Accuracy of Suture Passage During Arthroscopic Remplissage-What Anatomic Landmarks Can Improve It?: A Cadaveric Study

The Role of Remplissage in the Setting of Shoulder Instability

Recurrent anterior shoulder instability is a multifactorial problem for which many solutions exist. Often, the bony surface area of the humeral head and the glenoid needs to be addressed surgically. For large, engaging humeral head defects associated with <25% glenoid bone loss, a remplissage procedure can effectively "fill in" the humeral defect with minimal postoperative morbidity. Remplissage is an effective biological solution that should be considered any time there is a humeral head defect which is contributing to glenohumeral instability.

Clinical and Image Outcomes of the Hill-Sachs Injury Approach by the Remplissage Technique on the Anterior Shoulder Instability

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the functional outcome of the remplissage technique, the healing of the capsulotenodesis of the infraspinatus tendon in Hill-Sachs lesion, and the degree of fatty infiltration of the infraspinatus muscle and its postoperative strength.

METHODS

Twenty-five patients with recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder and Hill-Sachs lesion with a Hardy index > 20% who underwent the remplissage arthroscopic technique were evaluated with a minimum follow-up of 1 year. Patients underwent a clinical evaluation (Carter-Rowe and Walch-Duplay functional scores, measurement of range of motion and strength) and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam on the operated shoulder.

RESULTS

Eighty-eight percent and 92% of the patients had good or excellent scores in the functional assessments of the Carter-Rowe and Walch-Duplay scores, respectively. A mean difference of - 1 kg in the strength of the operated limb was observed when compared with the contralateral limb ( p  < 0.001), as well as a mean difference of 10° in external rotation 1 and 2 ( p  < 0.001), also compared with the contralateral side. All of the patients who underwent an MRI exam presented high-grade filling of the Hill-Sachs lesion by capsulotenodesis, as well as absence of or minimal fatty infiltration in the infraspinatus muscle.

CONCLUSION

The remplissage technique had good/excellent functional score results, despite the discrete, albeit statistically significant, loss of strength and of external rotation amplitude. Successful capsulotenodesis healing and filling of the Hill-Sachs defect were demonstrated.

Editorial Commentary: Use Remplissage as a "Fill In" for Latarjet in Patients With Shoulder Instability and Hill Sachs Lesions

Remplissage minimizes recurrence and confers minimal motion loss when applied to glenoid defects up to 20% and humeral loss up to 40% in patients with shoulder instability. However, variability in the reporting of volume of both glenoid and humeral head bone loss deters the formulation of distinct thresholds for indications and contraindication for remplissage. However, there appears to be little downside in the performance of this "biologic" solution to Hill-Sachs lesions.

Recurrence Rate of Instability After Remplissage for Treatment of Traumatic Anterior Shoulder Instability: A Systematic Review in Treatment of Subcritical Glenoid Bone Loss

PURPOSE

To report outcomes after arthroscopic remplissage in patients with anterior shoulder instability and subcritical glenoid bone loss, specifically regarding recurrence of instability, return to sport, and changes in range of motion.

METHODS

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were used to perform a search using the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases. Forest plots were used to evaluate the overall values for recurrent instability, change in external rotation, and return to sport after arthroscopic Bankart repair with or without remplissage. The Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies and Risk of Bias in Nonrandomized Studies-Interventions checklist were used to evaluate bias.

RESULTS

Twenty-two articles met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies and Risk of Bias in Nonrandomized Studies-Interventions checklists deemed studies as acceptable quality with low bias. Among 694 patients (522 male and 106 female patients) undergoing remplissage, the mean age was 28.3 ± 5.3 years and the mean duration of follow-up was 32.5 ± 13.9 months. The recurrence rate of instability ranged from 0% to 20%. The change in external rotation in 90° of abduction ranged from -11.3° to -1.0°, and the change in external rotation with the arm fully adducted ranged from -8.0° to +4.5°. The overall rate of return to sport ranged from 56.9% to 100% after remplissage. The rate of return to sport at the preinjury level ranged from 41.7% to 100%. In addition, arthroscopic remplissage in addition to Bankart repair had a reduced odds of recurrent instability developing, ranging from 0.07 to 0.88, when compared with isolated Bankart repair.

