Background: The common surgical procedure in the treatment of bilateral shoulder osteoarthritis is surgical correction in two steps. There is little experience regarding the safety and the effectiveness of the simultaneous bilateral shoulder arthroplasty, as for other joints like knee and hip. In this study the results of the surgical procedure of both shoulders, in a single surgical stage, are presented and compared with an equal number of patients who underwent total shoulder arthroplasty in both their shoulders in two different stages.

Materials and Method: We studied a series of 7 patients treated with bilateral shoulder arthroplasty in a single stage procedure for severe degenerative glenohumeral joint disease. The average age at the time of surgery was 72 years. These were 4 patients with primary osteoarthritis (8 total anatomical prostheses) and 3 patients with rotator cuff arthropathy (6 reverse prostheses). The second series include 7 consecutive patients who underwent the same shoulder arthroplasties in two different stages for the same diseases. The average age was 69 years and the time between the two operations was 6 to 12 months.

The effectiveness of each one of the two procedures was evaluated on the basis of multiple objective characteristics like safety, total surgical duration, total blood loss, Constant Score, range of motion of the joints, post-surgical discomfort (pain, stiffness, motion, disability), post-surgical complications and ability of resumption of daily living activities.

Results: The average follow up was 18 months. Patients that underwent bilateral shoulder arthroplasty in one stage had significantly shorter total time of in-hospital stay (mean stay 5 days in the first and 9.3 days in the second group), recovery (9 weeks vs. 20 weeks) and proportionately lower rate of post-operative blood loss in comparison with the patients that were treated with two different surgical procedures. The average need for blood transfusion was 2 blood units in the first group and 3.5 blood units in the second. The overall rate of complication was the same in two groups. The Constant Score improvement and the joint function, range of motion and pain improved more, but not in a statistically significant degree in the single-stage group.

Conclusions: Bilateral shoulder arthroplasty in a single stage, in carefully chosen patients regarding their general condition, is a safe procedure, not associated with increase in complications, yielded better clinical results, reduced in-hospital stay and recovery period and decreased patient discomfort in comparison to the standard surgical procedure in two surgical stages and must be considered for selected cases.

AIM: The diagnosis of the posterior dislocation can be missed. Chronic missed locked posterior fracture dislocations of the shoulder raise a difficult problem for treatment especially in young patients. The options for the treatment depend on the size of the humeral defect, the age of the patients and the time from injury to diagnosis.

METHOD: Eleven patients with missed locked posterior fracture dislocation of the glenohumeral joint, 25 to 52 years of age were treated with open reduction and transfer of the subscapularis tendon to the defect (modified Mc Laughlin technique). The interval from the injury to diagnosis ranged from 6 weeks to 6 months. Significant pain, prominence of the acromion, posterior bulging and complete loss of external rotation of the shoulder led to the diagnosis that was confirmed by an axillary radiograph and C.T. scan. The humeral head defect was from 20 to 40 per cent of the articular surface. Four patients also had a minimally displaced fracture of the upper humerus.

RESULTS: The average length of follow up was 3,5 years. Stability was restored and maintained in all cases. Six patients reported little or no pain. They had almost full range of motion and no functional restriction in the ADL. The remaining five patients had mild pain and slight restriction of movements mainly in external rotation in abduction (elevation 150°, external rotation 25°, internal rotation to L5). These patients had mild functional dysfunction in the ADL. All patients had normal muscle strength and constant score from 60–82.

CONCLUSION: Once the diagnosis is established, open reduction and subscapularis tendon transfer reliably decreased patients pain level and significally improved the range of motion and the level of function, restoring stability of the joint. The alternative for older patients or patients with humeral head defect greater than 40% is the use of shoulder prosthesis.

Aim: Chronic rotator cuff tears raise a difþcult problem for treatment. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the results of surgical treatment of 96 full thickness rotator cuff tears. Method: There were 59 males and 37 females with average age of 56 years (35–78). The dominant shoulder was involved in 70% of the cases. Most of the patients had weakness and all of them had pain during the night. The duration of symptoms was more than 4months. 22 tears were small, 38 medium, 28 large and 8 massive. All of the patients had positive arthrogram or MRI. Surgical management consisted of deltoid splitting approach, anterior Neerñs acromioplasty modiþed by Rockwood and repair of the tear. In 6 cases dislocation long head of the biceps was found and repaired. In two cases the long head of biceps was incorporated in the repair. In 5 cases full coverage of the head could not be achieved. Results: F.U. averaged six years. The results were granted according to Wolfgang scale. There were 46 excellent, 39 good, 7 fair and 4 poor. Signiþcant improvement in pain achieved in 90% of the cases and strength improved in 78%. Postoperatively three patients had drop arm sign and one had developed ectopic ossiþcation. Negative prognostic factor was the dislocation of long head of biceps in combination with irreparable tears. The quality of the repair correlated with þnal outcome. Conclusions: The results of this study conþrm the view that operative management of rotator cuff tears offers reliable results and indicated in relatively young patients. Release of coracohumeral ligament and mobilization of supraspinatus decreased the need for tendon transfer.

