Prosthesis Designs and Tuberosity Fixation Techniques in Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: Influence on Tuberosity Healing in Proximal Humerus Fractures

Clinical and radiological outcome following trauma-related reverse shoulder arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) is a frequently used therapy for complex proximal humeral fractures and posttraumatic disorders. The present study's purpose was to assess the clinical and radiological outcome of primary and secondary RSA, and to analyze the impact of refixation of the greater tuberosity (GT).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

28 patients with primary fracture RSA and 18 patients with RSA due to posttraumatic disorders were examined with a mean clinical follow-up of 2.5 ± 1.73 years. Operative details and radiographs were retrospectively reviewed. Additional analyses were performed for healed and non-healed GT in primary RSA.

RESULTS

Patients with fracture RSA had higher Constant-Murley score (CMS) than secondary RSA without reaching significance (p = 0.104). No significant difference was present for the quality of life measured by the Short Form 36 (SF 36) and the range of motion. In primary RSA, 78.6% GT healed anatomically. Compared to non-healed GT, patients with healed GT had a significantly higher CMS (p = 0.011), external rotation (p = 0.026) and forward flexion (p = 0.083), whereas DASH score was lower without a significant difference (p = 0.268). SF 36 showed no significant difference. Patients with healed GT had a more neutral glenoid version (p = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

Superior range of motion and clinical outcome scores were present for anatomically healed GT. Therefore, refixation of the tuberosities is recommended. Secondary RSA can result in inferior results compared to primary RSA, so patients need to be adequately informed.

Comparison of Functional Outcomes and Complications of Inlay and Onlay Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty in Neer Type 4 Proximal Humerus Fractures and Cuff Tear Arthropathy: A Multicentric Study

Background

This multicenter retrospective study was conducted with the objective of comparing the outcomes and complications between inlay and onlay reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) in patients presenting Neer Type 4 proximal humerus fractures and cuff tear arthropathy. The primary aim of this investigation was to assess and juxtapose the clinical as well as functional outcomes of individuals who underwent onlay reverse shoulder arthroplasty with those who underwent inlay reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted, involving patients who had undergone reverse shoulder arthroplasty between the period of 2016 and 2022. The study divided the population into two groups: Group A received inlay humeral components, while Group B received onlay humeral components. Functional outcomes were evaluated using the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) and Constant scores. Range of motion, infection, periprosthetic fractures, and nerve injuries were also assessed.

Results

The study included 67 patients in Group A and 62 patients in Group B. Group A had significantly better functional outcomes, as indicated by higher ASES and Constant scores (p < 0.05). Group A also had greater shoulder joint motion (p < 0.05). Periprosthetic fractures were significantly more common in Group B (p < 0.05). However, complication rates, including infection and instability, did not significantly differ between the groups (p > 0.05). Nerve injuries occurred in both groups, with slightly higher occurrence in Group B.

Conclusion

Inlay humeral components in reverse shoulder arthroplasty for Neer Type 4 fractures and cuff tear arthropathy resulted in better functional outcomes, increased range of motion, and lower incidence of periprosthetic fractures compared to onlay components. Onlay components showed potential advantages in reducing instability rates. Further studies with larger samples and standardized protocols are needed to confirm these findings.

Clinical and radiographic long-term outcomes of hemiarthroplasty for complex proximal humeral fractures

BACKGROUND

Hemiarthroplasty (HA) is a treatment option for complex proximal humeral fractures not suitable for conservative treatment or open reduction-internal fixation. Long-term outcomes using a large-metaphyseal volume prosthesis in the management of proximal humeral fractures have not been reported thus far.

METHODS

Between 2006 and 2010, 41 patients with proximal humeral fractures were treated with HA at our institution (average age, 62 years; age range, 38-85 years). Nine patients underwent revision surgery, 3 were lost to follow-up, and 7 died unrelated to the index surgical procedure. Twenty-two patients were reviewed clinically and radiographically after a mean period of 10.4 years (range, 9-13 years).

RESULTS

Of the 9 HA failures, 7 occurred within the first 2 postoperative years: 2 patients had infections and 5 had greater tuberosity nonunions or malunions. The other 2 patients underwent revision for rotator cuff deficiency >5 years after initial surgery. Among the patients available for final follow-up, the implant survival rate was 71% (22 of 31 patients). At final follow-up, these patients showed a mean relative Constant score of 76% (range, 49%-96%), mean active elevation of 116° (range, 60°-170°), and mean external rotation of 28° (range, 0°-55°). The majority had good or excellent internal rotation, with internal rotation to the 12th thoracic vertebra in 13 patients (59%) and to the eighth thoracic vertebra in 7 (31%). The mean Subjective Shoulder Value was 76% (range, 40%-100%). Clinical outcomes did not significantly deteriorate over a period of 10 years, except for flexion (P < .001) and internal rotation (P = .002). On analysis of greater tuberosity healing, 1 patient had a nonunion and 10 patients (45%) had a malunion, whereas the greater tuberosity had healed in an anatomic position in 12 patients (55%). Patients with a displaced malunion of the greater tuberosity did not have inferior clinical results at last follow-up. Only 2 patients showed glenoid erosion, and in no patients could stem loosening be identified at final follow-up.

CONCLUSION

The revision rate following large-metaphyseal volume HA to treat a proximal humeral fracture was 29% after 10 years postoperatively, with failure within 2 years largely related to greater tuberosity nonunion or malunion and failure later related to rotator cuff insufficiency. Patients with a retained implant showed good clinical and radiographic long-term results, without relevant deterioration over time even when the greater tuberosity healed in a nonanatomic position.

Primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty for fractures requires more revisions than for degenerative conditions 1 year after surgery: an analysis from the Dutch Arthroplasty Register

BACKGROUND

Although reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) is considered a viable treatment strategy for proximal humeral fractures, there is an ongoing discussion of how its revision rate compares with indications performed in the elective setting. First, this study evaluated whether RTSA for fractures conveyed a higher revision rate than RTSA for degenerative conditions (osteoarthritis, rotator cuff arthropathy, rotator cuff tear, or rheumatoid arthritis). Second, this study assessed whether there was a difference in patient-reported outcomes between these 2 groups following primary replacement. Finally, the results of conventional stem designs were compared with those of fracture-specific designs within the fracture group.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective comparative cohort study with registry data from the Netherlands, generated prospectively between 2014 and 2020. Patients (aged ≥ 18 years) were included if they underwent primary RTSA for a fracture (<4 weeks after trauma), osteoarthritis, rotator cuff arthropathy, rotator cuff tear, or rheumatoid arthritis, with follow-up until first revision, death, or the end of the study period. The primary outcome was the revision rate. The secondary outcomes were the Oxford Shoulder Score, EuroQol 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) score, numerical rating scale score (pain at rest and during activity), recommendation score, and scores assessing change in daily functioning and change in pain.

RESULTS

This study included 8753 patients in the degenerative condition group (mean age, 74.3 ± 7.2 years) and 2104 patients in the fracture group (mean age, 74.3 ± 7.8 years). RTSA performed for fractures showed an early steep decline in survivorship: Adjusted for time, age, sex, and arthroplasty brand, the revision risk after 1 year was significantly higher in these patients than in those with degenerative conditions (hazard ratio [HR], 2.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.66-3.77). Over time, the HR steadily decreased, with an HR of 0.98 at year 6. Apart from the recommendation score (which was slightly better within the fracture group), there were no clinically relevant differences in the patient-reported outcome measures after 12 months. Patients who received conventional stems (n = 1137) did not have a higher likelihood of undergoing a revision procedure than those who received fracture-specific stems (n = 675) (HR, 1.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.91-3.17).

CONCLUSION

Patients undergoing primary RTSA for fractures have a substantially higher likelihood of undergoing revision within the first year following the procedure than patients with degenerative conditions preoperatively. Although RTSA is regarded as a reliable and safe treatment option for fractures, surgeons should inform patients accordingly and incorporate this information in decision making when opting for head replacement surgery. There were no differences in patient-reported outcomes between the 2 groups and no differences in revision rates between conventional and fracture-specific stem designs.

The Evolution of Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty-Where Do We Stand and What Comes Next?

Over 35 years ago, the pioneer Paul Grammont from Lyon published his ideas of a reversed semi-constraint prosthesis improving the moment arm of the deltoid by medializing the center of rotation and lengthening of the arm and thus increasing deltoid muscle tension [...].

Investigation of the Clinical Effect of New Shoulder Joint Abduction Frame in Humeral Fracture Patients after Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery

Objective

This work is organized to analyze the clinical effects of new shoulder joint abduction frame on the bone metabolic markers, shoulder joint function, and visual analogue scale (VAS) of humeral fracture patients undergoing arthroscopic surgery.

Methods

118 patients with humeral fracture who planned to undergo shoulder surgery in our hospital from November 2018 to June 2021 were selected as the study objects and were divided into two groups according to the random number method, with 59 patients in each group. The patients in the two groups were subjected to arthroscopic shoulder surgery. New shoulder joint abduction frame was used for shoulder joint fixation in the abduction frame group, and sling was used for shoulder joint fixation in the sling group after surgery. The duration of fixation was 4-6 weeks. Finally, the prognostic indicators, complications, and serum bone metabolism levels in 4 and 6 weeks after surgery, shoulder joint function (Neer score), VAS score before surgery and after 3 and 6 months of surgery, and excellent or good rate of shoulder joint activity after 6 months of surgery were compared between the two groups.

Results

The postoperative fracture healing time and start time of shoulder joint training were shorter, and the humeral varus angle and femur height loss were smaller in the abduction frame group than in the sling group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the total incidence of complications between the two groups (3.39% and 13.56%, respectively) (P > 0.05). After 4 or 6 weeks of surgery, the levels of serum osteoprotegerin (OPG) and carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP) were increased but the levels of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5B (TRAP-5B) were decreased in the two groups with more significant differences in the abduction frame group (P < 0.05). After 6 months of follow-up, 2 cases were lost to follow-up in the abduction frame group and 3 cases in the sling group. Neer scores were increased, while VAS scores were decreased in the two groups in the third or sixth months after surgery with significant differences in the abduction frame group (P < 0.05). The excellent or good rate of shoulder joint activity was 94.74% (54/57) in the abduction frame group, significantly higher than that in the sling group (80.36%; 45/56) (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The fixation effect of new shoulder joint abduction frame is significant after arthroscopic surgery, and patients can carry out functional training as early as possible, which is helpful to promote fracture healing, relieve pain, and restore shoulder joint function with high safety.

The Evolution of Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty and Its Current Use in the Treatment of Proximal Humerus Fractures in the Older Population

Proximal humerus fracture (PHF) is a common injury in the older population. While the majority of these fractures are treated non-operatively, a small subset of patients may benefit from surgical treatment. However, there continues to be an ongoing debate regarding the indications and ideal surgical treatment strategy. The use of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) has resulted in a paradigm shift in the treatment of PHFs in the older population. Unique biomechanical principles and design features of RTSA make it a suitable treatment option for PHFs in the older population. RTSA has distinct advantages over hemiarthroplasty and internal fixation and provides good pain relief and a reliable and reproducible improvement in functional outcomes. As a result, there has been an exponential increase in the volume of RTSA in the older population in last decade. The aim of this paper is to review the current concepts, outcomes and controversies regarding the use of RTSA for the treatment of PHFs in the older population.