Outcomes of total shoulder arthroplasty for instability arthropathy with a prior coracoid transfer procedure: a retrospective review and matched cohort

Shoulder Arthroplasty After Previous Nonarthroplasty Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Outcomes and Complications

BACKGROUND

Many patients who undergo shoulder arthroplasty (SA) have had at least 1 nonarthroplasty shoulder surgery before the surgery. There is conflicting evidence regarding the effects of previous shoulder surgery on the outcome of SA. A systematic review was conducted to compare functional outcomes and complications between SA patients with and without prior non-SA surgery on the ipsilateral shoulder.

METHODS

We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and searched MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science comprehensively from inception to January 2023. Based on 9,279 records reviewed, 26 comparative studies were included in the meta-analysis consisting of 5,431 shoulders with prior nonarthroplasty procedures (cases) and 55,144 shoulders without previous surgery (controls). Variables such as functional scores, complications, and range of motion were compared between cases and controls using Review Manager Software. In addition, subgroup analysis was conducted based on prior surgery type (rotator cuff repair [RCR], open reduction and internal fixation [ORIF], soft tissue repairs, and not specified) and type of SA (hemiarthroplasty, anatomical total shoulder arthroplasty, and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty [RTSA]). The results were presented as odds ratios (ORs) or standardized mean differences (SMDs).

RESULTS

Except for a higher rate of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in patients who had undergone previous arthroscopic surgery (OR, 2.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.66-4.01; p < 0.01), a higher rate of complications was only observed in patients with previous ORIF. These complications included aseptic loosening (OR, 3.43; 95% CI, 2.14-5.50; p < 0.01), shoulder dislocation (OR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.05-4.84; p = 0.04), overall complication (OR, 3.95; 95% CI, 2.38-6.55; p < 0.01), and revision (OR, 2.52; 95% CI, 1.28-4.97; p = 0.01). Patients with a history of previous surgery demonstrated inferior functional outcomes in comparison with the control group, including American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (SMD, -0.39; 95% CI, -0.51 to -0.27; p < 0.01; I2 = 36%), Constant-Murley score (SMD, -0.34; 95% CI, -0.44 to -0.24; p < 0.01; I2 = 0%), abduction (SMD, -0.26; 95% CI, -0.45 to -0.08; p = 0.01; I2 = 54%), and flexion (SMD, -0.33; 95% CI, -0.46 to -0.21; p < 0.01; I2 = 40%). Subgroup analysis by previous type of surgery was not possible regarding functional outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Patients who have had prior fracture surgery are at a higher risk of complications, reoperations, and revisions after SA than controls. The normal shoulder anatomy may be disrupted by prior surgery, which makes arthroplasty technically challenging, particularly when it comes to soft tissue balance. On the other hand, RCR before SA did not negatively affect clinical outcomes after RTSA and did not have a higher rate of overall complications (except PJI).

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III (Treatment Studies). See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Outcomes of total shoulder arthroplasty in patients with prior anterior shoulder instability: minimum 5-year follow-up

BACKGROUND

Patients with a history of anterior shoulder instability (ASI) commonly progress to glenohumeral arthritis or even dislocation arthropathy and often require total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). The purposes of this study were to (1) report patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after TSA in patients with a history of ASI, (2) compare TSA outcomes of patients whose ASI was managed operatively vs. nonoperatively, and (3) report PROs of TSA in patients who previously underwent arthroscopic vs. open ASI management.

METHODS

Patients were included if they had a history of ASI and had undergone TSA ≥5 years earlier, performed by a single surgeon, between October 2005 and January 2017. The exclusion criteria included prior rotator cuff repair, hemiarthroplasty, or glenohumeral joint infection before the index TSA procedure. Patients were separated into 2 groups: those whose ASI was previously operatively managed and those whose ASI was treated nonoperatively. This was a retrospective review of prospective collected data. Data collected was demographic, surgical and subjective. The PROs used were the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, Single Assessment Numerical Evaluation score, QuickDASH (Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) score, and 12-item Short Form physical component score. Failure was defined as revision TSA surgery, conversion to reverse TSA, or prosthetic joint infection. Kaplan-Meier survivorship analysis was performed.

