Reverse shoulder arthroplasty for massive rotator cuff tears without glenohumeral arthritis can improve clinical outcomes despite history of prior rotator cuff repair: A systematic review

Return to sport after shoulder arthroplasty: The role of fast-track rehabilitation in reverse shoulder arthroplasty

Introduction

Shoulder arthroplasty, encompassing Total Shoulder Arthroplasty (TSA) and Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty (RSA), has become an essential treatment for severe glenohumeral arthritis and complex rotator cuff pathologies. This study evaluated and compared clinical outcomes and return-to-sport rates in TSA patients following standard rehabilitation protocol and RSA patients following fast rehabilitation protocol.

Material and Methods

This retrospective study analyzed 44 patients (TSA: 13; RSA: 31) treated between 2020 and 2023 with at least 12 months of follow-up. Participants engaged in regular upper-extremity sports preoperatively. Patients in the TSA group followed a standard rehabilitation protocol, whereas those in the RSA group were assigned a new standardized fast rehabilitation protocol. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Constant-Murley Score (CS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, and return-to-sport rates.

Results

TSA patients showed a 100% return-to-sport rate, significantly higher than the 54.84% rate for RSA patients (p < 0.05). Functional outcomes were better in TSA (CS: 81 ± 13.18) compared to RSA (CS: 76.54 ± 8.3, p > 0.05). Within the RSA group, those who resumed sports had significantly higher CS scores (79.59 ± 7.41) than non-returners (73.21 ± 8.64, p < 0.05). Postoperative VAS was similarly low in both groups.

Conclusion

TSA patients exhibited superior return-to-sport rates and functional outcomes compared to RSA patients, highlighting TSA's biomechanical advantages.

Lower trapezius tendon transfer vs. reverse shoulder arthroplasty for massive irreparable rotator cuff tears: an in-vivo scapulohumeral rhythm dynamic radiography study

BACKGROUND

Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) and arthroscopic-assisted lower trapezius tendon (aLTT) transfer are both treatment options for massive irreparable rotator cuff tears (MIRCTs) without glenohumeral arthritis; however, the indications for each remain controversial. Although RSA is an excellent reconstructive option, preserving the joint, recentering the humeral head, and restoring in-line active external rotation with an aLTT transfer may be preferred in certain patients to better restore more normal shoulder biomechanics. In-vivo kinematics, however, have been historically difficult to evaluate. Dynamic digital radiography (DDR) provides a novel way to examine shoulder function following surgical intervention by estimating the scapulohumeral rhythm (SHR)-the ratio of humerothoracic and scapulothoracic motion. The purpose of this study was to compare SHR between aLTT transfer and RSA in the setting of nonarthritic MIRCTs with the use of DDR. We hypothesized that aLTT transfer would restore SHR to values more typical of native shoulders compared to RSA.

METHODS

DDR > 6 months postoperatively was performed on 48 shoulders, comprised of 30 RSA and 18 aLTT transfer shoulders, secondary to nonarthritic MIRCT-the diagnosis for which was validated on radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging. Manual measurements of the angle between the humerus and the midline and the lateral border of the scapula and midline were taken by 2 readers at rest, 30°, 60°, and 90° of shoulder abduction. The ratio of these measurements formed the SHR. A paired subgroup analysis was performed on 7 RSA and 7 aLTT transfer shoulders with both preoperative and postoperative DDR to evaluate for precise changes in SHR. Data were compared using descriptive statistics, and inter-rater reliability of the manual measurements was assessed with intraclass correlations.

RESULTS

The aLTT transfer cohort had a higher median rest-90° range of motion SHR of 2.30, compared to 1.83 for the RSA cohort. Subgroup analysis of the RSA cohort demonstrated a nonsignificant improvement in median rest-90° range of motion SHR from 1.84 to 2.23 following surgical intervention. The aLTT transfer subgroup's median rest-90° SHR improved significantly from 2.20 to 2.46 following surgical intervention. The inter-rater reliability was 0.99.

CONCLUSIONS

aLTT transfer is associated with an increased SHR compared to RSA in patients with nonarthritic MIRCTs by establishing a higher glenohumeral contribution compared to scapulothoracic contribution. Further work is needed to understand scapular motion in multiple planes after these surgeries and correlate SHR changes with clinical outcomes.

Editorial Commentary: The Subacromial Balloon Spacer for Massive Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tear Demonstrates Cost-Effectiveness in Some Settings

The InSpace subacromial balloon spacer is indicated for the treatment of massive irreparable rotator cuff tears. The device is placed in the subacromial space with the aim of restoring shoulder function by limiting painful acromiohumeral contact and recentering the superiorly migrated humeral head. However, controversy exists because 2 randomized controlled trials have produced conflicting findings with regards to efficacy. These findings, along with narrow indications, have led to low use of the balloon among European and Latin American surgeons. The controversy generated by conflicting randomized controlled trials poses challenges in the interpretation of cost effectiveness, especially when the role of the balloon among a plethora of other options including superior capsular reconstruction (either with long head of biceps or dermal allograft), graft augmentation, tendon transfer, biologic tuberoplasty, acromial resurfacing, and reverse shoulder arthroplasty is not well defined. However, it is my opinion that the balloon has particular value in older, low-demand patients, in whom severe comorbidities make a shorter surgical duration and quicker recovery appealing.

