Aims. Metal and ceramic humeral head bearing surfaces are available choices in anatomical shoulder arthroplasties. Wear studies have shown superior performance of ceramic heads, however comparison of clinical outcomes according to bearing surface in total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) and hemiarthroplasty (HA) is limited. This study aimed to compare the rates of revision and reoperation following metal and ceramic humeral head TSA and HA using data from the National Joint Registry (NJR), which collects data from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and the States of Guernsey. Methods. NJR shoulder arthroplasty records were linked to Hospital Episode Statistics and the National Mortality Register. TSA and HA performed for osteoarthritis (OA) in patients with an intact rotator cuff were included. Metal and ceramic humeral head prostheses were matched within separate TSA and HA groups using propensity scores based on 12 and 11 characteristics, respectively. The primary outcome was time to first revision and the secondary outcome was non-revision reoperation. Results. A total of 4,799 TSAs (3,578 metal, 1,221 ceramic) and 1,363 HAs (1,020 metal, 343 ceramic) were included. The rate of revision was higher for metal compared with ceramic TSA, hazard ratio (HR) 3.31 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.67 to 6.58). At eight years, prosthesis survival for ceramic TSA was 98.7% (95% CI 97.3 to 99.4) compared with 96.4% (95% CI 95.2 to 97.3) for metal TSA. The majority of revision TSAs were for cuff insufficiency or instability/dislocation. There was no significant difference in the revision rate for ceramic compared with metal head HA (HR 1.33 (95% CI 0.76 to 2.34)). For ceramic HA, eight-year prosthetic survival was 92.8% (95% CI 86.9 to 96.1), compared with 91.6% (95% CI 89.3 to 93.5) for metal HA. The majority of revision HAs were for cuff failure. Conclusion. The rate of all-cause revision was higher following metal compared with ceramic humeral head TSA in patients with OA and an intact rotator cuff. There was no difference in the revision rate for HA according to bearing surface. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(5):482–491

Aims. Stemless humeral implants have been developed to overcome stem-related complications in total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). However, stemless implant designs may hypothetically result in less stable initial fixation, potentially affecting long-term survival. The aim of this study is to investigate early fixation and migration patterns of the stemless humeral component of the Simpliciti Shoulder System and to evaluate clinical outcomes. Methods. In this prospective cohort study, radiostereometric analysis (RSA) radiographs were obtained in 24 patients at one day, six weeks, six months, one year, and two years postoperatively. Migration was calculated using model-based RSA. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS), the Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS), the Constant-Murley Score (CMS), and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score. Results. At two years, median translation along the x-, y-, and z-axis was -0.12 mm (interquartile range (IQR) -0.18 to 0.02), -0.17 mm (IQR -0.27 to -0.09), and 0.09 mm (IQR 0.02 to 0.31). Median rotation around the x-, y-, and z-axis was 0.12° (IQR -0.50 to 0.57), -0.98° (IQR -1.83 to 1.23), and 0.09° (IQR -0.76 to 0.30). Overall, 20 prostheses stabilized within 12 months postoperatively. Four prostheses showed continuous migration between 12 and 24 months. At two-year follow-up, with the exception of one revised prosthesis, all clinical scores improved significantly (median VAS difference at rest: -3.0 (IQR -1.5 to -6.0); OSS 22.0 (IQR 15.0 to 25.0); CMS 29.5 (IQR 15.0 to 35.75); and DASH -30.0 (IQR -20.6 to -41.67) (all p < 0.001)) with the exception of one revised prosthesis. Conclusion. In conclusion, we found that 20 out of 24 implants stabilized within 12 months postoperatively. The significance of continuous migration in four implants is unclear and future research on the predictive value of early migration for future loosening in TSA is required. Clinical results revealed a clinically relevant improvement. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(1):76–82

