Reverse shoulder arthroplasty for type 1 sequelae of a fracture of the proximal humerus

Aims

The aim of this study was to analyze the results of reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) in patients with type 1 sequelae of a fracture of the proximal humerus in association with rotator cuff deficiency or severe stiffness of the shoulder.

Patients and Methods

A total of 38 patients were included: 28 women and ten men. Their mean age at the time of arthroplasty was 73 years (54 to 91). Before the RSA, 18 patients had been treated with open reduction and internal fixation following a fracture. A total of 22 patients had a rotator cuff tear and 11 had severe stiffness of the shoulder with < 0° of external rotation. The mean follow-up was 4.3 years (1.5 to 10). The Constant score and the range of movement of the shoulder were recorded preoperatively and at final follow-up. Preoperatively, radiographs in two planes were performed, as well as CT or arthro-CT scans; radiographs were also performed at final follow-up.

Results

The mean Constant score improved from 25 points (5 to 47) preoperatively to 57 points (15 to 81) postoperatively. The mean forward elevation of the shoulder increased from 73° (10° to 130°) preoperatively to 117° (15° to 170°) postoperatively. Previous surgery did not influence the outcome. Patients with rotator cuff tears had lower Constant scores than patients without (p = 0.037). Those with preoperative stiffness of the shoulder had lower postoperative external rotation compared with patients without stiffness (p = 0.046). There was no radiographic evidence of loosening. Three complications occurred, leading to revision surgery in two patients. In all, 17 patients rated their result as very good (45%), another 17 as good (45%), two as satisfactory (5%), and two as unsatisfactory (5%).

Discussion

RSA is an effective form of treatment for patients with type 1 sequelae of a fracture of the proximal humerus associated with rotator cuff deficiency or stiffness of the shoulder, with high rates of satisfaction. Rotator cuff tears and stiffness of the shoulder had an adverse effect on the clinical outcome. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2018;100-B:318–23.

The Doubled-Suture Nice Knot

The authors describe a novel suture fixation technique that combines a doubled suture with a sliding knot. The knot can be tied in both open and arthroscopic surgery to fix torn tendons/ligaments and fractured/osteotomized bones. The advantages of the doubled-suture Nice knot include strength, adjustability, simplicity, and versatility. This technique, which has proven useful in the authors' practice for the past 10 years, has replaced metallic wires and cables for bone fixation. The doubled-suture Nice knot can also be tied over a double-button and has been used for ankle syndesmosis, acromioclavicular joint separation repair, and coracoid bone block fixation. [Orthopedics. 2017; 40(2):e382-e386.].

Shoulder hemiarthroplasty: outcomes and long-term survival analysis according to etiology

BACKGROUND

The indications for hemiarthroplasty in glenohumeral joint diseases remain controversial and depend mainly on the original underlying diagnosis. Our objective was to investigate the influence of the primitive aetiology on long-term prosthesis survival and on the Constant-Murley score.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We studied 272 shoulders with the following diagnoses: fracture sequelae (n=73), primary osteoarthritis (n=67), cuff tear arthropathy (n=43), avascular necrosis (n=40), rheumatoid arthritis (n=31), and other (n=18). Of the 272 shoulders, 139 were evaluated after at least 8 years (mean follow-up, 134 months). In all, 30 prostheses required removal. Functional status was evaluated using the Constant-Murley score and survival rate using the Kaplan-Meier method with prosthesis removal or conversion to total arthroplasty as the endpoint.

RESULTS

Ten-year prosthesis survival was 88.13% overall, 100% in the rheumatoid arthritis group, 94.9% in the avascular necrosis group, 94.2% in the primary osteoarthritis group, 81.5% in the cuff tear arthropathy group, and 76.8% in the fracture sequelae (P=0.05). The mean Constant-Murley score after 8 years or more was 70.1 in avascular necrosis, 60.7 in primary osteoarthritis, 57.7 in fracture sequelae, 55.3 in rheumatoid arthritis, and 46.2 in cuff tear arthropathy (P=0.0006). The complication rate with the initial population as the denominator was 24.7% in fracture sequelae, 18.6% in cuff tear arthropathy, 15% in avascular necrosis, 8.9% in primary osteoarthritis, and 3.2% in rheumatoid arthritis.

