Clinical Outcomes of Patients With Anterior Shoulder Instability and Glenolabral Articular Disruption Lesions: A Retrospective Comparative Study

Glenohumeral morphological predictors of recurrent shoulder instability following arthroscopic Bankart repair

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate glenohumeral morphological features on a magnetic resonance arthrogram (MRA) to determine risk factors for recurrence of anterior shoulder instability following arthroscopic Bankart repair (ABR).

METHODS

A retrospective review of patients who underwent ABR between 2012 and 2017 was performed to identify patients who had recurrence of instability following stabilisation (Group 1). These were pair-matched in a 2:1 ratio for age, gender and sport with a control (Group 2) who underwent ABR without recurrence. Preoperative MRAs were evaluated for risk factors for recurrence, with glenoid bone loss and Hill-Sachs lesions also measured. Multilinear and multilogistic regression models were used to evaluate factors affecting recurrence.

RESULTS

Overall, 72 patients were included in this study, including 48 patients without recurrence and 24 patients with recurrent instability. There was a significant difference between the two groups in mean glenoid bone loss (Group 1: 7.3% vs. Group 2: 5.7%, p < 0.0001) and the rate of off-track Hill-Sachs lesions (Group 1: 20.8% vs. Group 2: 0%, p = 0.0003). Of the variables analysed in logistic regression, increased glenoid anteversion (p = 0.02), acromioclavicular (AC) degeneration (p = 0.03) and increased Hill-Sachs width were associated with increased risk of failure. Increased chondral version (p = 0.01) and humeral head diameter in the anteriorposterior view were found to be protective and associated with a greater likelihood of success.

CONCLUSION

Glenoid anteversion was a risk factor for recurrent instability, whereas increased chondral version and humeral head diameter were associated with higher rates of success following ABR. Glenoid bone loss, presence of an off-track Hill-Sachs lesion, increased Hill-Sachs width and AC degeneration were also associated with failure. These findings should be used by surgeons to stratify risk for recurrence following ABR.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III.

Clinical Outcomes of Adolescents With Anterior Shoulder Instability and Glenolabral Articular Disruption Lesions Compared With Isolated Bankart Lesions

Background

Glenolabral articular disruption (GLAD) lesions may occur in adolescents with anterior shoulder instability, resulting in articular cartilage loss and reduced functional glenoid surface area.

Purpose/Hypothesis

To compare failure rates and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) between adolescents with versus without GLAD lesions who were treated for anterior shoulder instability with arthroscopic stabilization. It was hypothesized that the comparison would yield no significant differences.

Study Design

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods

Patients aged ≤18 years who were treated for anterior shoulder instability with arthroscopic stabilization between 2010 and 2021 were retrospectively identified. Those patients with a GLAD lesion identified at the time of surgery were compared with patients with >2 years of retrospective follow-up who were matched to the no-GLAD cohort according to pathology and management. Demographic and patient characteristics including recurrent instability, complications, and reoperations were recorded. All patients in the GLAD cohort were contacted to obtain PRO data, including the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation; the shortened version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire; and the Pediatric Adolescent Shoulder Survey. Patients were also asked about recurrent instability and additional shoulder problems.

Results

Of 35 included patients (mean age, 15.4 ± 1.6 years; 80% male), 15 patients (43%) with GLAD lesions and 26 patients without GLAD lesions were identified. Both cohorts had similar patient characteristics, number of anchors, and anchor constructs; the mean follow-up period was significantly different (GLAD vs no-GLAD, 6.9 ± 3.3 vs 3.4 ± 1.2 years, respectively; P < .001). Seven of 15 GLAD patients (46.7%) underwent loose body removal; 4 of 15 GLAD patients (26.6%) and 9 of 26 no-GLAD patients (34.6%) had recurrent subjective instability (P = .7). No significant group differences were found in PRO scores, reoperation rates (15% no-GLAD vs 20% GLAD), or percentage of patients with recurrent instability between cohorts (P > .05).

Conclusion

Adolescent patients with and without GLAD lesions treated arthroscopically for anterior shoulder instability had similar PROs and failure rates at intermediate duration of follow-up. GLAD lesions may be managed in a similar surgical manner as isolated Bankart tears in teenagers, with expectations of similar outcomes.

