Arthroscopic Distal Clavicular Autograft for Congruent Glenoid Reconstruction

Suture Button Fixation in Shoulder Instability Surgery to Achieve Bone Healing: A Critical Analysis Review

» Suture button fixation has emerged as an effective surgical construct in arthroscopic and open Latarjet and anterior glenoid reconstruction with free autograft bone with high rates of bone block healing.» Biomechanical data suggest that screw and suture button mechanical fixation constructs provide similar load to failure and stability for the Latarjet procedure.» Preliminary bone healing models have identified that flexible fixation may exhibit a higher degree of bone callus maturation, whereas rigid fixation results in excessive callus hyperplasia» Mechanical tensioner use provides consistent tensioning of suture button constructs and improves bone-to-bone healing rates when used for anterior glenoid reconstruction surgery.» Evidence is lacking regarding the reliability of bone-to-bone healing of allografts to native bone with use of suture button constructs.» Suture button fixation provides good short- and mid-term clinical outcomes for the arthroscopic Latarjet and anterior glenoid reconstruction with free autograft bone.

Arthroscopic Bone Block Stabilization for Anterior Shoulder Instability with Subcritical Glenohumeral Bone Loss

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The management options for anterior shoulder instability with minimal bone loss or with critical bone loss are well established. However, there is less clear evidence to guide management for patients with subcritical bone loss, the spectrum of pathology where soft tissue repair alone is prone to higher rates of failures. In this range of bone loss, likely around 13.5% to 20%, the goal of surgery is to restore function and stability while limiting morbidity. As with many procedures in the shoulder, this decision should be tailored to patient anatomy, functional goals, and risk factors. This article provides a review of our current understanding of subcritical bone loss and treatment strategies as well as innovations in management.

RECENT FINDINGS

While surgeons have largely understood that restoration of anatomy is important to optimize outcomes after stabilization surgery, there is increasing evidence that reconstructing bony anatomy and addressing both osseous and soft tissue structures yields better results than either alone. Even in the setting of subcritical bone loss, there is likely a benefit to combined osseous augmentation with soft tissue management. Additionally, there is new evidence to support management of even on-track humeral lesions when the distance to dislocation is sufficiently small, particularly for athletes. Surgeons must balance bony and soft tissue restoration to achieve optimal outcomes for anterior instability with subcritical bone loss. There are still significant limitations in the literature and several emerging techniques for management will require further study to prove their long-term efficacy. Beyond surgery, there should be a focus on a collaborative treatment strategy with the surgeon, patient, and therapists to achieve high-level function and minimize recurrence.

Management of bone loss in anterior shoulder instability

Bone defects are frequently observed in anterior shoulder instability. Over the last decade, knowledge of the association of bone loss with increased failure rates of soft-tissue repair has shifted the surgical management of chronic shoulder instability. On the glenoid side, there is no controversy about the critical glenoid bone loss being 20%. However, poor outcomes have been described even with a subcritical glenoid bone defect as low as 13.5%. On the humeral side, the Hill-Sachs lesion should be evaluated concomitantly with the glenoid defect as the two sides of the same bipolar lesion which interact in the instability process, as described by the glenoid track concept. We advocate adding remplissage to every Bankart repair in patients with a Hill-Sachs lesion, regardless of the glenoid bone loss. When critical or subcritical glenoid bone loss occurs in active patients (> 15%) or bipolar off-track lesions, we should consider anterior glenoid bone reconstructions. The techniques have evolved significantly over the last two decades, moving from open procedures to arthroscopic, and from screw fixation to metal-free fixation. The new arthroscopic techniques of glenoid bone reconstruction procedures allow precise positioning of the graft, identification, and treatment of concomitant injuries with low morbidity and faster recovery. Given the problems associated with bone resorption and metal hardware protrusion, the new metal-free techniques for Latarjet or free bone block procedures seem a good solution to avoid these complications, although no long-term data are yet available.

Current Concepts on the Management of Shoulder Instability in Throwing Athletes

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The management of shoulder instability in throwing athletes remains a challenge given the delicate balance between physiologic shoulder laxity facilitating performance and the inherent need for shoulder stability. This review will discuss the evaluation and management of a throwing athlete with suspected instability with a focus on recent findings and developments.