Aims. To report early (two-year) postoperative findings from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigating disease-specific quality of life (QOL), clinical, patient-reported, and radiological outcomes in patients undergoing a total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) with a second-generation uncemented trabecular metal (TM) glenoid versus a cemented polyethylene glenoid (POLY) component. Methods. Five fellowship-trained surgeons from three centres participated. Patients aged between 18 and 79 years with a primary diagnosis of glenohumeral osteoarthritis were screened for eligibility. Patients were randomized intraoperatively to either a TM or POLY glenoid component. Study intervals were: baseline, six weeks, six-, 12-, and 24 months postoperatively. The primary outcome was the Western Ontario Osteoarthritis Shoulder QOL score. Radiological images were reviewed for metal debris. Mixed effects repeated measures analysis of variance for within and between group comparisons were performed. Results. A total of 93 patients were randomized (46 TM; 47 POLY). No significant or clinically important differences were found with patient-reported outcomes at 24-month follow-up. Regarding the glenoid components, there were no complications or revision surgeries in either group. Grade 1 metal debris was observed in three (6.5%) patients with TM glenoids at 24 months but outcomes were not negatively impacted. Conclusion. Early results from this RCT showed no differences in disease-specific QOL, radiographs, complication rates, or shoulder function between uncemented second-generation TM and cemented POLY glenoids at 24 months postoperatively. Revision surgeries and reoperations were reported in both groups, but none attributed to glenoid implant failure. At 24 months postoperatively, Grade 1 metal debris was found in 6.5% of patients with a TM glenoid but did not negatively influence patient-reported outcomes. Longer-term follow-up is needed and is underway. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(9):728–736

Aims

The use and variety of stemless humeral components in anatomical total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) have proliferated since their advent in 2004. Early outcomes are reassuring but independent mid-term results are scarce. This independent study reports a consecutive series of 143 Eclipse stemless shoulder prostheses with a minimum five-year (5 to 10) follow-up.

Total shoulder arthroplasty implants have evolved to include more anatomically shaped components that replicate the native state. The geometry of the humeral head is non-spherical, with the sagittal diameter of the base of the head being up to 6% (or 2.1-3.9 mm) larger than the frontal diameter. Despite this, many TSA humeral head implants are spherical, meaning that the diameter must be oversized to achieve complete coverage, resulting in articular overhang, or portions of the resection plane will remain uncovered. It is suspected that implant-bone load transfer between the backside of the humeral head and the cortex on the resection plane may yield better load-transfer characteristics if resection coverage was properly matched without overhang, thereby mitigating proximal stress shielding. Eight paired cadaveric humeri were prepared for reconstruction with a short stem total shoulder arthroplasty by an orthopaedic surgeon who selected and prepared the anatomic humeral resection plane using a cutting guide and a reciprocating sagittal saw. The humeral head was resected, and the resulting cortical boundary of the resection plane was digitized using a stylus and an optical tracking system with a submillimeter accuracy (Optotrak,NDI,Waterloo,ON). A plane was fit to the trace and the viewpoint was transformed to be perpendicular to the plane. To simulate optimal sizing of both circular and elliptical humeral heads, both circles and ellipses were fit to the filtered traces using the sum of least squares error method. Two extreme scenarios were also investigated: upsizing until 100% total coverage and downsizing until 0% overhang. Total resection plane coverage for the fitted ellipses was found to be 98.2±0.6% and fitted circles was 95.9±0.9%Cortical coverage was found to be 79.8 ±8.2% and 60.4±6.9% for ellipses and circles respectively. By switching to an ellipsoid humeral head, a small 2.3±0.3% (P < 0.001) increase in total coverage led to a 19.5±1.3%(P < 0.001) increase in cortical coverage. The overhang for fitted ellipses and circles was 1.7 ±0.7% and 3.8 ±0.8% respectively, defined as a percentage of the total enclosed area that exceeded the bounds of the humerus resections. Using circular heads results in 2.0 ±0.1% (P < 0.001) greater overhang. Upsizing until 100% resection coverage, the ellipse produced 5.4 ±3.5% (P < 0.001) less overhang than the circle. When upsizing the overhang increases less rapidly for the ellipsoid humeral head that the circular one (Figure 1). Full coverage for the head is achieved more rapidly when up-sizing with an ellipsoid head as well. Downsizing until 0% overhang, total coverage and cortical coverage were 7.5 ±2.8% (P < 0.001) and 7.9 ±8.2% (P = 0.01) greater for the ellipse, respectively. Cortical coverage exhibits a crossover point at −2.25% downsizing, where further downsizing led to the circular head providing more cortical coverage. Reconstruction with ellipsoids can provide greater total resection and cortical coverage than circular humeral heads while avoiding excessive overhang. Elliptical head cortical coverage can be inferior when undersized. These initial findings suggest resection-matched humeral heads may yield benefits worth pursuing in the next generation of TSA implant design. For any figures or tables, please contact the authors directly