Criteria for Return to Play After Hip Arthroscopy in the Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a common pathology in athletes that often requires operative management in the form of hip arthroscopy.

PURPOSE

To systematically review the rates and level of return to play (RTP) and the criteria used for RTP after hip arthroscopy for FAI in athletes.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature, based on the PRISMA guidelines, was performed using PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases. Studies reporting outcomes after the use of hip arthroscopy for FAI were included. Outcomes analyzed were RTP rate, RTP level, and criteria used for RTP. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software.

RESULTS

Our review found 130 studies, which included 14,069 patients (14,517 hips) and had a mean methodological quality of evidence (MQOE) of 40.4 (range, 5-67). The majority of patients were female (53.7%), the mean patient age was 30.4 years (range, 15-47 years), and the mean follow-up was 29.7 months (range, 6-75 months). A total of 81 studies reported RTP rates, with an overall RTP rate of 85.4% over a mean period of 6.6 months. Additionally, 49 studies reported the rate of RTP at preinjury level as 72.6%. Specific RTP criteria were reported in 97 studies (77.2%), with time being the most commonly reported item, which was reported in 80 studies (69.2%). A total of 45 studies (57.9%) advised RTP at 3 to 6 months after hip arthroscopy.

CONCLUSION

The overall rate of reported RTP was high after hip arthroscopy for FAI. However, more than one-fourth of athletes who returned to sports did not return at their preinjury level. Development of validated rehabilitation criteria for safe return to sports after hip arthroscopy for FAI could potentially improve clinical outcomes while also increasing rates of RTP at preinjury levels.

Arthroscopic Management Strategies for Glenohumeral Articular Cartilage Lesions and Defects

Glenoid articular cartilage lesions are a source of shoulder pain and can occur in the setting of glenohumeral instability and degenerative shoulder disease. Glenolabral articular disruption lesions have been reported to be associated with worse outcomes after arthroscopic repair of labral tears. There are relatively few published studies evaluating outcomes after surgical treatment of glenoid articular lesions; however, it is generally accepted that management should consist of restoring the glenoid articular surface, minimizing exposed articular defect, and re-establishing capsulolabral integrity to achieve stability. We present arthroscopic strategies to manage these glenoid articular defects through debridement, abrasion, microfracture, capsulolabral advancement and labral interposition.

Concomitant Glenolabral Articular Disruption (GLAD) Lesion is Not Associated With Inferior Clinical Outcomes After Arthroscopic Bankart Repair for Shoulder Instability: A Retrospective Comparative Study

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes between anterior shoulder instability patients with and without glenolabral articular disruption (GLAD) lesions after undergoing arthroscopic Bankart repair and to evaluate potential risk factors for inferior outcomes and recurrent instability.

Methods

Prospectively collected data were retrospectively reviewed for patients who underwent arthroscopic Bankart repair with and without GLAD lesions at a minimum of 2 years follow-up. Consecutive patients were matched by age, sex, and number of anchors. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were evaluated before and after surgery, including American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation, Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand, Short Form-12 score, and satisfaction. Recurrent dislocation, subjective instability, and reoperation were analyzed. Additionally, PROs were assessed on the basis of GLAD lesion characteristics.

Results

A total of 54 patients (27 GLAD, 27 control) with a mean age of 28.9 ± 11.6 years were analyzed at mean 4.5 ± 1.9 years (range, 2-9 years) follow-up. Thirty-eight (70.3%) of the participants were male. Patients in both groups experienced significant improvements in all PROs (P ≤ .006 for all measures) and reported high median satisfaction (scale 1-10: 10 vs 10, P = .290) at final follow-up. Two patients in the GLAD cohort and 1 in the control cohort underwent reoperation (P = .588). Four (14.8%) patients in each group reported recurrent dislocation (P = 1.0). Additionally, 2 (7.4%) GLAD patients and 1 (3.7%) control patient reported subjective shoulder instability after surgery (P = 1.0). No significant differences in PROs were observed based on anchor/labral advancement or treatment with microfracture, nor were significant correlations observed between GLAD lesion size and PROs (P > .05 for all).