RECENT FINDINGS

The vast majority of throwing athletes with shoulder instability experience subtle microinstability as a result of repetitive microtrauma rather than episodes of gross instability. These athletes may present with arm pain, dead arms or reduced throwing velocity. Recent literature reinforces the fact that there is no "silver bullet" for the management of these athletes and an individualized, tailored approach to treatment is required. While initial nonoperative management remains the hallmark for treatment, the results of rehabilitation protocols are mixed, and some patients will ultimately undergo surgical stabilization. In these cases, it is imperative that the surgeon be judicious with the extent of surgical stabilization as overtightening of the glenohumeral joint is possible, which can adversely affect athlete performance. Managing shoulder instability in throwing athletes requires a thorough understanding of its physiologic and biomechanical underpinnings. Inconsistent results seen with surgical stabilization has led to a focus on nonoperative management for these athletes with surgery reserved for cases that fail to improve non-surgically. Overall, more high quality studies into the management of this challenging condition are warranted.

Arthroscopic Posterior Glenoid Reconstruction With Distal Clavicle Bone-Block

Posterior glenoid bone loss is a potential cause for failure in arthroscopic capsulolabral repair. Although multiple techniques have been described to reconstruct posterior bone defects, they do not reliably yield improved patient outcomes and have high complication rates. We present a technique to reconstruct posterior glenoid bone loss using a distal clavicle autologous bone graft harvested by a mini-open approach and secured arthroscopically with suture buttons. The graft is positioned extra-articularly by repairing the posterior labral complex with a knotless fixation using labral tape.

Arthroscopic Distal Clavicle Bone Bock Combined With Hill-Sachs Remplissage for Primary Anterior Shoulder Instability Treatment

Arthroscopic distal clavicle transfer is an effective option to treat anterior shoulder instability with glenoid bone loss. The use of this free bone graft in an all-inside procedure, with a cortical button fixation makes the construct simpler to perform and allows to be combined with a Hill-Sachs Remplissage to address humeral bone defect. The morbidity of the donor site is low and provide the biologic capacity of an autograft. We report a step-by-step procedure, and the rationale are discussed.

Free Bone Block Procedures for Glenoid Reconstruction in Anterior Shoulder Instability

Advances in the understanding and management of bone loss in shoulder instability have led to the development of free bone block techniques as an alternative to the Latarjet procedure. These techniques have been proposed as a theoretically safer option to Latarjet, and there is growing clinical enthusiasm in their use. The purpose of this article was to contextualize the utilization of free bone block procedures in the current treatment paradigm of anterior shoulder instability and to review the history and common types of bone autograft (eg, iliac crest, distal clavicle, scapular spine) and allograft (eg, distal tibia, preshaped blocks) techniques and approaches, as well as their clinical effectiveness and safety.

The Radius of Curvature of the Inferior Distal Clavicle Is Similar to That of the Glenoid in Both the Axial and Coronal Planes and Similar to the Inferior Coracoid

Purpose

The purposes of this study were to use computed tomography (CT) scans to compare the radius of curvature (ROC) of the inferior concave surface of the distal clavicle to the glenoid, determine graft dimensions, and compare the ROC of the congruent-arc distal clavicle autograft (DCA) to the congruent-arc Latarjet graft.

Methods

Patients who underwent bony glenoid reconstruction via a Laterjet procedure between January 2018 and January 2023 at a single institution were retrospectively identified. CT scans were used to measure the ROC of the glenoid on the axial and coronal sequences, measure the ROC of the distal clavicle on the sagittal oblique sequences, and determine the dimensions of the distal clavicle and coracoid graft.

Results

A total of 42 patients were included (Latarjet, n = 22; control, n = 20). The mean ROC of the inferior surface of the distal clavicle was not significantly different from the ROC of the glenoid in the coronal (P = .15) or axial planes (P = .65). The ROC of the coracoid when measured in the sagittal plane was not significantly different from the ROC of the distal clavicle (P = .25). The length, depth, and surface area of the coracoid in the congruent arc orientation were significantly larger than the distal clavicle (P < .005). Patients in the control group tended to have both a larger inferior clavicle ROC and a larger coracoid ROC compared to the Latarjet group (32.8 mm vs 29.6 mm, P < .0001; 31.8 mm vs 30.9 mm, P = .02).

Conclusions

The ROC of the inferior distal clavicle is similar to that of the glenoid in both the axial and coronal planes and similar to the inferior coracoid.

Clinical Relevance

CT analysis reveals that the congruent-arc DCA technique provides a robust graft with dimensions that are suitable for reconstruction of the anterior glenoid.

