Single-incision Eden-Lange procedure in trapezius muscle paralysis: A report of 11 cases

Treatment of neurogenic scapular winging: a systematic review on outcomes after nonsurgical management and tendon transfer surgery

BACKGROUND

Scapular winging is a rare condition of the shoulder girdle that presents challenging treatment decisions for clinicians. To inform clinical practice, clinicians need guidance on what the best treatment decision is for their patients, and such recommendations should be based on the total evidence available. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to systematically review the evidence regarding nonsurgical management and tendon transfer surgery of patients with neurologic scapular winging due to serratus anterior (SA) or trapezius (TP) palsy.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Emcare, and Academic Search Premier were searched up to April 5, 2022, for studies reporting on clinical outcomes after nonsurgical management and tendon transfer surgery of scapular winging due to weakness of the SA or TP muscle. The Integrated quality Criteria for Review Of Multiple Study (ICROMS) tool was used to classify the quality of the studies. Primary outcomes were the fraction of patients with spontaneous recovery after nonsurgical management and improvement in shoulder function, pain scores, and shoulder scores after tendon transfer surgery. Data were pooled if data on the same outcome were available for at least 3 studies, using random-effects meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Twenty-three (10 moderate-quality [MQ] and 13 low-quality) studies were included. Six studies (3 MQ; 234 shoulders) reported on outcomes after nonsurgical management of SA palsy, whereas 12 (6 MQ; 221 shoulders) and 6 studies (1 MQ; 80 shoulders) evaluated the outcomes of tendon transfer for SA or TP palsy (1 study addressed both). Spontaneous recovery of scapular winging with nonsurgical management varied between 21% and 78% across studies after a median follow-up of 72 months. For surgical management of SA palsy, pooling data in a meta-analysis showed that patients on average improved by 47° (95% confidence interval [CI]: 34-61, P ≤ .001) in active forward flexion, had lower visual analog scale scores for pain (mean difference [MD]: -3.0, 95% CI: -4.9 to -1.0, P = .003), and had substantial improvements in American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (MD: 24, 95% CI: 9-39, P = .002) and Constant scores (MD: 45, 95% CI: 39-51, P ≤ .001). Patients with TP palsy on average improved by 36° (95% CI: 21-51, P ≤ .001) in active forward flexion after tendon transfer. Statistical pooling was not possible for other outcome measures as insufficient data were available.

CONCLUSION

A substantial part of nonsurgically managed patients with scapular winging seem to have persistent complaints, which should be part of the information provided to patients. Data pooling demonstrated significant improvements in shoulder function, pain scores, and shoulder scores after tendon transfer surgery, but higher quality evidence is needed to allow for more robust recommendations and guide clinical decision-making on when to perform such functional surgery.

Triple Tendon Transfer of the Levator Scapulae, Rhomboid Major, and Rhomboid Minor to Reconstruct the Paralyzed Trapezius

Trapezius paralysis is a relatively uncommon condition that orthopaedic surgeons may encounter. Despite the paucity, it presents as a debilitating condition with sequelae of poor function and deconditioning. Conservative management often fails, and patients are left with limited surgical options. In the current Eden-Lange procedure, tendon transfer of the levator scapulae, rhomboid major, and rhomboid minor is performed to reconstruct the paralyzed trapezius. Although good outcomes have been found with this technique, the pull of the levator scapulae and the pull of the rhomboids are in opposition to each other, which presents a biomechanical problem for patients because this fails to re-create the natural function of the trapezius. In this article, we present a technique that is a modification of the Eden-Lange triple tendon transfer using suture bone bridges in which the levator scapulae is transferred as with the original procedure; however, the rhomboids with bony bridges are transferred to a different point along the medial scapula. Our technique therefore may better re-create the natural pull of the fibers of the upper, middle, and lower trapezius.

Robotic Transfer of the Latissimus Dorsi Associated With Levator Scapulae and Rhomboid Minor Mini-Open Transfers for Trapezium Palsy

Robotic surgery has been used for a long time. With advantages over traditional surgical methods, it is earning space and expanding use to daily medical practice in several surgical specialties. This Technical Note presents an endoscopic robotic posterior shoulder approach using the DaVinci® robot. It can allow the surgeon to perform latissimus dorsi transfer endoscopically and associate it with levator scapulae and rhomboid minor mini-open transfers to treat accessory nerve lesions with trapezium muscle palsy. This technique is an alternative to Eden-Lange and triple-tendon transfer.

Modified Eden-Lange procedure for iatrogenic lateral scapular winging

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Lateral winging scapula is rare and generated by the trapezius paralysis. It is most likely iatrogenic from procedures involving the posterior cervical triangle.

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The modified Eden-Lange procedures one of the options by restoring the major actions of a flaccid trapezius.

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The modified and standard Eden-Lange procedure has been proven to successfully remove the scapular wing by restoring the main action of the trapezius muscle.

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This procedure allowed patient to achieve excellent results in terms of pain relief, strength, and stability after a routine physical therapy program.

Introduction

Lateral winging scapula is rare and generated by the trapezius paralysis. It is most likely iatrogenic from procedures involving the posterior cervical triangle. The modified Eden-Lange procedures one of the options by restoring the major actions of a flaccid trapezius. This case report aims to evaluate the outcomes.

Case report

A 34-year-old female came with right lateral scapular winging after radical neck tumor dissection and miss diagnosed by another hospital and underwent shoulder surgery. We performed a physical examination and showed lateral winging scapula. The best management therapy for this patient used modified Eden-Lange procedure.

Discussion

Conservative treatments for Lateral scapular winging caused by spinal accessory nerve injury might be successful in early 20 months. However, our patient was injured 26 months before surgery which made Eden-Lange Procedures was the best choice for the patient. Modifications to this procedure allowed her to achieve excellent results.

Conclusion

Correction of the lateral scapular winging by modified Eden-Lange procedure combined with physical therapy for patient’s trapezius palsy to gain adequate stability for daily activities.

The Modified Eden-Lange Tendon Transfer for Lateral Scapular Winging Secondary to Spinal Accessory Nerve Injury

Trapezius paralysis following injury to the spinal accessory nerve can be a debilitating complication resulting from lymph node biopsy, radical neck dissection, or penetrating trauma in the region of the posterior cervical triangle. Disruption of the delicate muscular balance in the shoulder girdle may result in lateral scapular winging, ipsilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and limited shoulder function and range of motion. Spontaneous recovery with nonoperative management is possible in some patients, and restoration of function after reparative neural procedures has been observed in patients undergoing timely repair. However, extended delays from the time of injury to surgery are common and may necessitate various muscle transfers to reestablish the complex biomechanics and balance of the shoulder girdle. We describe a modification to the classic Eden-Lange procedure with lateral transfer of the levator scapulae and rhomboid minor to the scapula spine and rhomboid major transfer with a small wafer of bone to the scapula body for chronic lateral winging of the scapula following injury to the spinal accessory nerve as the result of a cervical lymph node biopsy.