Conclusion

Arthroscopic Bankart repair in patients with GLAD lesions resulted in significantly improved outcomes with high satisfaction, which was no different when compared with those without GLAD lesions.

Level of Evidence

Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Arthroscopic Characterization, Treatment, and Outcomes of Glenoid Labral Articular Disruption Lesions

BACKGROUND

The pathoanatomy of glenoid labral articular disruption (GLAD) lesions has been inconsistently and poorly defined in the literature.

PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS

The purpose was to characterize GLAD lesions as they pertain to the pathoanatomy of labrum, cartilage, and bony structures, and to correlate findings with patient-reported outcomes (PROs). We hypothesized that greater degrees of bony and cartilaginous involvement would correlate with worse outcomes.

STUDY DESIGN

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS

All patients with a diagnosis of a GLAD lesion or a reverse GLAD (RGLAD) lesion at the time of diagnostic arthroscopy (January 2006-February 2019) were included in this study. Patients with ≥13.5% bone loss or previous ipsilateral shoulder surgery were excluded. Patient charts and operative reports/photos were used to identify the location of injury, extent of injury (labral, chondral, and bony), associated injuries, demographic factors, and treatment performed. Three injury patterns were identified: small (type 1), with no chondral defect after labral repair; large (type 2), with residual chondral defect after labral repair; and bony (type 3), with associated glenoid bone loss amenable to labral repair. Characterizations were cross-referenced to PROs at a mean follow-up of 5.5 years (range, 2.6-10.5 years): American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation, shortened version of Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand, and patient satisfaction.

RESULTS

In total, 50 patients were included, with 40 having GLAD and 10 having RGLAD lesions (mean age, 34.7 and 33.2 years, respectively). There were 14 (35%) type 1, 22 (55%) type 2, and 4 (10%) type 3 GLAD injuries. All PROs improved without any differences in the 3 subgroups postoperatively (ASES, 95.1 vs 91.3 vs 98.8, type 1, 2, and 3, respectively). RGLAD injuries were majority type 2 (7/10; 70%) with the remainder being type 1 (3/10; 30%).

CONCLUSION

With GLAD and RGLAD injuries, 3 distinct injury patterns can be observed correlating with the presence/absence of chondral loss after labral repair or the presence of associated bone loss. This descriptive characterization can facilitate arthroscopic treatment decisions. Future large studies are needed to determine if this is prognostic in nature.

Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Humeral Avulsion Glenohumeral Ligament Lesions in the Setting of Anterior Shoulder Instability: A Retrospective Comparative Study

BACKGROUND

Humeral avulsion glenohumeral ligament (HAGL) lesions are often underreported but have been shown to occur in up to 10% of cases of anterior shoulder instability.

PURPOSE

To compare clinical outcomes and recurrence rates of patients with HAGL lesions undergoing open stabilization for anterior shoulder instability versus a pair-matched control.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS

A retrospective review of all patients who underwent both arthroscopic and open stabilization procedures with a minimum 24-month follow-up was performed. Patients with HAGL lesions were pair-matched in a 1:6 ratio for age, sex, sport, level of preoperative play, and follow-up length with those without HAGL lesions who underwent arthroscopic Bankart repair alone. Return to play (RTP), the level of return, and the timing of return were assessed. In addition, recurrence, visual analog scale for pain (VAS), Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV), Rowe score, satisfaction, and whether they would undergo the same surgery again were compared.

RESULTS

A total of 15 patients with HAGL lesions who underwent shoulder stabilization procedures were included, with a mean age of 21.5 ± 4.1 years and mean follow-up of 53.5 ± 17.4 months, and were pair-matched to 90 patients without HAGL lesions. Overall, there was no significant difference in any of the clinical outcome scores (VAS, Rowe, SSV, satisfaction) used between the 2 groups (1.6 vs 1.7, P = .86; 83.4 vs 88.0, P = .06; 85.7 vs 87.2, P = .76; and 86.7% vs 94.5%, P = .26, respectively). In addition, there were no significant differences in terms of overall rates, levels, and timing of RTP between the 2 groups (93.3% vs 90.0%, P > .99; 80.0% vs 78.9%, P > .99; and 5.3 ± 2.2 vs 5.9 ± 2.9 months, P = .45, respectively). There was no significant difference in the rates of apprehension, subluxation, and recurrent instability between the HAGL and pair-matched control groups (26.7% vs 26.7%, P > .99; 6.7% vs 3.3%, P = .47; and 13.3% vs 6.7% months, P = .32, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Patients with anterior shoulder instability undergoing surgical stabilization with open HAGL repair demonstrate excellent functional outcomes and high rates of RTP, with low rates of recurrence in the medium term compared with a control group without HAGL lesions who underwent arthroscopic Bankart repair alone.