Editorial Commentary: Health Care Disparities Adversely Affect Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Patients

Disparities in health care adversely affect socioeconomically disadvantaged patients. Social determinants of health, including black race, Hispanic ethnicity, public health insurance, and lower socioeconomic status contribute to a delay in access to care for anterior cruciate ligament-injured patients, which may result in increased severity of concomitant knee meniscal and cartilage injuries and inferior outcomes. Surgeons should evaluate their practice settings and patterns and seek to mitigate this risk. The use of standardized practice protocols and individual patient education can minimize disparities in outcomes due to socioeconomic variables. Implementing health literacy, fostering close therapeutic relations, and ensuring accessibility, particularly for underinsured patients, can reduce complications and readmissions. The issue is understudied. Reporting of sex, age, and body mass index is common, but race and ethnicity are less frequently reported; and insurance status, employment status, education level, and socioeconomic status are only minimally reported. Finally, the area deprivation index is a free, validated online tool (with high internal and external validity) to determine patients' levels of socioeconomic disadvantage.

Patient-related prognostic factors for function and pain after shoulder arthroplasty: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

While shared decision making is a cornerstone of orthopedic care, orthopedic surgeons face challenges in tailoring their advice and expectation management to individual shoulder arthroplasty patients due to the lack of systematically summarized evidence-based knowledge. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of current knowledge on independent predictive effects of patient-related factors on functional and pain-related outcomes after shoulder arthroplasty.

METHODS

We included longitudinal cohort studies including patients receiving total or reverse shoulder arthroplasty or hemiarthroplasty for primary osteoarthritis or cuff tear arthropathy. Studies with only univariable analyses were excluded. MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL databases were last searched on June 27, 2023. Risk of bias was evaluated using the QUIPS tool. For the analyses, we divided outcomes into three domains (Functional Recovery, Pain, and Functional Recovery & Pain) and four time points (short term, medium-short term, medium-long term and long term). When appropriate, meta-analyses were conducted to pool regression coefficients or odds ratios. Otherwise, results were summarized in a qualitative analysis. We used the GRADE approach to rate the certainty of the evidence.

RESULTS

Thirty-three studies analyzing over 6900 patients were included; these studied 16 PROMs and 52 prognostic factors. We could perform meta-analyses for six combinations of prognostic factor, domain, and time point. Only the meta-analysis for medium-long term poor ASES scores indicated worse outcomes for previous shoulder surgery (OR (95%CI) of 2.10 (1.33-3.33)). The majority of reported factors showed unclear or neutral independent effects on functional outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Methodological heterogeneity and selective/incomplete reporting prevented us from pooling most results, culminating in a largely qualitative analysis. Depression, preoperative opioid use, preoperative ASES and SST scores, surgery on the dominant side, previous surgery, male gender, no. of patient-reported allergies, back pain, living alone, CTA vs OA, diabetes, and greater preoperative external ROM predicted neutral to worse or worse outcomes. In contrast, higher electrical pain threshold on the operative side, OA/RCA vs other diagnosis, and private insurance vs Medicaid/Medicare predicted neutral to better or better outcomes. These results can help orthopedic surgeons tailor their advice and better manage expectations.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42021284822.

Biological Patch in the Repair of Rotator Cuff Tears: Functional and Clinical Evaluation of Twenty-Three Cases with a Mean Follow-Up of Six Years

Background: Rotator cuff (RC) repair leads to less than optimal results when dealing with massive lesions, so the use of scaffolds as biological support has been proposed to improve RC repair site biology. The present study aims to evaluate the clinical and radiographical outcomes of a series of patients suffering from massive or irreparable RC tears treated with patch (porcine or human scaffolds) repair (augmentation or bridging). Methods: Twenty-three patients with a minimum follow-up of 24 months were subjectively, clinically, and radiographically assessed before and after surgery. Three different patient-related outcome measurements (PROMs) (American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, Constant score, visual analog scale) were used for the subjective and clinical evaluation, while plain radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging where employed for radiographical follow-up. Results: Regardless of the technique (augmentation or bridging) or type of scaffold (porcine or human) employed, at follow-up, all patients experienced a statistically significant improvement in all PROMs and clinically. Conclusions: Patch repair represents a valid salvage procedure in massive or irreparable RC tears, improving the quality of life and eventually delaying the need for prosthetic replacement.

Outcomes of a cementless onlay short stem reverse shoulder arthroplasty in elderly patients: a comprehensive analysis of clinical and radiological findings

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate clinical and radiological outcomes of a short stem reverse shoulder prosthesis with metaphyseal fixation specifically in older patients.

METHODS

All patients, older than 70 years, submitted to a Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty (RSA) using a cementless onlay short stem (Aequalis Ascend™ Flex Convertible Shoulder System (Stryker®)) from January 2017 to December 2021, with a minimum follow-up of 2 years, were included. Postoperative radiographs were assessed for stem loosening, subsidence, and varus-valgus tilt. Range of motion, visual analogue scale for pain, constant score, complication rate and revision rate were also analysed.

RESULTS

A total of 34 patients with a mean age of 75 years (range 71-83 years) were submitted to a cementless onlay short stem RSA with a Bone Increased Off-Set (BIO-RSA) construct. The mean follow-up period was 61 months (range 54-87). Significant improvements (p < 0.001) were observed for the constant score and range of motion from the preoperative state to final follow-up. One case exhibited a significant varus deviation (> 5˚) during the follow-up period. No case of stem loosening was identified. There was only one case of complication because of post-traumatic dislocation, but the stem didn't need revision.

CONCLUSION

Short stem RSA, even in patients older than 70 years, can yield a stable fixation with a good clinical and radiological outcome at short-medium term follow-up.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III; Retrospective Study.