Airn: Treatment of acromioclavicular joint dislocations depends on the type of the dislocation and the patients symptoms. We present the results of surgical treatment with transfer of the acromical end of coracoacromial ligament in the distal end of the clavicle. (The Weaver Dunn procedure). Material – Method: 32 patients with acromioclavicular dislocation type III, IV and V according Rockwood, 20 acute and 12 chronic, were treated with open reduction and stabilization of the distal end of clavicle and transfer of the coracoacromial ligament. They were 26 men and 6 women, the average age was 28 years. The indications for the operation were: deformity, pain and numbness. On 28 patients resection of the distal end of the clavicle was performed but on 4 acute dislocations the stabilization was made without osteotomy.

Surgery was performed with the patients in the beach chair position and with a horizontal skin incision above the acromioclavicular joint. The length of the coracoacromial ligament was determinant to achieved reduction. The soft tissues were double breasted above the acromioclavicular joint. After surgery the limb was placed in a sling for 15 days and then complete mobilization exercises was began. Draft weight was avoided for 3 months.

Results: The average length of follow up was 4 years. All patients had almost no pain and full range of motion. Constant score was above 80 in all cases. Full range of motion was obtained until 2 months after operation. In 3 cases the primary reduction was not fully achieved. In 3 other cases loss of the primary reduction was observed due to suture rupture. In these cases the displacement was significantly minor than pre operatively. 15 patients had developed ectopic ossification bellow the acromioclavicular joint without consequence in the shoulder motion. The resection of the distal end of the clavicle did not alter the results.

Conclusion: The operation offers low percentage of complications and quick rehabilitation. It is recommended in acute as well in chronic injuries with very good results. The good results were not varied with time during follow up. Advantage of this operation represents the no use of metals. The pull angle of the ligament might create an anterior sublaxation during reduction of the dislocation, but this does not influence the results.

Aim: Displaced intrarticular fractures and fracture-dislocations of the proximal humerus usually need operative treatment. The results of shoulder hemiartroplasty for the treatment of neglected fractures and fracture-dislocations are presented.

Material – Method: 9 shoulder hemiartroplasties with modular head was used for the treatment of 5 neglected comminuted fractures and 4 fracture-dislocations of the proximal humerus. They were 5 females and 4 males with a mean age of 58 years, which were followed-up for a mean period of 4 years. The time between the injury and the operation varied from 2 to 8 months. The main indications was pain, loss of shoulder movement in relatively young patients. The tuberosities were found and extensively mobilized. The prosthesis was inserted with cement and the tuberosities were reattached to the shaft.

Results: Main follow up was 4 years (2–8). The results were assessed according the modified UCLA score and were found excellent in 2, satisfactory in 4 and poor in z cases. Pain has improved in 7 cases and the mean postoperative elevation was 90? (20?–130?). External and internal rotation was significally improved. 5 patients presented satisfactory muscle strength and were able to perform satisfyingly the daily activities. Constant score rated from 50 to 80.

The presence of a dislocation did not affect the final outcome. On the contrary the displacement of the tuberosities was decisive, and it was combined with greater scaring of the soft tissues and greater loss of motion. One patient developed transient palsy of the axillary nerve and another aseptic loosening of the prosthesis 7 years postoperatively.

Conclusions: The success of the hemiartroplasty is based on the proper patient selection, the good operative technique and the meticulous postoperative rehabilitation. The retroversion, the height of the prosthesis and the correct balance of the soft tissues are of critical importance in the achievement of a good postoperative result. The tissue scaring, the tuberosities displacement and the rotator cuff lesions create such conditions that place these patients in the limited goal group, as introduced by Neer. The results of this group are considerably inferior to those treated soon after the injury. For this reason if indicated the prosthesis should be used at the first stage and not after the failure of the conservative treatment.