The June 2024 Shoulder & Elbow Roundup. 360. looks at: Reverse versus anatomical total shoulder replacement for osteoarthritis? A UK national picture; Acute rehabilitation following traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation (ARTISAN): pragmatic, multicentre, randomized controlled trial; acid for rotator cuff repair: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials; Metal or ceramic humeral head total shoulder arthroplasty: an analysis of data from the National Joint Registry; Platelet-rich plasma has better results for long-term functional improvement and pain relief for lateral epicondylitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials; Quantitative fatty infiltration and 3D muscle volume after nonoperative treatment of symptomatic rotator cuff tears: a prospective MRI study of 79 patients; Locking plates for non-osteoporotic proximal humeral fractures in the long term; A systematic review of the treatment of primary acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis

The 2021 Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry report indicated that total shoulder replacement using both mid head (TMH) length humeral components and reverse arthroplasty (RTSA) had a lower revision rate than stemmed humeral components in anatomical total shoulder arthroplasty (aTSA) - for all prosthesis types and diagnoses. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of component variables in the various primary total arthroplasty alternatives for osteoarthritis in the shoulder. Data from a large national arthroplasty registry were analysed for the period April 2004 to December 2020. The study population included all primary aTSA, RTSA, and TMH shoulder arthroplasty procedures undertaken for osteoarthritis (OA) using either cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) or non-cross-linked polyethylene (non XLPE). Due to the previously documented and reported higher revision rate compared to other anatomical total shoulder replacement options, those using a cementless metal backed glenoid components were excluded. The rate of revision was determined by Kaplan-Meir estimates, with comparisons by Cox proportional hazard models. Reasons for revision were also assessed. For a primary diagnosis of OA, aTSA with a cemented XLPE glenoid component had the lowest revision rate with a 12-year cumulative revision rate of 4.7%, compared to aTSA with cemented non-XLPE glenoid component of 8.7%, and RTSA of 6.8%. The revision rate for TMH was lower than aTSA with cemented non-XLPE, but was similar to the other implants at the same length of follow-up. The reason for revision for cemented aTSR was most commonly component loosening, not rotator cuff deficiency. Long stem humeral components matched with XLPE in aTSA achieve a lower revision rate compared to shorter stems, long stems with conventional polyethylene, and RTSA when used to treat shoulder OA. In all these cohorts, loosening, not rotator cuff failure was the most common diagnosis for revision