CONCLUSIONS

Arthroscopic remplissage combined with Bankart repair is an effective procedure in the treatment of patients with engaging Hill-Sachs lesions and minimal glenoid bone loss. Patients can expect favorable rates of recurrent instability with a negligible loss of external rotation when compared with isolated Bankart repair. Treatment algorithms may be updated to include this procedure for engaging Hill-Sachs lesions, measuring between 20% and 40% in volume, with subcritical (<20%) glenoid bone loss.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, systematic review of Level III and IV studies.

The Intra-articular "Wave Sign" as a Landmark for Suture Anchor Placement in Arthroscopic Remplissage

In arthroscopic remplissage, surgeons may inadvertently pass sutures through the teres minor rather than the infraspinatus tendon. This misplacement of the sutures may lead to poor outcomes. The authors describe the novel use of the posterior band of the inferior glenohumeral ligament, known as the "wave sign," as a reliable intra-articular landmark for suture anchor placement to improve suture passage accuracy. Twelve cadaveric shoulders underwent arthroscopic remplissage by a fellowship-trained surgeon. During the first phase of the study, remplissage was performed on 6 specimens with standard technique. The intra-articular wave sign was visualized on all specimens. Specimens were dissected to the level of the joint, and the location of each suture anchor and suture pass was noted. Using the results from the first set of specimens, the surgeon performed remplissage in the second set of 6 specimens using specific measurements from intra-articular landmarks. On dissection of the initial 6 specimens, 75% of sutures were passed through the infraspinatus and 25% were passed through the teres minor. For the remaining 6 specimens, care was taken to place 1 suture anchor at the superior edge of the wave sign and 1 suture anchor 1 cm superior to the wave sign. When suture anchors were successfully passed above the superior tip of the wave sign, the likelihood of infraspinatus tendon penetration was 17 times greater. Placement of the suture anchors at or above the superior tip of the intra-articular wave sign most reliably produced capsulotenodesis of the infraspinatus muscle. [Orthopedics. 2017; 40(5):e831-e835.].

The "Safe Zone" Technique Improves Suture Placement and Accuracy During Arthroscopic Remplissage

In response to recent concerns about the accuracy of suture passage during arthroscopic remplissage, this study was conducted to determine whether a previously described "safe zone" technique can improve the accuracy of suture passage. A recommended safe zone technique was used for arthroscopic remplissage on 6 cadaveric specimens. The safe zone was described as a region at least 1 cm lateral and no greater than 3 cm distal to the posterolateral acromion. Results were compared with a control group of 6 specimens for which the safe zone technique was not used. For each group, 24 suture passes were performed. In the safe zone group, 83.3% (20 of 24) of sutures passed through the infraspinatus tendon. This was a significant improvement compared with the control group, in which only 25% (6 of 24) of sutures pierced the infraspinatus tendon (P<.01). In the safe zone group, 4.2% (1 of 24) of attempted suture passes were placed through the muscle or musculotendinous junction compared with 75% (18 of 24) in the control group (P<.01). Prevention of overmedialization improved significantly with the safe zone technique. In the safe zone group, both anchors had significantly more lateral (6 to 10 mm) suture passage compared with the control group (P<.01). The safe zone technique also showed greater precision of suture passes, and overall precision (SD) improved in 75% of passes. The safe zone technique significantly improved the accuracy of suture penetration into the infraspinatus tendon during arthroscopic remplissage. This reproducible method may help to prevent the reported complications of remplissage. [Orthopedics. 2017; 40(4):e598-e603.].