Long-term outcomes of hemiarthroplasty using a smaller head combined with rotator cuff reconstruction in patients with cuff-tear arthropathy

Background

Hemiarthroplasty (HHR) using a smaller head with rotator cuff reconstruction is a treatment option for cuff-tear arthropathy, offering advantages like facilitating rotator cuff-tear closure, increasing the lever arm of deltoid, and restoring function in irreparable cuff tears. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of this procedure.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted for 91 shoulders undergoing HHR using a smaller head with rotator cuff reconstruction between May 2005 and September 2012. Surgery involved reducing the size of humeral head and performing rotator cuff reconstruction based on the site of the deficient rotator cuff. The study analyzed University of California, Los Angeles shoulder scores, Japanese Orthopaedics Association shoulder scores, range of motion, and postoperative radiographs.

Results

Twenty-eight patients, divided into an elderly group (14 women, 2 men, mean age 74.5 ± 3.8 years) and a younger group (6 women, 6 men, mean age 63.5 ± 3.1 years) were followed up for a mean of 133.2 ± 14.1 months. No complications were reported. The clinical scores and range of motion significantly improved postoperatively and remained over 10 years. Radiographs revealed high incidence of glenoid wear (82.1%), bone resorption (43%) and cranial humeral head migration (54%), with no prosthesis loosening.

Conclusion

We believe that HHR using a smaller head with rotator cuff reconstruction is a surgical technique that can maintain stable long-term outcomes in both elderly and younger individuals with cuff-tear arthropathy.

Maximizing Implant Stability in the Face of Glenoid Bone Stock Deficiency

As the incidence of shoulder arthroplasty continues to rise, encountering significant glenoid bone loss in the primary and revision setting is becoming a common occurrence. To effectively treat these difficult scenarios, surgeons must understand the common patterns of glenoid bone loss and be aware of the various techniques available for treatment. Understanding bone loss requires careful pre-operative evaluation with appropriate imaging and pre-operative planning software. Treatment algorithms consist of primary anatomic and reverse arthroplasty as well as the use of allograft or autograft bone grafting, augmented glenoid components, specialized surgical techniques, or custom implant designs. Ultimately, good outcomes are able to be obtained with various techniques when applied to the appropriate clinical situation.

Augmented baseplates in reverse shoulder arthroplasty: a systematic review of outcomes and complications

Background

Glenoid wear secondary to primary osteoarthritis or rotator cuff arthropathy is an obstacle commonly encountered by surgeons performing reverse shoulder arthroplasty, with numerous techniques devised to address this finding. The most recent of such techniques is the introduction of augmented glenoid baseplates to fill these glenoid defects. The objectives of this systematic review are to analyze clinical outcomes of augmented baseplates in patients with glenoid wear, including pain, range of motion, patient-reported functional scores, radiographic outcome measures, complication rates, and revision rates.

Methods

Three online databases (Ovid Medline, EMBASE, Pubmed) were searched for studies publishing clinical and functional outcomes of augmented baseplates in primary reverse shoulder arthroplasty. Findings were aggregated and frequency-weighted means of these variables were calculated when applicable.

Results

Seven studies comprising 810 patients were included in this review. The mean patient age was 72.1 ± 8.1 years with an average follow-up time of 41.4 months. Frequency-weighted means of improvement in forward elevation, abduction, and active external rotation were 53°, 47°, and 19°, respectively. Patients experienced American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, Simple Shoulder Test, and Constant score improvements of 45.9, 5.9, and 33.7, respectively. Pooled complicated rate was 6.4%, with 10 cases of baseplate loosening and 3 cases of instability. Five (0.6%) patients required reoperation. Subdividing among augment type (posterior, superior, posterosuperior), there were no apparent differences in outcomes or complication rates between directional augments.