Aims. The aim of this study was to characterize the influence of social deprivation on the rate of complications, readmissions, and revisions following primary total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA), using the Social Deprivation Index (SDI). The SDI is a composite measurement, in percentages, of seven demographic characteristics: living in poverty, with < 12 years of education, single-parent households, living in rented or overcrowded housing, households without a car, and unemployed adults aged < 65 years. Methods. Patients aged ≥ 40 years, who underwent primary TSA between 2011 and 2017, were identified using International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 Clinical Modification and ICD-10 procedure codes for TSA in the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System database. Readmission, reoperation, and other complications were analyzed using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression controlling for SDI, age, ethnicity, insurance status, and Charlson Comorbidity Index. Results. A total of 17,698 patients with a mean age of 69 years (SD 9.6), of whom 57.7% were female, underwent TSA during this time and 4,020 (22.7%) had at least one complication. A total of 8,113 patients (45.8%) had at least one comorbidity, and the median SDI in those who developed complications 12 months postoperatively was significantly greater than in those without a complication (33 vs 38; p < 0.001). Patients from areas with higher deprivation had increased one-, three-, and 12-month rates of readmission, dislocation, humeral fracture, urinary tract infection, deep vein thrombosis, and wound complications, as well as a higher three-month rate of pulmonary embolism (all p < 0.05). Conclusion. Beyond medical complications, we found that patients with increased social deprivation had higher rates of humeral fracture and dislocation following primary TSA. The large sample size of this study, and the outcomes that were measured, add to the literature greatly in comparison with other large database studies involving TSA. These findings allow orthopaedic surgeons practising in under-served or low-volume areas to identify patients who may be at greater risk of developing complications. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(2):174–181

Recent studies have described safe outcomes for short-stays in the hospital after total shoulder arthroplasty. The purpose of this study is to identify pre-operative and operative risk factors for hospital admissions exceeding 24 hours. The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database was queried from 2006 to 2016 for the current procedural terminology (CPT) billing code related to total shoulder arthroplasty. Patients were then grouped as either having a length of stay (LOS) equal to or less than 24 hours or greater than 24 hours. Patients admitted to the hospital prior to the day of surgery were excluded. Patient demographics, co-morbidities, and operative time were then analyzed as risk factors for a hospital stay exceeding 24 hours. Pre-operative co-morbidities included body mass index (BMI), diabetes, smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congestive heart failure (CHF), hypertension, dialysis, chronic steroid or immunosuppressant use, bleeding disorders, and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Classification. Univariate and multivariate analyses were then performed to identify risk factors associated with 30-day readmission. 14,339 patients met inclusion criteria and 6,507 (45.3%) had a hospital LOS less than or equal to 24 hours. The mean length of hospitalization was 1.95 ± 1.88 days, the average age was 69 ± 9.7 years old, and 56.9% of the patients were female. Following a risk adjusted multivariate analysis, increasing age (odds ratio [OR], 1.03, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02–1.03), ASA classification (OR, 1.50, 95% CI, 1.41–1.60), diabetes (OR, 1.69, 95% CI, 1.43–1.99), COPD (OR, 1.35, 95% CI, 1.16–1.57), CHF (OR, 2.67, 95% CI, 1.34–5.33), dialysis (OR, 2.47, 95% CI, 1.28, 4.77), history of a bleeding disorder (OR, 1.50, 95% CI, 1.20–1.88), or increasing operative time (OR, 1.01, 95% CI, 1.01–1.01) were identified as independent risk factors for hospital lengths of stay exceeding 24 hours. Male gender was identified as a protective factor for prolonged hospitalization (OR, 0.50, 95% CI, 0.46–0.53). This study identifies patient demographics, co-morbidities, and operative-relative risk factors that are associated with increased risk for a prolonged hospitalization following total shoulder arthroplasty. Female gender, increasing age, ASA classification, operative time, or a history of diabetes, COPD, CHF, or history of a bleeding disorder are risk factors hospitalizations exceeding 24 hours