CONCLUSIONS

The best indication for shoulder hemiarthroplasty is avascular necrosis and the worst indications are cuff tear and post-traumatic fracture sequellae. Rheumatoid arthritis and primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis are good indications in patients younger than 50 years of age.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, retrospective study.

Scapular notching in reverse shoulder arthroplasty: is it important to avoid it and how?

BACKGROUND

Scapular notching, erosion of the scapular neck related to impingement by the medial rim of the humeral cup during adduction, is a radiographic sign specific to reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA). Its clinical and radiological consequences remain unclear.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES

Therefore, we: (1) determined the incidence of notching in a large series, (2) described the natural history of notching, (3) determined whether notching is related to functional scores or (4) radiographic signs of failure, and (5) identified factors related to notch development.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 448 patients who underwent a Grammont-type RSA (461 shoulders) with a mean followup of 51 months (range, 24-206 months). RSA was implanted for cuff tear arthropathy or osteoarthritis with cuff deficiency. We assessed scapular notching using AP views standardized under fluoroscopy. Clinical assessment included Constant-Murley score and range of motion. Aside from notching, radiographic assessment included evaluation of humeral and glenoid radiolucent lines.

RESULTS

Notching occurred in 68% of cases. It appeared early, but its later evolution was variable. Notching was associated with followup, strength, passive and active elevation, humeral radiolucent lines, and glenoid lucent lines. It also correlated with a higher rate in patients with preoperative superior erosion.

CONCLUSIONS

Scapular notching is frequent, generally progresses, and is associated with deterioration of some clinical parameters and radiolucent lines. We believe the preoperative pattern of glenoid erosion is of particular importance due to its influence on the surgeon's glenoid preparation and base-plate positioning. It is crucial to avoid cranial position and superior tilt.

LEVELS OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, Therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Translation of the Patient Scar Assessment Scale (PSAS) to French with cross-cultural adaptation, reliability evaluation and validation

BACKGROUND

Patient esthetic satisfaction related to scarring after orthopedic surgery was rarely assessed before the development of the Patient Scar Assessment Scale (PSAS). The purpose of our study was to translate and validate the PSAS and assess the psychometric properties of the French version.

METHODS

We conducted a staged validation with forward and backward translation and concurrent validation. The validation committee comrpised bilingual experts. The patient validation sample comprised 53 orthopedic surgery patients who were assessed at a minimum of 1 year postoperatively. We followed a standardized process for cross-cultural adaptation to develop and assess the French version. First, 2 independent translators completed the forward translation of the PSAS and then met to achieve a consensus version. This consolidated version was then backward translated into English and cross-verified with the original version. A group of orthopedic and plastic surgeons assessed this version for content validity. We assessed the test-retest reliability of the new French scale, which was filled out twice by a cohort of 53 patients, using scale distribution analysis, internal consistency (Chronbach alpha) and absolute agreement (intraclass correlation coefficients [ICC (2,1)]).

RESULTS

The level of agreement on the translation process between the translators initially and then later among the expert panel was high. The reliability of the translated version (PSAS-Fr) and its internal consistency was high (Chronback alpha 0.87-0.98 for each of the 6 questions), and the test-retest reliability was excellent (ICC 0.96). On the other hand, there was no bias between occasions (retests difference -0.24) and the scores fell within 2 standard deviations of 5. Older patients had higher satisfaction about scar appearance.

CONCLUSION

The PSAS-Fr was successfully translated from the original English version and demonstrated strong cross-sectional psychometric properties. Further assessment in longitudinal studies is warranted.