Conclusion

This systematic review demonstrates that augmented baseplates for reverse shoulder arthroplasty provide positive outcomes both clinically and functionally at early follow-up. Complications are within an acceptable range for primary reverse shoulder arthroplasty, with a low rate of revision. Augmented baseplates should serve as a viable option for surgeons seeking to address glenoid wear during reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

Glenoid wear and its impact on clinical results after humeral head replacement using a single prosthesis in cuff tear arthropathy with more than 8 years of follow-up

BACKGROUND

Glenoid wear (GW) is a long-term complication after humeral head replacement (HHR) and is one of the major reasons for revision surgery. This study aimed to evaluate GW at >8 years of follow-up after HHR in patients with cuff tear arthropathy (CTA) by use of a modified classification of GW, to examine the relationship between GW and clinical outcomes, and to identify risk factors for GW progression.

METHODS

This retrospective case-series study included 34 shoulders that were monitored for >8 years after HHR in patients with CTA (13 men and 21 women; mean age at surgery, 70.9 years [range, 55-82 years]). Patients were monitored for a mean of 10.3 years (range, 8.1-13.2 years). GW was classified using plain radiographs as follows: grade 0, no remarkable postoperative changes; grade 1, postoperative glenohumeral joint space narrower than preoperative glenohumeral joint space; grade 2, contact between glenoid and humeral head prosthesis; and grade 3, glenoid erosion. Grade 3 cases were further classified into the following subtypes: grade 3A, partial erosion of anterior glenoid; grade 3B, partial erosion of superior glenoid; and grade 3C, concentric erosion of glenoid. Clinical outcomes including range of motion (active flexion and active external rotation) and postoperative pain (Constant score) were compared between grade 0-2 shoulders and grade 3 shoulders, as well as between the grade 3 subtypes. Age, sex, preoperative range of motion, preoperative pain, and number of ruptured tendons were analyzed as possible risk factors for progression to grade 3.

RESULTS

The final GW grade was grade 0 in 3 shoulders, grade 1 in 10, grade 2 in 6, and grade 3 in 15 (grade 3A in 2, grade 3B in 6, and grade 3C in 7). The grade 3 group had lower pain scores (10.7 ± 6.2 vs. 14.2 ± 1.9, P = .044) and limited active flexion (108.2° ± 42.3° vs. 140.6° ± 26.7°, P = .041) compared with the grade 0-2 group. Subtype comparison showed that the grade 3B group had lower pain scores (7.0 ± 6.7 vs. 15.0 ± 0.0, P = .007) and limited active flexion (80.0° ± 26.2° vs. 140.8° ± 27.5°, P = .010) compared with the grade 3C group. Limited preoperative active external rotation was an individual risk factor for grade 3 GW (odds ratio, 0.93; 95% confidence interval, 0.88-0.99; P = .009).

CONCLUSIONS

In the long term (>8 years) after HHR with tendon transfer in patients with CTA, patients with the development of grade 3C GW ultimately achieve pain relief even without revision surgery whereas grade 3B GW is associated with persistent pain and might require revision surgery.

Osteoarthritis of the shoulder in under-50 year-olds: A multicenter retrospective study of 273 shoulders by the French Society for Shoulder and Elbow (SOFEC)

INTRODUCTION

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the shoulder in under-50 year-olds is rare, and treatment is delicate. Shoulder replacement incurs frequent long-term risk of progression and a high revision rate, making it unsuited to young active patients. The aim of the present study was to determine the epidemiology of shoulder OA in under-50 year-olds and to assess the clinical results of the various treatment options.

HYPOTHESIS

The main study hypothesis was that well-conducted non-operative treatment can allow shoulder replacement to be postponed. The secondary hypothesis was that anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) is the treatment of choice when other options fail.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A multicenter retrospective study included primary (POA) and post-instability osteoarthritis (PIOA) in patients aged≤50years at symptom onset. Exclusion criteria comprised post-traumatic OA, rheumatoid arthritis and necrosis. Two hundred and sixty-six patients for 273 shoulders were included from 13 shoulder surgery centers: 2 types of non-operative treatment (28 by platelet-rich plasma [PRP] and 88 by viscosupplementation), 73 arthroscopies, and 150 implantations (62 humeral hemiarthroplasties [HA], comprising 10 hemi-metal, 24 hemi-pyrocarbon and 28 hemi-resurfacing; 77 anatomic total prostheses, and 11 reverse prostheses). Minimum follow-up was 12 months for non-operative treatment and 24 months for arthroplasty (some patients having both). Endpoints comprised Constant score, Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV) and number of complications/revision procedures.