We compared six patients with a mean age of 70 years (49 to 80) with severe bilateral, painful glenohumeral joint destruction who underwent a single-stage bilateral total shoulder replacement, with eight patients of mean age 61 years (22 to 89) who underwent bilateral total shoulder replacement in two stages, at a mean interval of 18 months (6 to 43). The overall function, pain and strength improved significantly in both groups. The subjective shoulder value, relative Constant score, active external rotation and the strength were improved significantly more in the single-stage group. Active elevation, abduction and overall function improved, significantly more in the single-stage group. Both the total duration of hospitalisation and the time off work per shoulder were substantially shorter in the single-stage group. The overall rate of complication was lower in the single-stage group. Our findings indicated that single-stage bilateral total shoulder replacement yielded significantly better clinical results with shorter hospitalisation and rehabilitation than staged replacement, and was not associated with any increase in complications

Aims. The aim of this study is to evaluate the change in incidence rate of shoulder arthroplasty, indications, and surgeon volume trends associated with these procedures between January 2003 and April 2021 in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. Methods. A total of 1,545 patients between 2005 and 2021 were analyzed. Patients operated on between 2003 and 2004 were excluded due to a lack of electronic records. Overall, 84.1% of the surgeries (n = 1,299) were performed by two fellowship-trained upper limb surgeons, with the remainder performed by one of the 14 orthopaedic surgeons working in the province. Results. Total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) was the most frequent procedure (32.17%; n = 497), followed by stemmed hemiarthroplasty (SHA) (27.7%; n = 428). The most frequent indication for primary shoulder arthroplasty was degenerative osteoarthritis (58.1%; n = 882), followed by acute proximal humerus fracture in 15.11% (n = 245), and rotator cuff arthropathy in 14.18% (n = 220). The overall rate of revision was 7.7% (2.8% to 11.2%). The number of TSAs and reverse shoulder arthroplasties (RSAs) has been increasing since 2016. The amount of revision cases is proportional to the number of operations performed in the same year throughout the study period. Conclusion. The incidence of shoulder arthroplasty in the Maritime Provinces has increased over the last 16 years. Revision rates are similar the those found in other large database registries. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty prevalence has increased since 2016. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2023;4(8):567–572

The August 2024 Shoulder & Elbow Roundup. 360. looks at: Comparing augmented and nonaugmented locking-plate fixation for proximal humeral fractures in the elderly; Elevated five-year mortality following shoulder arthroplasty for fracture; Total intravenous anaesthesia with propofol reduces discharge times compared with inhaled general anaesthesia in shoulder arthroscopy: a randomized controlled trial; The influence of obesity on outcomes following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair; Humeral component version has no effect on outcomes following reverse total shoulder arthroplasty: a prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial; What is a meaningful improvement after total shoulder arthroplasty by implant type, preoperative diagnosis, and sex?; The safety of corticosteroid injection prior to shoulder arthroplasty: a systematic review; Mortality and subsequent fractures of patients with olecranon fractures compared to other upper limb osteoporotic fractures

Although few published papers assess the results of revision total shoulder replacement for painful hemi-arthroplasty with a functional rotator cuff, surgical outcome is accepted as being poor. Our experience suggests that results are poor if a well-fixed humeral stem is revised to correct version, and if a non-functional rotator cuff is not alternatively managed. We identified fifteen patients with painful hemi-arthroplasty and a suspected functional rotator cuff that underwent revision total shoulder replacement at Wrightington hospital over a ten year period. The aetiology comprised osteoarthritis (seven), inflammatory arthritis (five), trauma (two) and avascular necrosis (one). The average time interval to revision surgery was 44.5 months. Humeral head size was up-sized in two and down-sized in seven cases at revision surgery. Three cases underwent iliac crest autografting for glenoid deficiency. Four cases underwent humeral stem revision for incorrect version. The average surgical time for primary total shoulder replacement at Wrightington hospital is 80 minutes while the average time for these revision total shoulder replacements was 105 minutes. Four patients had an unsatisfactory outcome according to Neer’s criteria due to an intra-operative greater tuberosity fracture (one), an intra-operative humeral shaft fracture (one) and a non-functional rotator cuff (two), one of which was revised to an extended head prosthesis with good outcome. Surgical time for revision and primary total shoulder replacement did not differ significantly if humeral stem revision or glenoid augmentation was not indicated. Oversized humeral head components may cause pain due to overstuffing the joint and soft tissues. Revision total shoulder replacement for hemi-arthroplasty with incorrect prosthetic version cannot guarantee an improved outcome. Significant glenoid deficiencies can be effectively managed by iliac crest bone grafting at revision total shoulder replacement. Rotator cuff deficient patients should be managed with alternative prostheses

