetic shoulder infection, which is based on a combination of factors. However, both treatment strategies are effective in treating periprosthetic shoulder infection.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Is there value in the routine practice of discarding the incision scalpel from the surgical field to prevent deep wound contamination with Cutibacterium acnes?

BACKGROUND

Cutibacterium acnes is found in skin flora of the shoulder and is the most common microbe identified in periprosthetic shoulder infections. The purpose of this study is to determine if there is C acnes present on the incision scalpel in patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty despite extensive skin preparation techniques to prevent wound contamination.

METHODS

The authors collected a consecutive case series of patients meeting inclusion criteria. Patients were included if they underwent either primary or revision shoulder arthroplasty at the tertiary care hospital with the senior author during the study period. Culture swab samples, testing for presence of C acnes, were collected from 17 consecutive patients who underwent shoulder arthroplasty with a single fellowship-trained surgeon between November 2019 and March 2020. Culture reports were recorded as "positive" or "negative" after 21 days. Institutional review board approval of the study protocol was obtained. The null hypothesis was that there would be no cases with knife blades "culture positive" for C acnes.

RESULTS

17 patients were identified and fit inclusion criteria. There were 12 men (mean age 64.3 years, range 48-79 years) and 5 women (mean age 69.8 years, range 59-79 years). Two patients (11.8%) were found to have C acnes growth on the skin knife. Both patients were male and older than 70 years undergoing primary reverse shoulder arthroplasty with no history of previous shoulder infections.

CONCLUSION

The presence of C acnes on the skin blade in 2 patients validates concerns that there is C acnes present in dermal tissue despite extensive attention to eradication of these microbes. There was a high rate of C acnes contamination on scalpel blades used for initial skin incisions and the authors conclude that there is value in discarding these blades from the surgical field.

Complications of reverse shoulder arthroplasty: a concise review

Reverse shoulder arthroplasty is an ideal treatment for glenohumeral dysfunction due to cuff tear arthropathy. As the number of patients treated with reverse shoulder arthroplasty is increasing, the incidence of complications after this procedure also is increasing. The rate of complications in reverse shoulder arthroplasty was reported to be 15%-24%. Recently, the following complications have been reported in order of frequency: periprosthetic infection, dislocation, periprosthetic fracture, neurologic injury, scapular notching, acromion or scapular spine fracture, and aseptic loosening of prosthesis. However, the overall complication rate has varied across studies because of different prosthesis used, improvement of implant and surgical skills, and different definitions of complications. Some authors included complications that affect the clinical outcomes of the surgery, while others reported minor complications that do not affect the clinical outcomes such as minor reversible neurologic deficit or minimal scapular notching. This review article summarizes the processes related to diagnosis and treatment of complications after reverse shoulder arthroplasty with the aim of helping clinicians reduce complications and perform appropriate procedures if/when complications occur.

Periprosthetic Infection After Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty: a Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Periprosthetic infection is a relatively rare but potentially devastating complication after shoulder arthroplasty. The purpose of this article is to review the incidence, diagnosis, prevention, and management of periprosthetic infections after reverse shoulder arthroplasty, with a focus on literature published within the last 5 years.

RECENT FINDINGS

The 2018 International Consensus Meeting on Musculoskeletal Infection provides us with a framework for the diagnosis and management of periprosthetic infections after shoulder arthroplasty. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty has a higher reported rate of infection compared with anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty. Our current diagnostic tests do not appear to be as sensitive when compared with the hip and knee literature. Similar success has been reported with single and two-stage revision protocols, although prospective comparative data are lacking. The significance of unexpected positive cultures during revision arthroplasty remains unclear. We report current diagnostic and therapeutic options for periprosthetic infection after reverse shoulder arthroplasty. Much of the current literature does not distinguish between anatomic and reverse shoulder arthroplasty. Further high-level studies are warranted to refine these definitions and guide management.