BACKGROUND:Reconstruction of the acromioclavicular (AC) ligament after an acute AC dislocation as the first surgical step before coracoclavicular (CC) tunnel placement has been proposed to reduce the risk of postoperative loss of reduction. Additional reconstruction of AC ligamentous complex lesions with different types of bracing constructs has also been described to improve outcomes. Still, the effect of the sequence of surgical steps and the AC bracing construct design on the AC kinematics in a whole-shoulder girdle model has not been reported. HYPOTHESIS:The primary hypothesis was that postoperative AC joint reduction would improve when the AC joint was reconstructed before CC tunnel placement. The secondary hypothesis was that different AC bracing construct designs affect joint kinematics during physiological motion in a whole-shoulder girdle model. STUDY DESIGN:Controlled laboratory study. METHODS:Five cadaveric specimens (10 shoulders) were prepared for whole-shoulder mobilization with a robotic manipulator. Joint kinematics was acquired during physiological motions using an optical motion capture system. Recorded parameters were (1) the joint reduction in a resting position, expressed as joint displacements and rotations compared with an intact AC joint, and (2) the joint stability during all tested motions, expressed as joint displacements and rotations. The tested joint conditions were intact AC joint, induced Rockwood type 5 lesion, isolated CC reconstruction, and 4 AC joint bracing construct designs. AC reconstruction was performed before (AC-first technique) and after (CC-first technique) CC tunnel placement in 5 shoulders each. RESULTS:The AC-first surgical step improved the AC joint reduction in anterior-posterior tilt compared with CC-first (median difference, -9.4°; P < .001). The AC-first surgical step also demonstrated an increased superior-inferior joint reduction with hyperreduction (median difference, 1.6 mm; P = .041) compared with CC-first. Dispersion of joint reduction values was reduced with the AC-first step and particularly for anterior-posterior tilt (IQR difference, -4.8°) and lateral-medial displacement (IQR difference, -3.4 mm). The double vertical bracing construct design increased the AC joint stability compared with other constructs and reached a statistical significance in all rotational displacement (P < .001 to P = .041) as well as in lateral-medial displacement (P = .001 to P = .015). CONCLUSION:The AC-first surgical step sequence improved AC joint alignment in the scapular sagittal plane and increased joint hyperreduction. The double vertical bracing construct design achieved the highest joint stability over other tested designs during passive motion. CLINICAL RELEVANCE:The restoration of the preinjury joint alignment and the optimization of the joint stability may improve outcomes and reduce the risk of construct de-tensioning during the rehabilitation phase.

Background Conventional techniques for the fixation of displaced proximal humeral fractures include the use of locking plates, intramedullary nailing, hemiarthroplasty and reverse shoulder replacement. Valgus-impacted fractures are a common subtype of proximal humeral fracture, but there are few publications concerning the outcomes of treatment. This study aims to review outcomes following an ‘all-suture’ technique for this fracture subtype without the use of transosseous sutures. Methods All patients over the age of 18 who presented with 3- or 4-part valgus-impacted proximal humeral fractures and who underwent ‘all-suture’ repair at our centre were included. We reviewed their post-operative imaging and collected data on post-operative complications and patient-reported outcome measures. Results We identified 15 patients who had undergone all-suture fixation. The cohort's mean age was 56. Eleven patients were female. Eight patients had 3-part fractures and seven patients had 4-part fractures. There were no major post-operative complications. All fractures united. The mean Oxford Shoulder Score was 43.7 and the mean Single Assessment Numerical Evaluation score was 85.9 at the final follow-up. Discussion Our results suggest that all-suture fixation of proximal humeral fractures presents an attractive alternative to conventional techniques, whilst avoiding complications relating to metalwork implantation.