The infected total shoulder arthroplasty is not a frequent finding at the present time, the necessity of treating this complication may become more urgent with the continually increasing number of arthroplasty procedures performed. From 1992 till the beginning of 2005, eleven patients were treated for infected total shoulder arthroplasty. An acute infection occurred in one patient (9 %), subacute in three (27 %) and late in seven patients (64 %). The average period between the primary operation and infection manifestation was 19.3 months. The group of 181 patients operated on for shoulder replacement between 1992 and 2005 was evaluated, and a deep infection of total shoulder arthroplasty was found in 11 patients (2.2 %). An antibiotic therapy alone was sufficient to eradicate the infeciton in only 20 % of the infected patients, but these showed good Constant scores (average, 42 points). Revision surgery, debridement and irrigation drainage had a low success rate (33 %) and good Constant scores (average, 45 points) in the cured patients. A two-stage exchange was 100 % successful but had a poor outcome, with an average Constant score of 26 points. However, a two-stage exchange involving a spacer had both 100 % success rate and a good outcome with an average Constant score of 49 points. On statistical evaluation using the unpaired t-test, there was a significant difference in the Constant scores (T 4.35 p=0.005) between the patients undergoing exchange arthroplasty with (n=40) and without (n=4) the spacer. Poor function scores after resection arthroplasty are not surprising, because a sharp residual proximal humerus is likely to irritate soft tissues and, in addition, it is not possible to reconstruct a rotator cuff to match it. Comparing the results of one-stage with two-stage reimplantation is a complex issue. Attention should be paid to a relationship between the methods routinely used to treat an infected total shoulder arthroplasty and those preferred by the given hospital for treatment of other joints. If the therapy is well established in that hospital and gives good long-term results, it is optimal to use it also for the treatment of infected total shoulder arthroplasty. The method of treating infected total shoulder arthroplasty is not different from other big joint therapies. The use of a spacer will allow us to remodel soft tissues satisfactorily even after extensive debridement. The functional results of treatment involving a spacer are significantly better

Total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) and Reverse Total shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) are two of the most performed shoulder operations today. Traditionally postoperative rehabilitation included a period of immobilisation, protecting the joint and allowing time for soft tissue healing. This immobilisation period may significantly impact a patient's quality of life (Qol)and ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL's). This period of immobilisation could be safely avoided, accelerating return to function and improving postoperative QoL. This systematic review examines the safety of early mobilisation compared to immobilisation after shoulder arthroplasty focusing on outcomes at one year. Methods. A systematic review was performed as per the PRISMA guidelines. Results on functional outcome and shoulder range of motion were retrieved. Six studies were eligible for inclusion, resulting in 719 patients, with arthroplasty performed on 762 shoulders, with information on mobilisation protocols on 736 shoulders (96.6%) and 717 patients (99.7%). The patient cohort comprised 250 males (34.9%) and 467 females (65.1%). Of the patients that successfully completed follow-up, 81.5% underwent RSA (n = 600), and 18.4% underwent TSA (n = 136). Overall, 262 (35.6%) patients underwent early postoperative mobilisation, and 474 shoulders were (64.4%) immobilised for a length of time. Immobilised patients were divided into three subgroups based on the period of immobilisation: three, four, or six weeks. There were 201 shoulders (27.3%) immobilised for three weeks, 77 (10.5%) for four weeks and 196 (26.6%) for six weeks. Five of the six manuscripts found no difference between clinical outcomes at one year when comparing early active motion versus immobilisation after RSA or TSA. Early mobilisation is a safe postoperative rehabilitation pathway following both TSA and RSA. This may lead to an accelerated return to function and improved quality of life in the postoperative period