RESULTS

Mean age at treatment was 43 years (range, 23-65 years), with 75% male predominance. Symptom onset was earlier in PIOA than in POA: 36 vs. 39 years (range, 20-50 years). PRP and viscosupplementation postponed implantation by a mean 3.5 years in 86% of cases, as did arthroscopy in 56%. ER1 restriction was the most negative factor. At 74 months' follow-up for HA and 95 months for TSA, mean Constant score was significantly lower for HA (56 vs. 67; p=0.004), with higher rates of complications (31% vs. 11%) and implant exchange (13% vs. 9%).

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

PRP, viscosupplementation and arthroscopy allow implantation to be postponed until the shoulder becomes stiff and painful. In case of failure, TSA is the most effective solution in the medium-term.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV a; therapeutic study - investigating the results of treatment.

Stemmed hemiarthroplasty versus resurfacing in primary shoulder osteoarthritis: a single-center retrospective series of 78 patients

INTRODUCTION

Resurfacing shoulder arthroplasty is proposed in primary osteoarthritis of the shoulder. The present study compared resurfacing versus 3rd generation stemmed hemiarthroplasty in terms of survival, functional results and implant positioning effects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seventy eight patients underwent arthroplasty for primary osteoarthritis of the shoulder: 41 by resurfacing and 37 by stemmed hemiarthroplasty. The two populations were comparable on all baseline variables. Minimum follow-up was 2 years. The principal assessment criterion was survivorship with surgical revision as end-point. Secondary criteria were functional results on Constant, quick-DASH, Neer and SSV scores, and implant positioning effects assessed on radiology.

RESULTS

At a mean 44 months' follow-up (range, 24-118 months), there were no significant differences in functional scores. Radiologic analysis found greater varus positioning and lateral offset of the humeral head in resurfacing compared with stemmed hemiarthroplasty (128° vs 138°, P<0.01; 6.5 ± 2 vs 4.6 ± 1.6mm, P<0.01). Survivorship without revision was significantly poorer in resurfacing, with 4 revision procedures for glenoid wear (9.8%), versus none in hemiarthroplasty (P=0.02). There was no correlation between humeral head size, positioning or lateral offset and revision.

CONCLUSION

Revision-free survival was significantly lower in resurfacing than in hemiarthroplasty. Greater humeral head size may increase lateral offset, accelerating glenoid wear. Down-sizing the humeral head in resurfacing procedures might limit these complications.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III; case-control study.

Complications of shoulder arthroplasty for osteoarthritis with posterior glenoid wear

BACKGROUND

Anatomical total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) for glenohumeral osteoarthritis (OA) and severe posterior glenoid wear may entail early postoperative complications (recurrence of posterior subluxation, glenoid loosening). To avoid these mechanical problems, reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) has recently been proposed, mainly for its intrinsic stability. Our purpose was to present the results of TSA and RSA in glenohumeral OA with posterior glenoid wear of at least 20°.

HYPOTHESIS

By virtue of its constrained design, RSA could prevent recurrence of posterior subluxation and limit the occurrence of mechanical complications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A consecutive series of 23 patients (27 shoulders) were treated for glenohumeral OA with total shoulder prostheses: 19 TSAs and 8 RSAs. Mean age was 70 years (range, 47-85 years), mean retroversion angle 28° (20°-50°) and mean subluxation index 74% (57-89%). Constant Score, Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV), QuickDASH and Simple Shoulder Test (SST) were measured, and radiological examinations were performed at a mean follow-up of 52 months (24-95 months).

RESULTS

TSA and RSA patients respectively displayed Constant Scores of 65 and 65, SSV of 79% and 74%, QuickDASH of 16 and 27, and SST of 88 and 78. Two patients underwent surgical revision of TSA because of glenoid loosening; 52% of TSA patients presented complete radiolucent lines and 11% recurrence of posterior subluxation.

CONCLUSION

Complications are frequently observed after shoulder arthroplasty for OA with severe glenoid retroversion. RSA could be an alternative to TSA for selected patients, independently of rotator cuff status. Studies on RSA in this specific indication with longer follow-up are now needed.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV; retrospective case series.