BACKGROUND:Bigliani types of acromion and critical shoulder angle (CSA) have been implicated as indicators of rotator cuff disease. A sharpened inferolateral edge of acromion (termed as Sharpened Lateral Acromion Morphology or SLAM sign) is frequently observed in anteroposterior radiographs of the glenohumeral joint in patients with rotator cuff tears (RCT). We aimed to evaluate the association of the SLAM sign with RCT in comparison to high CSA (≥35°) and Bigliani type 3 (hooked) acromion.METHODS:A cohort of 100 consecutive patients undergoing non-arthroplasty surgery for RCT and 106 patients with primary frozen shoulder were matched manually in 1:1 ratio based on age and gender to yield study population with 50 patients in each group. The 2 groups were compared for the presence of the SLAM sign, high CSA, and type 3 acromion on the radiographs.RESULTS:All the 3 parameters were found more prevalent in the RCT group than the frozen shoulder group (SLAM, 46% vs. 0; high CSA, 60% vs. 40%; type 3 acromion, 18% vs. 4%) (P < .05). The SLAM sign showed stronger correlation with RCT than high CSA and type 3 acromion (Ps = 0.562 vs. 0.220 vs. 0.224 respectively).CONCLUSION:The SLAM sign is a simple and easily identifiable radiological predictor of rotator cuff disease.

Arthroscopic distal clavicular autograft (DCA) is effective in shoulder instability with glenoid bone loss. The original technique uses an osteochondral autograft, fixed with screws or suture anchors. We developed a modified procedure called “congruent arc DCA” characterized by (1) use of drilling guides to optimize graft positioning and make the all-arthroscopic procedure safer and reproducible; (2) rotation of the DCA of 90° to reach a congruent arc with its undersurface; (3) fixation of the graft with cortical buttons to simplify its intra-articular passage, avoid hardware problems, and facilitate possible revision surgery; and (4) intraoperative use of a suture tensioner to achieve satisfactory compression of the graft and increase its consolidation.

Background: Our aim was to analyze the epidemiology, etiologies, and revision options for failed shoulder arthroplasty from 2 tertiary centers. Methods: From 1993 to 2013, 542 failed arthroplasties were revised in 540 patients (65% women): 224 hemiarthroplasties (HAs, 41%), 237 anatomic total shoulder arthroplasties (TSAs, 44%) and 81 reverse total arthroplasties (RSAs, 15%). Data about patients, pathology, and reintervention procedures, as well as intraoperative data, were analyzed from our 2 local registries that prospectively captured all the revision procedures. Patients had an average follow-up period of 8.7 years. Results: The revision rate was 12.7% for HAs, 6.7% for TSAs, and 3.9% for RSAs. HAs were revised earlier (33 +/- 40 months) than RSAs (47 +/- 150 months) and TSAs (69 +/- 61 months). Glenoid failure was a major cause of reintervention: erosion in HAs (29%) or loosening in TSAs (37%) and RSAs (24%). Instability was another major cause of reintervention: 32% in RSAs, 20% in TSAs, and 13% in HAs. Humeral implant loosening led to revision in 10% of RSAs. 6% of HAs, and 6% of TSAs. Multiple reinterventions were required in 21% of patients, mainly for instability (26%) and/or infection (25%). The final implant was an RSA in 48%, especially when associated with cuff insufficiency, instability, and/or bone loss. Final reimplantation was possible in 90% of cases, with the remaining 10% treated with a resection or spacer. Conclusion: Glenoid failure and instability are the most common causes of revision. Soft-tissue insufficiency and/or infection results in multiple revisions. Surgeons must recognize all complications so that they can be addressed at the first revision operation and avoid further reinterventions. RSA was the most common final revision implant. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees.

Background: Most of the complications of the Latarjet procedure are related to the bone block positioning and use of screws. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if an arthroscopic Latarjet guiding system improves accuracy of bone block positioning and if suture button fixation could be an alternative to screw fixation in allowing bone block healing and avoiding complications.Materials and methods: Seventy-six patients (mean age, 27 years) underwent an arthroscopic Latarjet procedure with a guided surgical approach and suture button fixation. Bone graft union and positioning accuracy were assessed by postoperative computed tomography imaging. Clinical examinations were performed at each visit.Results: At a mean of 14 months (range, 6-24 months) postoperatively, 75 of 76 patients had a stable shoulder. No neurologic complications were observed; no patients have required further surgery. The coracoid graft was positioned strictly tangential to the glenoid surface in 96% of the cases and below the equator in 93%. The coracoid graft healed in 69 patients (91%).Conclusions: A guided surgical approach optimizes graft positioning accuracy. Suture button fixation can be an alternative to screw fixation, obtaining an excellent rate of bone union. Neurologic and hardware complications, classically reported with screw fixation, have not been observed with this guided technique and novel fixation method. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license.