Total shoulder replacement is a successful procedure for degenerative or some inflammatory diseases of the shoulder. However, fixation of the glenoid seems to be the main weakness with a high rate of loosening. The results using all-polyethylene components have been better than those using metal-backed components. We describe our experience with 35 consecutive total shoulder replacements using a new metal-backed glenoid component with a mean follow-up of 75.4 months (48 to 154). Our implant differs from others because of its mechanism of fixation. It has a convex metal-backed bone interface and the main stabilising factor is a large hollow central peg. The patients were evaulated with standard radiographs and with the Constant Score, the Simple Shoulder Test and a visual analogue scale. All the scores improved and there was no loosening, no polyethylene-glenoid disassembly and no other implant-related complications. We conclude that a metal-backed glenoid component is a good option in total shoulder replacement with no worse results than of those using a cemented all-polyethylene prosthesis

There are no long-term published results on the survival of a third-generation cemented total shoulder replacement. We describe a clinical and radiological study of the Aequalis total shoulder replacement for a minimum of ten years. Between September 1996 and May 1998, 39 consecutive patients underwent a primary cemented total shoulder replacement using this prosthesis. Data were collected prospectively on all patients each year, for a minimum of ten years, or until death or failure of the prosthesis. At a follow-up of at least ten years, 12 patients had died with the prosthesis intact and two had emigrated, leaving 25 available for clinical review. Of these, 13 had rheumatoid arthritis and 12 osteoarthritis. One refused radiological review leaving 24 with fresh radiographs. Survivorship at ten years was 100% for the humeral component and 92% for the glenoid component. The incidence of lucent lines was low. No humeral component was thought to be at risk and only two glenoid components. The osteoarthritic group gained a mean 65° in forward flexion and their Constant score improved by a mean 41.4 points (13 to 55). The rheumatoid group gained a mean of 24° in flexion and their Constant score improved by 29.4 points. This difference may have been due to failure of the rotator cuff in 75% of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Thus a third-generation total shoulder replacement gives an excellent result in patients with osteoarthritis and an intact rotator cuff. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have a 75% risk of failure of the rotator cuff at ten years

Aims. To systematically review the predominant complication rates and changes to patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) following osteochondral allograft (OCA) transplantation for shoulder instability. Methods. This systematic review, following PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO, involved a comprehensive literature search using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus. Key search terms included “allograft”, “shoulder”, “humerus”, and “glenoid”. The review encompassed 37 studies with 456 patients, focusing on primary outcomes like failure rates and secondary outcomes such as PROMs and functional test results. Results. A meta-analysis of primary outcomes across 17 studies revealed a dislocation rate of 5.1% and an increase in reoperation rates from 9.3% to 13.7% post-publication bias adjustment. There was also a noted rise in conversion to total shoulder arthroplasty and incidence of osteoarthritis/osteonecrosis over longer follow-up periods. Patient-reported outcomes and functional tests generally showed improvement, albeit with notable variability across studies. A concerning observation was the consistent presence of allograft resorption, with rates ranging from 33% to 80%. Comparative studies highlighted similar efficacy between distal tibial allografts and Latarjet procedures in most respects, with some differences in specific tests. Conclusion. OCA transplantation presents a promising treatment option for shoulder instability, effectively addressing both glenoid and humeral head defects with favourable patient-reported outcomes. These findings advocate for the inclusion of OCA transplantation in treatment protocols for shoulder instability, while also emphasizing the need for further high-quality, long-term research to better understand the procedure’s efficacy profile. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(7):570–580