RESULTS

This study included 36 patients (27 men and 9 women) with a mean age of 56.4 years (range, 18.8-72.2 years). Patients in the operative ASI group were younger than those in the nonoperative ASI group (50.6 years vs. 64.0 years, P < .001). Operative ASI patients underwent 10 open and 11 arthroscopic anterior stabilization surgical procedures prior to TSA (mean, 2 procedures; range, 1-4 procedures). TSA failure occurred in 6 of 21 patients with operative ASI (28.6%), whereas no failures occurred in the nonoperative ASI group (P = .03). Follow-up was obtained in 28 of 30 eligible patients (93%) at an average of 7.45 years (range, 5.0-13.6 years). In the collective cohort, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, Single Assessment Numerical Evaluation score, QuickDASH (Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) score, and 12-item Short Form physical component score significantly improved, with no differences in the postoperative PROs between the 2 groups. We found no significant differences when comparing PROs between prior open and prior arthroscopic ASI procedures or when comparing the number of prior ASI procedures. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated a 79% 5-year survivorship rate in patients with prior ASI surgery and a 100% survivorship rate in nonoperatively managed ASI patients (P = .030).

CONCLUSION

At mid-term follow-up, patients with a history of ASI undergoing TSA can expect continued improvement in function compared with preoperative values. However, TSA survivorship is decreased in patients with a history of ASI surgery compared with those without prior surgery.

Outcomes and survivorship of anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty: current concepts

Total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) has been the gold standard of care for end-stage glenohumeral arthritis. Outcomes are varied and have been affected by both patient and implant characteristics. Patient factors, such as age, preoperative diagnosis, and preoperative glenoid morphology, can affect the outcomes after TSA. Similarly, the different glenoid and humeral component designs significantly affect the survivorship of TSA. Significant evolution has occurred in the design of the glenoid component with the aim of decreasing the glenoid-sided causes of failure in TSA. On the other hand, focus on the humeral component has been increasing as well, with a trend towards using shorter humeral stems. This article aims to look at the outcomes of TSA as affected by the various patient characteristics and design options for the glenoid and the humeral components. This review also aims to compare survivorship data from global literature and the Australian joint replacement registry and to provide insights into the implant combination that may provide the best patient outcome.

Shoulder arthroplasty in the setting of previous stabilization surgery: a systematic review of matched case control studies at minimum 2 years follow-up

Background

Anterior shoulder instability causes considerable patient morbidity and the volume of shoulder stabilization surgery being performed annually is rising. Despite stabilization surgery, instability arthropathy in the long-term may arise requiring consideration of shoulder arthroplasty. This study evaluated the outcomes of shoulder arthroplasty following previous stabilization surgery with their associated changes in bony anatomy or soft tissue structure.

Methods

A systematic review was performed as per Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines to identify all studies reporting outcomes of shoulder arthroplasty in the setting of previous stabilization surgery. Studies of >10 patients with a minimum of 24 months follow-up were included.

Results

Overall, 377 shoulder arthroplasties composed of 247 anatomical total shoulder arthroplasties (aTSAs), 102 reverse total shoulder arthroplasties (RTSAs), and 28 hemiarthroplasties (HAs) were reported across 14 included studies at mean age 55.4 years, with 203 compared to 451 control shoulders in 7 matched case-control studies. The mean interval from arthroplasty to stabilization procedure was 19.7 years, with 27.2% of patients having undergone multiple procedures and 39.5% bone transfer procedures. Improvements in patient outcomes were observed both for patients who had underwent aTSA or RTSA, with the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score the most commonly used scoring system. Across matched studies comparing to control, large improvements in American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons were seen for both aTSA and RTSA implants, 38.1-80.5 and 34.9-82.3, which compared to control groups 38.0-85.5 and 35.5-82.3, respectively. There were differences observed in complication profiles between aTSA and RTSA procedures, with lower revision rates in the short-term to medium-term for RTSA implants in present literature. A significantly higher rate of aTSA revision was observed compared to matched control patients undergoing aTSA for primary osteoarthritis without previous stabilization surgery, 9.4% (13/139) vs. 4.1% (11/269) (P = .044). Aseptic loosening posed a particular challenge in the aTSA group, with significantly higher rates of 5.0% (7/139 f = 54.6 months) compared to control 0.74% (2/269 f = 49.1 months, P = .0088). No significant difference in infection rate was observed between matched study and control groups, 1.5% vs. 2.2% (P = .76).