Les fractures du col chirurgical représentent plus de 10 % des fractures de l'humérus proximal. Les pseudarthroses et cal vicieux rotatoires diaphysaires ne sont pas rares après ostéosynthèse par broches, plaques ou enclouage dynamique. Évaluer les résultats cliniques et radiologiques d'une nouvelle technique d'enclouage percutané statique avec contrôle de la rotation diaphysaire et compression immédiate du foyer de fracture. Étude prospective monocentrique incluant les fractures récentes déplacées du col chirurgical de l'humérus proximal, ostéosynthésées par enclouge percutané statique, entre 2008 et 2013. Intervention réalisée sous amplificateur de brillance, en position demi-assise. Incision en avant ou en arrière (voie de Neviaser) de l'interligne acromio-claviculaire pour les fractures basculées respectivement en valgus, ou en varus. Contrôle de la rotation entre épiphyse et diaphyse assurée par un guide-ancillaire aligné sur l'avant-bras pour éviter les troubles rotatoires diaphysaires. Après verrouillage distal (diaphysaire) premier, compression du foyer de fracture par impaction rétrograde avec une masselotte. Maintien de la compression par une ou deux vis proximales verrouillées dans le clou. Les résultats cliniques et radiologiques ont été évalués avec un recul moyen de 15 mois [12–36]. Trente-huit patients ont été inclus + 33 ont été opérés par voie pré-acromiale et 5 par voie de Neviaser. L'âge moyen lors de l'intervention était de 56 ans [17–80]. Le score de Constant postopératoire moyen était de 71 points [43–89] et la valeur subjective de l'épaule (SSV) de 80 % [50–100]. L'élévation antérieure active moyenne était de 145° [90–180] + la rotation externe coude au corps moyenne était de 45° [20–90]. La perte de rotation externe moyenne était de 10° par rapport au côté controlatéral. La consolidation osseuse a été obtenue dans tous les cas avant le troisième mois. Trois patients ont été considérés comme raides (dont l'un présentant une nécrose partielle de la tête humérale). Aucun patient n'a été réopéré au dernier recul. L'enclouage centromédullaire antérograde percutané des fractures du col chirurgical avec contrôle de la rotation et compression peropératoire immédiate fournit des résultats cliniques et radiologiques satisfaisants au recul d'un an. Les défauts de consolidation et les troubles rotatoires ont pu être évités avec cette technique dédiée.

Glenoid fixation failure has only been grossly characterized. This lack of information hinders attempts to improve fixation because of a lack of methodologies for detecting and monitoring fixation failure. Our goal was twofold: to collect detailed data of glenoid fixation fracture, and to investigate computed tomography (CT)‐scanning as a tool for investigations of fixation failure. Six cadaver scapulas and six bone‐substitute specimens were cyclically loaded and CT‐scanned at clinical settings after 0, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 30,000, 50,000 and 70,000 load cycles. The fixation status was evaluated by inspection of the scans. After 70,000 cycles, the specimens were sectioned, and the fixation inspected by microscopy. The results of the microscopy analysis were compared to the CT‐scan analysis. Fracture of the glenoid fixation initiated at the edge of the glenoid rim and propagated towards and around the keel of the implant. The entire process from initiation to complete fracture took place at the polyethylene implant–cement interface, while the cement, the adjacent bone, and the cement–bone interface remained intact. Thus, strengthening the polyethylene–cement interface should improve glenoid fixation. Microscopy results validated the CT methodology, suggesting that the CT technique is reliable. © 2009 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 27:1589–1595, 2009

Disease of the rotator cuff is common. It is responsible for a high proportion of patients with shoulder pain presenting to general practice, causing work absenteeism and claims for sickness benefits. Rotator cuff disease (RCD) can often be managed in primary health care services, although some cases may require secondary referral. Both extrinsic and intrinsic factors to the cuff tendon are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis leading on to a spectrum of conditions ranging from sub-acromial bursitis to mechanical failure of the cuff tendon itself. Careful history and examination followed by pertinent investigation are essential to establish the correct diagnosis. The main aim of treatment is to improve symptoms and restore function of the affected shoulder. The majority of patients suffering from RCD can be managed by conservative means, but a shift in attitude has led to a significant number benefiting from invasive procedures ranging from decompression of the sub-acromial space to large, open procedures reconstructing the tendon itself.