Cartilage decisively shapes the glenoid concavity and contributes significantly to shoulder stability

PURPOSE

Glenohumeral joint injuries frequently result in shoulder instability. However, the biomechanical effect of cartilage loss on shoulder stability remains unknown. The aim of the current study was to investigate biomechanically the effect of two severity stages of cartilage loss in different dislocation directions on shoulder stability.

METHODS

Joint dislocation was provoked in 11 human cadaveric glenoids for 7 different directions between 3 o'clock (anterior) and 9 o'clock (posterior). Shoulder stability ratio (SSR) and concavity gradient were assessed in three states: intact, 3 mm and 6 mm simulated cartilage loss. The influence of cartilage loss on SSR and concavity gradient was statistically evaluated.

RESULTS

Both SSR and concavity gradient decreased significantly between intact state and 6 mm cartilage loss in every dislocation direction (p ≤ 0.038), except concavity gradient in 4 o'clock direction. Thereby, anterior-inferior dislocation directions were associated with the highest decrease in both SSR and concavity gradient of up to 59.0% and 49.4%, respectively, being significantly bigger for SSR compared with all other dislocation directions (p ≤ 0.040). Correlations between concavity gradient and SSR for pooled dislocation directions were significant in each separate specimen's state (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

From a biomechanical perspective, articular cartilage of the glenoid contributes significantly to the concavity gradient, correlating strongly with the associated loss in glenohumeral joint stability. The biggest effect of cartilage loss is observed in the most frequently occurring anterior-inferior dislocation directions, suggesting that surgical interventions to restore cartilage's surface and concavity should be considered for recurrent shoulder dislocations in presence of cartilage loss.

The Glenolabral Articular Disruption Lesion Is a Biomechanical Risk Factor for Recurrent Shoulder Instability

Purpose

To investigate the biomechanical effect of a glenolabral articular disruption (GLAD) lesion on glenohumeral laxity.

Methods

Human cadaveric glenoids (n = 10) were excised of soft tissue, including the labrum to focus on the biomechanical effects of osteochondral surfaces. Glenohumeral dislocations were performed in a robotic test setup, while displacement forces and three-dimensional morphometric properties were measured. The stability ratio (SR), a biomechanical characteristic for glenohumeral stability, was used as an outcome parameter, as well as the path of least resistance, determined by a hybrid robot displacement. The impacts of chondral and bony defects were analyzed related to the intact glenoid. Statistical comparison of the defect states on SR and the path of least resistance was performed using repeated-measures ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test for multiple comparisons (P < .05). The relationship between concavity depth and SR was approximated in a nonlinear regression.

Results

The initial SR of the intact glenoid (28.3 ± 7.8%) decreased significantly by 4.7 ± 3% in case of a chondral defect (P = .002). An additional loss of 3.2 ± 2.3% was provoked by a 20% bony defect (P = .004). The path of least resistance was deflected significantly more inferiorly by a GLAD lesion (2.9 ± 1.8°, P = .002) and even more by a bony defect (2.5 ± 2.9°, P = .002). The nonlinear regression with concavity depth as predictor for the SR resulted in a high correlation coefficient (r = .81).

Conclusions

Chondral integrity is an important contributor to the SR. Chondral defects as present in GLAD lesions may cause increased laxity, influence the humeral track on the glenoid during dislocation, and represent a biomechanical risk factor for a recurrent instability.

Clinical Relevance

Cartilage deficiency corresponding to GLAD lesions may be a risk factor for impaired surgical outcomes.