Arthroscopic Remnant Coracoid Autograft for Revision of the Failed Latarjet Procedure With Persistent Glenoid Bone Loss

Recurrence of anterior instability after a Latarjet procedure with persistent glenoid bone loss can be related to coracoid bone block resorption, migration, or malposition. Multiple options are available to address anterior glenoid bone loss, including autograft bone transfers (such as iliac crest graft, distal clavicle autograft) or allografts (distal tibia allograft). Here, we present the use of the remnant coracoid process as an option for consideration in the treatment of glenoid bone loss after failed Latarjet procedure with persistent glenoid bone loss. The remnant coracoid autograft is harvested and transferred inside the glenohumeral joint, through the rotator interval, and fixed using cortical buttons. This arthroscopic procedure includes using 1) glenoid and coracoid drilling guides to optimize graft positioning and making the procedure more reproducible and safer and 2) a suture tensioning device to provide intraoperative graft compression and ensure bone graft healing.

Arthroscopic Distal Clavicle Bone Block Technique for Anteroinferior Instability With Critical Bone Loss

Arthroscopic distal clavicle autograft represents a locally available source of autograft for bone block augmentation in patients with anterior shoulder instability with glenoid bone loss. Anatomic and biomechanical studies have supported distal clavicle autograft use as comparable to coracoid graft with regard to restoration of glenoid articular surface, with the theoretical advantage of minimizing complications associated with coracoid transfer procedures, such as neurologic injury and coracoid fracture. The current technique describes a modification of those previously described, including a mini-open approach for distal clavicle autograft harvest, orientation of the distal clavicle with the medial clavicle graft against the glenoid (congruent arc), an all-arthroscopic technique of graft passage, and graft placement and fixation using specialized drill guides and four suture buttons to reproducibly place and secure the graft with final capsulolabral advancement over the graft to render it extra-articular.

Association Between Preoperative Glenoid Bone Loss and Postoperative Outcomes After Coracoid Transfer Combined With Open Bankart Repair: Comparison of the Bristow and Latarjet Techniques

Background

Whether the extent of glenoid bone loss (GBL) affects clinical outcome after coracoid process transfer (CPT) is still unclear.

Purpose

To evaluate postoperative outcomes after CPT combined with open Bankart repair in young rugby players in terms of the extent of GBL and between the Bristow and Latarjet techniques.

Study Design

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods

The authors investigated 101 shoulders in 91 competitive rugby players who underwent CPT combined with open Bankart repair by the Bristow (group B; 66 shoulders) or Latarjet (group L; 35 shoulders) procedure between 2007 and 2017. The extent of GBL was calculated from the en face view of the glenoid on preoperative 3-dimensional computed tomography scans and was used to categorize shoulders into 4 grades (grade 0, 0%; grade 1, >0% and ≤10%; grade 2, >10% and ≤20%; grade 3, >20%). At the minimum 2-year follow-up, the authors analyzed the relationship between GBL or GBL grade and postoperative outcome scores (American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, Rowe score, Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index, and patient satisfaction), return-to-play (RTP) times, graft failure (insufficient union or translocation), and recurrence.

Results

The mean GBL in all shoulders was 10.9% ± 9.2% and was not significantly different between the 2 groups. There were no significant correlations between GBL and any outcome measure in either group. The mean RTP time was significantly shorter in group L versus group B (4.8 ± 1.1 vs 5.8 ± 1.8 months, respectively; P = .002), but it was not associated with GBL. In group B, the rate of graft failure was not significantly higher in shoulders with grade 0 or 1 GBL versus grade 2 or 3 GBL (8 [25.0%] vs 4 [11.8%], respectively; P = .21). In group B, graft failure was confirmed in 12 shoulders (18.2%), compared with 1 shoulder (2.9%) in group L. Postoperative recurrence occurred in significantly fewer shoulders in group B than in group L (2 [3.0%] vs 5 [14.3%], respectively; P = .047).

Conclusion

The extent of GBL did not affect outcome scores after CPT, regardless of operative procedure.

Early Treatment of Shoulder Pathology Is Necessary but Not Enough Is Being Performed

Delayed treatment of shoulder instability results in bone loss requiring more-complicated surgery, in turn resulting in less-optimal outcomes. Similarly, delayed treatment of repairable rotator cuff tears results in irreparable tears requiring more-complicated surgery and resulting in less-optimal outcomes. Delayed treatment of shoulder pathology is a problem. Solutions include education and research investigation.