Conclusion

Shoulder arthroplasty may improve functional outcomes for patients experiencing instability arthropathy with a history of stabilization surgery. Careful consideration of potential complications is warranted both in surgical planning and patient counselling given the altered anatomy and biomechanics, with significantly higher revision and loosening rates observed following aTSA compared to control.

Impact of Prior Anterior Instability on Shoulder Arthroplasty Outcomes: A Systematic Review

Background

Anterior shoulder instability (ASI) is a frequently encountered pathology. Patients with a history of ASI have an increased rate of developing glenohumeral osteoarthritis and becoming candidates for shoulder arthroplasty. This systematic review aims to synthesize outcomes for patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty with a history of ASI.

Methods

A comprehensive literature review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) using PubMed, Embase, OVID Medline, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases for studies evaluating the impact of prior ASI on total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA), reverse TSA, and/or hemiarthroplasty outcomes, with a minimum follow-up of 12 months. Studies were graded by level of evidence and data concerning patient demographics and outcomes were extracted.

Results

Sixteen articles met the inclusion criteria, including 596 patients (413 male, 181 female). The average age of the control and prior ASI groups were 57.5 and 57.0 years, respectively. Overall, 251 patients were treated operatively, 132 nonoperatively, and 213 were controls without a history of prior ASI. Shoulder arthroplasty techniques included TSA (436 shoulders), reverse TSA (130 shoulders), and hemiarthroplasty (14 shoulders). Prior anterior stabilization management included soft tissue repair, bony augmentation, and nonoperative treatment. Almost all studies reported no significant difference in subjective and functional arthroplasty outcomes between control and prior ASI groups, or between patients with prior ASI treated nonoperatively vs. surgically.

Conclusion

Shoulder arthroplasty in the setting of prior ASI results in improved subjective and functional outcome scores that are comparable to patients without a history of instability.

Can the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) be used as a stand-alone outcome instrument in patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty?

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS

There is no consensus as to which patient-determined shoulder outcome scores should be considered when analyzing patient outcomes for either clinical or research purposes. Use of multiple patient-determined outcomes may be redundant and cause increased responder burden. To date, the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) has not been widely accepted as a stand-alone shoulder-specific outcome measure. The hypothesis of this study was that the SANE would correlate with and be equal or superior in responsiveness to other outcome measures that have been used in a stand-alone fashion in patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty (American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons [ASES], Western Ontario Osteoarthritis of the Shoulder [WOOS], and Simple Shoulder Test [SST] scores). In addition, it was hypothesized that the SANE would be more relevant to each patient than the ASES assessment, further supporting the use of the SANE as a stand-alone shoulder-specific outcome measure.

METHODS

A retrospective review of a database of patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty was performed, in which the SANE score was recorded simultaneously with the ASES, WOOS, and/or SST score. Correlations were determined using the Pearson coefficient. Subgroup analysis was performed to determine whether correlations differed in (1) preoperative outcome and (2) postoperative outcome determinations. Responsiveness was determined by calculating the standardized response mean and the effect size of all scores. The relevance of the SANE and ASES assessments was examined using the scores of 150 consecutive patients to determine the number of questions on each assessment that were not answered.

RESULTS

Correlation was excellent for the SANE score and the ASES score (n = 1447, r = 0.82, P < .0001), WOOS score (n = 1514, r = 0.83, P < .0001), and SST score (n = 1095, r = 0.81, P < .0001). The correlation of preoperative scores was moderate and that of postoperative scores was strong-moderate when the SANE score was compared with all 3 other scores. All scores were highly responsive, with standardized response mean values of 2.2 for the SANE score, 2.3 for the ASES score, 1.4 for the WOOS score, and 1.6 for the SST score. The effect size of the SANE score was 2.9; ASES score, 2.9; WOOS score, 2.9; and SST score, 2.3. One hundred percent of the SANE questions were answered completely compared with 61% of the ASES questions (P < .0001).

