Total shoulder arthroplasty, originally used by Pean in 1893 to treat tuberculous arthritis1 and subsequently modernized by Neer et al. in the 1950s for the treatment of three and four-part proximal humeral fractures2, has demonstrated clinical efficacy when used for the treatment of primary and secondary degenerative conditions of the shoulder. The overall number of shoulder replacements has increased in parallel to the total number of total joint arthroplasties. Approximately 7000 total shoulder replacements were performed annually in the United States from 1996 through 2002. This represents a 40% increase compared with the 5000 arthroplasties per year performed from 1990 through 19923-11. Despite the increase in the annual volume of shoulder arthroplasties, data have suggested that nearly three-fourths of the operations are performed by surgeons who do two or fewer procedures a year12,13. The favorability of the clinical outcomes of total shoulder arthroplasty as well as the decision to proceed with a total shoulder replacement instead of a hemiarthroplasty have been shown to depend on surgeon experience and hospital volume12-16. Patient readmission rates, complication rates, and lengths of hospital stays have all been shown to …

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Complications of total shoulder arthroplasty.

Background: The biconcave glenoid in patients with primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis represents a surgical challenge because of the associated static posterior instability of the humeral head and secondary posterior glenoid erosion. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic results of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty for the treatment of primary osteoarthritis in patients with a biconcave glenoid without rotator cuff insufficiency.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of twenty-seven reverse shoulder arthroplasties that were performed from 1998 to 2009 for the treatment of primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis and biconcave glenoid. Eighty-one percent of the patients were female, and the mean age of the patients at the time of surgery was 74.1 years (range, sixty-six to eighty-two years). All patients had a preoperative computed tomography arthrogram to allow for the measurement of glenoid retroversion and humeral head subluxation. The mean preoperative retroversion was 32°, and the mean subluxation of the humeral head with respect to the scapular axis was 87%. Seventeen patients had a reverse shoulder arthroplasty without bone graft, whereas ten had an associated bone graft to compensate for posterior glenoid erosion. Clinical outcomes were evaluated with the Constant score and shoulder range of motion.

Results: The mean duration of follow-up was fifty-four months (range, twenty-four to 139 months). The mean Constant score increased from 31 points preoperatively to 76 points at the time of the latest follow-up (p < 0.0001). Active forward flexion, external rotation, and internal rotation also significantly increased (p < 0.0001). Complications occurred in four patients (15%) and included early loosening of the glenoid component (one patient) and neurologic complications (three patients). No radiolucent lines were observed around the central peg or screws of the glenoid component. Grade-1 or 2 scapular notching was present in ten shoulders (37%). No recurrence of posterior instability was observed.

Conclusions: Reverse shoulder arthroplasty for the treatment of primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis in patients with a biconcave glenoid without rotator cuff insufficiency can result in excellent clinical outcomes. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty is a viable surgical option to solve both the problem of severe static posterior glenohumeral instability and severe glenoid erosion.

Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty for Primary Glenohumeral Osteoarthritis in Patients with a Biconcave Glenoid

Results of anatomic nonconstrained prosthesis in primary osteoarthritis with biconcave glenoid

Glenoid component failure is the most common complication of total shoulder arthroplasty. Glenoid components fail as a result of their inability to replicate essential properties of the normal glenoid articular surface to achieve durable fixation to the underlying bone, to withstand repeated eccentric loads and glenohumeral translation, and to resist wear and deformation. The possibility of glenoid component failure should be considered whenever a total shoulder arthroplasty has an unsatisfactory result. High-quality radiographs made in the plane of the scapula and in the axillary projection are usually sufficient to evaluate the status of the glenoid component. Failures of prosthetic glenoid arthroplasty can be understood in terms of failure of the component itself, failure of seating, failure of fixation, failure of the glenoid bone, and failure to effectively manage eccentric loading. An understanding of these modes of failure leads to strategies to minimize complications related to prosthetic glenoid arthroplasty.

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Glenoid Component Failure in Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

Total shoulder replacement compared with humeral head replacement for the treatment of primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis: A systematic review

Prosthetic replacement in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder: early results of 268 cases.

Purpose The purpose of the study was to assess the repair site integrity after transosseous equivalent/suture-bridge (TOE/SB) repair with the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods One hundred seven consecutive shoulders with a small to medium-size full-thickness supraspinatus tear were repaired arthroscopically with use of the TOE/SB technique. There were 64 men and 41 women, and mean age at the time of surgery was 54.8 years (range, 21 to 74 years). All patients underwent postoperative MRI and clinical examination. Mean follow-up was 16.1 months (range, 12 to 28 months). Results The mean Constant score improved from 54.5 ± 12.5 points preoperatively to 80 ± 12.1 points postoperatively ( P P P P  = .02). Smoking status was found to have detrimental influence on the tendon healing ( P  = .04). Postoperative MRI showed a healed repair in 96 (89.7%) of 107 shoulders. Among 11 retears, 10 occurred at the greater tuberosity and 1 occurred at the musculotendinous junction. Conclusions Arthroscopic TOE/SB repair of full-thickness supraspinatus tendon led to a healing rate of 89.7%. Patients with healed tendons according to MRI had significant better functional and subjective outcome. Smoking habit was found to be detrimental on healing. Retears occurred mainly at tendon–bone interface at the greater tuberosity, whereas medial cuff failure was observed in only one case in the mean time of follow-up. Level of Evidence Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Arthroscopic Suture-Bridge Repair for Small to Medium Size Supraspinatus Tear: Healing Rate and Retear Pattern

Increased scapular spine fractures after reverse shoulder arthroplasty with a humeral onlay short stem: an analysis of 485 consecutive cases.

Metal-backed glenoid implant with polyethylene insert is not a viable long-term therapeutic option

Background: Even though the frequency of arthroscopic repair of isolated lesions of the subscapularis tendon has increased, few studies have presented clinical and anatomical outcomes of this treatment. We hypothesized that, after an arthroscopic repair, structural outcomes in the muscle have an influence on functional results.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed on twenty-two patients who had undergone arthroscopic repair of an isolated tear of the subscapularis tendon and had a mean follow-up of thirty-six months. Patients were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively with use of the Constant-Murley score, a subjective shoulder value, the lift-off test, the belly-press test, and magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography arthrography. The results were compared with those of a cohort of thirteen patients who underwent open repair of the subscapularis tendon tear.

Results: In the arthroscopic group, the Constant-Murley score improved from a mean of 66 points preoperatively to a mean of 85 points postoperatively (p 0.05). Clinical testing was significantly improved, but incomplete corrections remained frequent. Although open repair resulted in higher subjective shoulder scores and better strength scores, most other clinical parameters, postoperative subscapularis testing results, and structural outcomes were comparable between the arthroscopic repair and the open repair group.

Conclusions: Arthroscopic repair of isolated subscapularis tears was associated with improved shoulder function and improved results on clinical testing. The tendon-healing rate was high but resulted in incomplete correction of the results of clinical testing. Progression of fatty infiltration in the subscapularis muscle was observed on magnetic resonance imaging but did not influence the clinical outcomes.

Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Arnaud Godenèche

Papers

Prosthetic replacement in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder: early results of 268 cases.

Arthroscopic Suture-Bridge Repair for Small to Medium Size Supraspinatus Tear: Healing Rate and Retear Pattern

Increased scapular spine fractures after reverse shoulder arthroplasty with a humeral onlay short stem: an analysis of 485 consecutive cases.

Metal-backed glenoid implant with polyethylene insert is not a viable long-term therapeutic option

Clinical and structural results of arthroscopic repair of isolated subscapularis tear.