Giuseppe Sforza

Copeland surface replacement arthroplasty of the shoulder in rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND Shoulder arthroplasty with a stemmed prosthesis is a recognized treatment for rheumatoid arthritis of the shoulder. The humeral component of the Copeland cementless surface replacement arthroplasty consists of a cup for surface replacement with a short central peg for primary fixation to the bone. We hypothesized that surface replacement may offer some advantages over stemmed prostheses. METHODS Between 1986 and 1998, seventy-five shoulders underwent surface replacement arthroplasty (thirty-three hemiarthroplasties and forty-two total shoulder arthroplasties) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The results of these procedures were reviewed after an average duration of follow-up of 6.5 years. Patients were assessed with use of the Constant score, a patient satisfaction score, and radiographs. RESULTS The average Constant score was 47.9 points (age and sex-adjusted score, 71%) in the hemiarthroplasty group and 53.4 points (age and sex-adjusted score, 76%) in the total shoulder replacement group. The mean range of active flexion improved from 50 degrees in the hemiarthroplasty group and 47 degrees in the total shoulder replacement group to 101 degrees and 104 degrees, respectively. Seventy-two of the seventy-five shoulders were considered by the patients to be much better or better at the time of the review. Of the sixty-eight humeral implants that were evaluated radiographically, fifty-six (82%) showed no lucencies, eleven (16%) showed localized lucencies of <1 mm in width, and one was definitely loose. Of the thirty-nine glenoid implants that were evaluated radiographically, nineteen (49%) showed no lucencies, nineteen showed localized lucencies of <1 mm, and one was definitely loose. No lucencies were observed adjacent to the hydroxyapatite-coated implants. Thirty-nine (57%) of the sixty-eight shoulders showed some degree of superior subluxation. Three patients required a major reoperation: two required a revision because of loosening of both components, and one patient with pain at the site of a hemiarthroplasty had a revision to a total shoulder arthroplasty to provide relief. CONCLUSIONS The indications for this surface replacement are the same as those for the conventional stemmed prostheses, but the surface replacement has the advantage of bone preservation as well as avoidance of the potential complications associated with a long humeral stem in rheumatoid bone. This procedure is not suitable for severely damaged joints in which the humeral head is insufficient or too soft. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic study, Level IV (case series [no, or historical, control group]). See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Arthroscopically assisted internal fixation of the symptomatic unstable os acromiale with absorbable screws.

BACKGROUND Symptomatic meso- type os acromiale is a common pathology with inconsistent outcomes of treatment with various surgical techniques. We report the outcome of a new technique for arthroscopic fusion of symptomatic os acromiale with absorbable screws. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study included 8 shoulders in 8 patients with symptomatic meso- type os acromiale who were treated with the use of a new technique for arthroscopic fusion with absorbable screws. The mean age was 54 years (range, 38-67 years), and the mean time from onset of symptoms to surgery was 18 months (range, 9-25 months). No patients reported a specific traumatic event before the onset of symptoms, and all noted the insidious onset of pain with no precipitating event. RESULTS The average length of follow-up was 22 months (range, 12-36 month). The average Constant score improved from 49 points (range, 35-57 points) to 81 points (range, 75-86 points). The average satisfaction score improved from 4.5 of 10 (range, 2-6) to 8.5 of 10 (range 7-9). All patients made a good clinical recovery at 3 to 6 months after surgery. At the last follow-up, full radiographic union was observed in 6 patients, partial union in 1 patient, and persistent radiologic nonunion in 1 patient. Anterior bulging of the absorbable screws was noted in 2 patients, and the screws were trimmed 6 months after the first procedure. CONCLUSIONS We have found that this new arthroscopic technique of fixation of os acromiale with absorbable screws provides promising clinical, cosmetic, and radiologic results with high patient satisfaction.

Management of first-time dislocations of the shoulder in patients older than 40 years: the prevalence of iatrogenic fracture.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of iatrogenic humeral neck fracture after attempted closed reduction in patients older than 40 years who present with a first-time anterior dislocation. Design: Retrospective cohort study, evidence-based medicine level IV. Patients: Ninety-two patients older than 40 years (mean 66.6 years of age) with a first-time anterior dislocation of the shoulder. Intervention: Closed reductions by the emergency medicine physicians under conscious sedation, in the emergency department. Main Outcome Measurements: Prevalence of iatrogenic fracture on postreduction radiographs. Results: Nineteen (20.7%) patients were diagnosed with a concomitant greater tuberosity fracture on initial radiograph. In the postreduction radiographs, 5 patients (5.4%) were identified with a postreduction humeral neck fracture, and all of them had a greater tuberosity fracture on initial radiographs. A highly significant association (P < 0.0001) was observed between the finding of a greater tuberosity fracture on the initial radiographs and the occurrence of iatrogenic humeral neck fracture after close reduction. Discussion: Previous case reports have described an iatrogenic humeral neck fracture with reduction attempt of shoulder dislocation. In our retrospective study, 21% of the cohort of patients older than 40 years had a concomitant greater tuberosity fracture; 26% of them had an iatrogenic humeral neck fracture after reduction attempt under sedation in the emergency room. These patients ended up with poor outcome. Conclusions: Patients older than 40 years, presenting with a first-time anterior shoulder dislocation with an associated fracture of the greater tuberosity have a significant rate of iatrogenic humeral neck fracture during closed reduction under sedation. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Medium to long-term outcome of thoracoscapular arthrodesis with screw fixation for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy

BACKGROUND Shoulder girdle muscle weakness is the most constant feature of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy and leads to scapular winging. Mechanical fixation of the scapula to the thoracic wall provides a stable fulcrum on which the deltoid muscle can exert its action on the humerus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the medium to long-term outcome of thoracoscapular arthrodesis with screw fixation (the modified Howard-Copeland technique). METHODS All patients with facioscapulohumeral dystrophy who underwent thoracoscapular arthrodesis with screw fixation and bone-grafting from July 1997 to July 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative and postoperative clinical assessment included active shoulder elevation, the Constant score, a patient satisfaction score, and cosmetic satisfaction. Union was determined both clinically and radiographically. RESULTS Thoracoscapular arthrodesis was performed in thirty-five shoulders in twenty-four patients; eleven patients underwent bilateral procedures. The principal study group consisted of thirty-two shoulders in twenty-one patients with a minimum follow-up of twenty-four months (mean, eighty-eight months; range, twenty-four to 174 months). The mean Constant score increased from 30 (range, 17 to 41) preoperatively to 61 (range, 30 to 90) postoperatively. The mean satisfaction score increased from 1 (range, 0 to 4) to 8.4 (range, 4 to 10). Early complications consisted of one pneumothorax, one superficial wound infection, and four early failures, two of which were associated with noncompliance with the postoperative regimen. Late complications consisted of one posttraumatic fracture resulting in loosening and one painful nonunion; both were treated successfully with revision. CONCLUSIONS Thoracoscapular arthrodesis with screw fixation prevented scapular winging and improved short-term and long-term shoulder function in patients with facioscapulohumeral dystrophy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic level IV. See instructions for authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Long-term result after traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation: what works best?

Traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation is a common pathology. To inform the patient, it is therefore important to know the natural history of anterior dislocation and the long-term result of conservative treatment versus the long-term results of operative treatment. In this review article, we compare the effectiveness of various anatomical and non-anatomical interventions and between open and arthroscopic surgery. Evaluating of the result, we focused on the recurrence of instability, return to sport, and prevalence of articular cartilage degeneration in the several treatments.

“Put Your ‘Extended’ Finger on the Bleeder”: The Use of Direct Pressure From the Shaver Blade to Achieve Hemostasis

Maintaining good hemostasis is vital to ensure clear vision during arthroscopic surgery. This is most commonly achieved with electrocautery or radiofrequency devices. Another technique involves temporarily increasing the arthroscopic fluid inflow pressure to tamponade the bleeding. Unfortunately, both of these methods are not without risks or limitations and may involve extra costs. Our technique involves the use of the barrel end of the shaver blade to apply direct pressure on the bleeding vessel for 3 seconds to stop the bleeding. This is a simple, time-efficient, and cost-effective method of achieving hemostasis.

The “Parachute” Technique: A Simple and Effective Single-Row Procedure to Achieve an Increased Contact Area Between the Cuff-Tendon and Its Footprint

Many techniques of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair have been described. No significant differences in clinical outcomes or rerupture rates have been observed when comparing single-row with double-row methods. Not all single- and double-row repairs are the same. The details of the technique used are crucial. It has been shown that the suture-tendon interface is the weakest point of the reconstruction. Therefore, the biomechanical properties of rotator cuff repairs might be influenced more by the suture configuration than by the number of anchors or by the number of rows involved. Techniques that secure less amount of tendon over a smaller area of the healing zone might be expected to have higher failure rates. The way the sutures of the “parachute technique” are configured represents a quadruple mattress that increases the contact and pressure between the tendon and its footprint and increases the primary load to failure of the repair. We present a simple and effective single-row technique that involves the biomechanical and biological advantages related to the increased contact area and pressure between the cuff and its footprint.

Acromioclavicular joint acceleration-deceleration injury as a cause of persistent shoulder pain: Outcome after arthroscopic resection.

Background: Shoulder pain in general and acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) pain specifically is common after acceleration-deceleration injury following road traffic accident (RTA). The outcome of surgical treatment in this condition is not described in the literature. The aim of the present study was to report the outcome of arthroscopic resection of the ACJ in these cases Materials and Methods: Nine patients with localized ACJ pain, resistant to nonoperative treatment were referred on an average 18 months after the injury. There were 3 male and 6 females. The right shoulder was involved in seven patients and the left in two. The average age was 38.9 years (range 29-46 years). All presented with normal X-rays but with torn acromioclavicular joint disc and effusion on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Arthroscopic ACJ excision arthroplasty was performed in all patients. Results: At a mean followup of 18 month, all patients had marked improvement. The Constant score improved from 36 to 81, the pain score from 3/15 to 10/15 and the patient satisfaction improved from 3.5/10 to 9.3/10. Conclusion: Arthroscopic ACJ excision arthroplasty, gives good outcomes in patients not responding to conservative management in ACJ acceleration-deceleration injury.

How I perform resurfacing shoulder replacement

Surface replacement arthroplasty of the shoulder is a well accepted and frequently performed procedure. There are reports of good long-term results to support this. As with all surgical procedures, however, the results depend on a thorough understanding of the surgical technique. This article discusses the most common pitfalls and suggests solutions developed over 25 years of use.