CONCLUSION

In patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty, the SANE score highly correlated with the WOOS, ASES, and SST scores, which have been used as stand-alone shoulder-specific outcome measures. The SANE score may provide the same information as the WOOS, ASES, and SST score regarding outcomes with a significant reduction in responder burden. It is logical that the SANE can be used as a stand-alone instrument for patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty.

Shoulder arthroplasty after prior anterior shoulder instability surgery: a matched cohort analysis

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effect of prior anterior shoulder instability surgery (SIS) on the outcomes and complications of primary anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (aTSA) and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA).

METHODS

Between 2007 and 2018, 38 primary total shoulder arthroplasties (TSA) (22 aTSA and 16 rTSA) with a prior SIS and a minimum of 2 years of follow-up were identified. This cohort was matched 1:3 based on age, sex, body mass index, year of surgery, and dominant shoulder. aTSA and rTSA were matched to patients with primary osteoarthritis (OA) and rotator cuff tear arthropathy (CTA), respectively.

RESULTS

TSA produced similar postoperative pain, ROM, patient-reported outcome measures, complications, and revisions in those with prior SIS vs. controls. aTSA with prior SIS demonstrated worse final postoperative abduction (116° vs. 133°; P = 0.046) and abduction improvement (24° vs. 47°; P = 0.034) compared to OA controls. Both aTSA and rTSA with prior SIS demonstrated significant improvements from baseline across all metrics, with no significant differences between the groups. aTSA and rTSA with prior SIS demonstrated no differences to controls in complications (4.6% vs. 6.1%; P = .786 and 0% vs. 6.3%. P = .183) or revisions (4.6% vs. 4.6%; P = .999 and 0% vs. 4.2%; P = .279).

CONCLUSIONS

TSA after prior SIS surgery can improve both pain and function without adversely increasing the rates of complications or revision surgery. When compared to patients without prior SIS, aTSA demonstrated worse abduction; however, all other functional differences remained statistically similar.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III; Retrospective Cohort Comparison; Treatment Study.

Shoulder arthroplasty is a viable option in patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

BACKGROUND

Patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) have high rates of shoulder instability, which place them at increased risk for instability-related arthropathy. Many studies have assessed outcomes for both primary and revision shoulder instability procedures in this patient population, but there is a paucity of data regarding the outcome of shoulder arthroplasty in EDS patients. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the results and complications of shoulder arthroplasty (SA) performed in a cohort of patients with EDS and compare them to a matched cohort of patients with no EDS.

METHODS

Over an 11-year period, 10 patients with EDS were identified at a single institution who underwent primary SA (6 anatomic total shoulder arthroplasties [aTSAs], 4 reverse shoulder arthroplasties [RTSAs]). Shoulders were evaluated at a mean follow-up of 60 months (range 25-97 months). This cohort was matched 1:2 based on age, sex, and year of surgery, with patients who underwent SA for either primary osteoarthritis (OA) for aTSA or cuff tear arthropathy for RTSA. EDS patients had a mean age of 55 years, mean body mass index of 26.1, and were all female. The primary outcome measures were postoperative pain, range of motion, complications, and reoperations.

RESULTS

SA produced similar postoperative pain, range of motion, complications, and reoperations in patients with EDS vs. controls. EDS patients improved pre- to postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) pain score (6.5 to 1.7, P < .001), elevation (96° to 138°, P = .04), and external rotation (36° to 57°, P = .16). Three EDS patients sustained postoperative complications (2 instability and 1 acromial fracture); however, no shoulder was reoperated.

CONCLUSIONS

EDS patients undergoing SA can expect outcomes comparable to patients with primary OA or cuff tear arthropathy, with clinically meaningful improvements in pain and range of motion. Although EDS patients had no statistically significant increase in complications when compared to controls, their absolute rate of overall complications (3/10 patients; 30%) and postoperative instability (2/10 patients; 20%) in this small case series was relatively high and should be considered when performing SA.