Unacceptable failure of osteochondral glenoid allograft for biologic resurfacing of the glenoid

Purpose

Glenohumeral osteoarthritis (OA) represents a challenging problem in young, physically active patients. It was the purpose of this investigation to evaluate the results of a pilot study involving glenoid resurfacing with a glenoid allograft combined with a hemiarthroplasty on the humeral side.

Methods

Between April 2011 to November 2013, 5 patients (3 men, 2 women, mean age 46.4, range 35-57) with advanced OA of the glenohumeral joint, were treated with a humeral head replacement combined with replacement of the glenoid surface with an osteochondral, glenoid allograft.

Results

Overall, clinically, there was one excellent, one satisfactory and three poor results. Mean preoperative subjective shoulder value (SSV) was 34% (range: 20-50%) and preoperative relative Constant-Murley-Score (CSr) was 43 points (range: 29-64 points). Three patients with poor results had to be revised within the first three years. Their mean pre-revision SSV and CSr were 38% (range: 15-80%) and 36 points (range: 7-59 points) respectively. One patient was revised 9 years after the primary procedure with advanced glenoid erosion and pain and one patient has an ongoing satisfactory outcome without revision. Their SSVs were 60% and 83%, their CSr were 65 points and 91 points, 9 and 10 years after the primary procedure, respectively. Mean follow-up was 7 years (2-10 years) and mean time to revision was 4 years (range: 1-9 years).

Conclusion

The in-vivo pilot study of a previously established in-vitro technique of osteochondral glenoid allograft combined with humeral HA led to three early failures and only one really satisfactory clinical outcome which, however, was associated with advanced glenoid erosion. Osteochondral allograft glenoid resurfacing was associated with an unacceptable early failure rate and no results superior to those widely documented for HA or TSA, so that the procedure has been abandoned.

Level of evidence

Level IV, Case Series, Treatment Study.

Ring versus non-ring plate for the treatment of displaced scapular body fractures: a retrospective study with a mean follow-up of 5 years

Objective

To compare surgical complications and functional outcomes of the ring plate versus the non-ring plate approach to the surgical repair of scapular body fractures (SBFs; AO/OTA classification: 14-A2.2).

Methods

This retrospective study reviewed data from adults with SBFs who underwent a modified Judet approach combined with non-ring or ring plates between November 2006 and June 2013. The primary outcomes were the Constant and Murley score and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score. The secondary outcomes were radiographic findings.

Results

A total of 318 patients had a non-ring or ring plate internal fixation, of which 147 patients (ring-treated, n = 72; non-ring-treated, n = 75) were evaluated with a mean follow-up period of 60 months. At the 3-month follow-up, the complication rate was 2.8% and 13.3% for the ring-treated and non-ring-treated groups, respectively. The difference persisted over time, with significantly different rates of 8.3% and 20.0% at the final follow-up for the ring and non-ring groups, respectively. The ring-treated group had significantly higher postoperative Constant and Murley scores and lower DASH scores compared with the non-ring-treated group.

Conclusion

Application of a modified Judet approach combined with ring plate internal fixation for the treatment of SBFs may be the preferred treatment option.

Functional status and failed rotator cuff repair predict outcomes after arthroscopic-assisted latissimus dorsi transfer for irreparable massive rotator cuff tears

BACKGROUND

Arthroscopic-assisted latissimus dorsi tendon transfer (LDTT) has been recently introduced for treatment of irreparable, posterosuperior massive rotator cuff tears. We sought to evaluate the functional outcomes of this technique and to check for possible outcome predictors.

METHODS

The study reviewed 86 patients (aged 59.8 ± 5.9 years) who underwent an arthroscopic-assisted latissimus dorsi tendon transfer after 36.4 ± 9 months of follow-up. Of these, 14 patients (16.3%) sustained an irreparable massive rotator cuff tear after a failed arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. The Constant and Murley score (CMS) was used to assess patients' functionality preoperatively and at follow-up.

RESULTS

As a group, the CMS improved with surgery from 35.5 ± 6.1 to 69.5 ± 12.3 (P < .001). A lower preoperative CMS and a previous failed rotator cuff repair resulted in lower postoperative range of motion (P = .044 and P = .007, respectively) and CMS (P = .042 and P = .018, respectively). A previous rotator cuff repair resulted in lower satisfaction with surgery (P = .009). Gender and age did not affect the clinical outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results support the effectiveness of arthroscopic-assisted LDTT in the treatment of patients with an irreparable, posterosuperior massive rotator cuff tears in pain relief, functional recovery, and postoperative satisfaction. Patients with lower preoperative CMS and a history of failed rotator cuff repair have a greater likelihood of having a lower clinical result. However, the favorable values of summary postoperative scores do not exclude these patients as candidates for arthroscopic-assisted LDTT.