This study was performed to review the safety and outcome of total shoulder replacements in patients who are ≥ 80 years of age. A total of 50 total shoulder replacements in 44 patients at a mean age of 82 years (80 to 89) were studied. Their health and shoulder status, the operation and post-operative course were analysed, including pain, movement, patient satisfaction, medical and surgical complications, radiographs, the need for revision surgery, and implant and patient survival. A total of 27 patients had an ASA classification of III or IV and medical abnormalities were common. Of the 13 shoulders with bony deficiency of the glenoid, nine required grafting. The duration of hospital stay was prolonged and blood transfusions were common. There were no peri-operative deaths. The mean follow-up was for 5.5 years (2 to 12). Pain was significantly reduced (p < 0.001) and movement improved in active elevation and both external and internal rotation (p < 0.001). Using the Neer scale for assessing outcome, 40 (80%) shoulders had an excellent or satisfactory result. There were medical or surgical complications in 17 cases. Four shoulders developed radiological evidence of loosened glenoid components, and three of these had a poor outcome. Three other shoulders required revision, two for instability. By the time of this review 39 of the patients had died from unrelated causes at a mean of 7.5 years (0.8 to 16.4) after surgery. Total shoulder replacement is a relatively effective treatment in this elderly group of patients. However, there is a requirement for more intense patient care in the peri-operative period, and non-fatal medical or surgical complications are common. Most of these elderly patients will have a comfortable functional shoulder for the rest of their lives

Purpose. Total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) has become a successful treatment option for degenerative shoulder disease. With the increasing incidence in primary TSA procedures during the last decades, strategies to improve implant longevity become more relevant. Implant failure is mainly associated with mechanical or biological causes. Chronic inflammation as a response to wear particle exposure is regarded as a main biological mechanism leading to implant failure. Metal ions released by fretting and corrosion at modular taper connections of orthopedic implants can cause cell-mediated hypersensitivity reactions and might lead to aseptic loosening. Modularity is also commonly used in total shoulder replacement. However, little is known about metal ion exposure in patients following TSA. The objective of this study was to determine in-vivo blood metal ion levels in patients after TSA and to compare blood metal ion levels to control subjects without metal implants. Methods. A total of 19 patients with anatomical total shoulder prosthesis (TSA group) and 20 patients with reverse total shoulder prosthesis (RSA group) who underwent unilateral total shoulder replacement at our hospital between March 2011 and December 2014 with no other metal implant or history of environmental metal ion exposure were recruited for analysis of blood metal ion concentrations of cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr) and titanium (Ti) at a mean follow-up period of 2.3 years (0.7–4.3). For comparison of metal ion concentrations blood samples were obtained in a healthy control group of 23 subjects without metal implants. Ethical approval and informed consent of each patient were obtained for this study. Results. Median cobalt ion levels were 0.14µg/l (range 0.03–0.48) in the TSA group, 0.18 µg/l (0.10–0.66) in the RSA group and 0.11µg/l (0.03–0.19) in the control goup. Median chromium ion levels were 0.34µg/l (0.09–1.26) in the TSA group, 0.48µg/l (0.17–2.41) in the RSA group and 0.14µg/l (0.04–0.99) in the control goup. Median titanium ion levels were 0.86µg/l (0.10–1.64) in the TSA group, 1.31µg/l (0.75–4.52) in the RSA group and 0.62µg/l (0.32–2.14) in the control goup. There was a statistically significant difference in chromium and titanium ion concentrations between both study groups and the control group (see figure 1–3). Conclusion. Patients with unilateral total shoulder replacement demonstrated elevated blood metal ion concentrations. Median blood metal ion levels were higher in the RSA group compared to the TSA group, which could be attributable to the modularity of the reverse total shoulder system. However, overall metal ion levels were relatively low compared to those seen in patients with metal-on-metal total hip replacements. The role of local metal ion exposure in the development of aseptic loosening or hypersensitivity reactions associated with total shoulder arthroplasty should be further investigated. For figures/tables, please contact authors directly.