Purpose of the study: Little work has been done to assess outcome of rotator cuff tear repair in young adults aged less than 40 years. The purpose of our study was to assess the clinical and anatomic outcomes in a continuous series of arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs performed in patients aged less than 40 years.

Material and method: This was a retrospective analysis (2004–2007) of 15 young patients (age 18–39 years, mean 32.7 years) with rotator cuff tears confirmed on the arthroscan. All tears were repaired arthroscopically using the same reinsertion technique with anchors. Patients underwent bilateral assessment (SSV, Constant) at at least 12 months follow-up. A control imaging with injection (arthroscan or arthroMRI) was available in 12 of 15 patients.

Results: The series included 7 female and 8 male patients, 13 right and 2 left shoulders; 14 of 15 shoulders were on the dominant side. The time from symptom onset to surgery was 26 months on average. Patients were reviewed at mean 31 months follow-up. Preoperative range of motion was preserved in all patients. The mean preoperative Constant score was 55.5 on the operated side and 91.4 on the other side. The preoperative arthroscan demonstrated partial deep tears of the supraspinatus or infraspinatus in 5 patients with a posterosuperior impingement. The ten other shoulders exhibited full thickness tears of the supraspinatus. At last follow-up, the mean Constant score was 77.2 (range 44–90) with significant improvement of all partial scores except force. Patients resumed their former occupational activities at mean 8 months (range 1–36); resumption of sports activities occurred during the 7th month. Subjective satisfaction rate was 81.7%. Postoperative imaging with injection showed a healed cuff in 83% of the shoulders reviewed (10/12).

Discussion: Rotator cuff tears are exceptional in young subjects aged less than 40 years; there is considerable potential for worsening. Outcome after rotator cuff repair is very age dependent. It is important to diagnose these tears early to enable early repair; the anatomic results are good and persistent in younger patients.

Purpose of the study: This retrospective study was conducted to analyze the mid-term effect of damage to the anteroinferior rim of the glenoid cavity in failed arthroscopic stabilization of the shoulder.

Material and methods: From 1999 to 2001, 54 patients underwent surgery performed by the same operator. Full data were available for analysis for 46 patients. Mean age was 28 years and mean follow-up four years. A pre-operative scan was available for all patients to analyze the bone lesions. The same technique was used for all shoulders: three or four suture points using resorbable thread attached to a Panolok anchor with a north-south retension effect. The Duplay score was noted at last follow-up. Experimental work by Gerber, which demonstrated that the anti-dislocation resistance decreased as a function of the ratio (x) between the length of the anteroinferior glenoid defect and its maximal antero-posterior diameter, was used to assess resistance to dislocation. This resistance decreased 30% when x=0.5 and 50% when x=0.75.

Results: The Duplay score at 47 months was 83.3. The rate of recurrence was 13% (n=6). Age, sex, and number of episodes of instability had little effect on outcome. The rate of recurrence (38%) in patients with a significant damage (x> 0.5) was much higher than in patients with minimal damage (x< 0.5) (2.2%). The difference was statistically significant (p< 0.01). The Duplay score (63.8 points) in patients with significant damage (x> 0.5) was significantly lower (p=0.01) than in patients (91 points) with minimal damage (x< 0.05).

Discussion: The presence of bony lesions of the anterior glenoid rim appears to be one of the most important prognostic factors of recurrence. Considering the high frequency of these lesions in our series (54%), this element deserves careful analysis which would require computed tomographic reconstruction in the sagittal plane to obtain a precise assessment of the loss of articular surface. The statistical analysis demonstrated that patients with important loss of articular surface (x> 0.5) had a significantly higher risk of recurrent instability (p< 0.01).

Conclusion: Arthroscopic stabilization of the shoulder joint yields results similar to those obtained with more conventional techniques. Our study confirmed this notion showing a rate of recurrence of 13% which could be reduced to less than 3% with careful preoperative assessment of glenoid articular surface loss on the preoperative scan.

Purpose: We report preliminary results after treatment of humeral fracturs with a Targon centromedullary nail (Aesculap(r)).

Material and methods: Forty-five patients, predominantly women, underwent surgery from June 2001 to June 2002. Mean age was 63.5 years. The right side predominated. The series included 28 proximal fractures (65.9 years): 3-4 fragments (n=14), two fragments (n=8), pathological fracture (n=3),metaphyseo-diaphyseal fracture (n=3); and 17 shaft fractures (59.5 years): pathological fractures (n=4), nonunion (n=3), trauma (n=10). The Beach position, fractured limb free, was used with a superolateral approach. We inserted 28 Targon PH nails, including nine long nails, for proximal fractures and 17 Targon H nails for shaft fractures. Nail diameter was 8 mm. Nails were locked with four self-locking proximal screws (5 mm) and two distal screws (3.5 mm). The patients were immobilised with an arm to body brace. Hanging limb exercises were initiated immediately and active exercises at bone healing. The Constant score and radiographic measures were recorded at last follow-up.

Results: Mean follow-up was 12.2 months. We had six deaths and five patients lost to follow-up. Bone healing was achieved at eight weeks on average. Fracture reduction was acceptable for 37 limbs, including three which required open reduction. There were nine postoperative complications: superficial infection (n=1), distal screw pull out (n= 3), distal screw fracture (n=1), nail fracture (n=1). The mean Constant score was 69 (30–96).

Discussion: Proximal fractures of the humerus are often comminuted displaced fractures requiring cephalic arthroplasty. Total functional recovery is often difficult leading to mid and long-term problems for this young population. Stable quadruple proximal locking, associated with good filling of the canal by the nail enables fracture stablisation and satisfactory maintenance of the tuberosities. This stable assembly allows early rehabilitation. These advantages are particularly important for shaft fractures in young patients. The material does however have certain limitations related to fragility of the distal screws which are situated near the circumflex bundle for the Targon PH nail.

Conclusion: Our early results are encouraging for humeral fractures, both in elderly and young patients. This type of osteosynthesis can be a useful alternative to arthroplasty and allows early rehabilitation necessary for good functional recovery.