While reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) has shown successful outcomes for a variety of shoulder pathologies, postoperative scapula fractures continue to be one of the most common complications limiting outcomes with rates reported between 0.8–7.2%. Previous literature has shown that postoperative scapula fractures have a deleterious effect on elevation and outcomes scores, however these studies were all performed at short-term follow-up from the fracture. It has also not been shown whether postoperative scapular fractures increases risk of revision surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of postoperative scapula fracture on the outcomes following RSA at minimum 1 year follow-up from the fracture. A retrospective, case-control study of 25 nonoperatively treated postoperative scapula fractures following RSA in a single surgeon's practice was analyzed with minimum 2 year follow-up from surgery and 1 year follow-up from fracture. Patients with postoperative scapula fractures were matched 1: 4 to a control group for age, sex, total follow-up time, indication for surgery, and primary versus revision surgery. Outcome measures including revision surgery, ASES score, and change in range of motion were compared between fracture cases and controls. Radiographic features including fracture location (acromion vs. scapular spine) and healing of fracture was also analyzed with respect to outcome.Background:
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Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) has proven to be a useful tool to manage a variety of pathologic conditions. However, inconsistent improvement in motion occurs in patients who have undergone RSA for revision shoulder arthroplasty, proximal humeral fracture sequelae, and treatment of infection. Additional factors that have been suggested to produce poor postoperative range of motion (ROM) may be associated with patient's factors such as poor preoperative range of motion and surgical factors such as inability to lengthen the arm. The purpose of this study was to analyze multiple factors which may be responsible in predicting motion after RSA. It is our hypothesis that intraoperative ROM is most predictive of postoperative ROM. Between February 2003 and April 2011 566 patients (225 male and 341 female) treated with a RSA for 1) acute proximal humeral fracture (11), 2) Sequeala of proximal humeral fractures (31), 3) cuff tear arthropathy (278), 4) massive cuff tear without arthritis (78), 5) failed shoulder arthroplasty (168) and 6) infection (29) were evaluated with preoperative range of motion, intraoperative range of motion and range of motion at a minimum of 2-year postoperative follow up. A single observer recorded intraoperative flexion (IFF) in 30° increments. Preoperative and postoperative ROM was recorded by patient video or a previously validated patient performed outcome measure. Preoperative diagnosis was confirmed by radiographic and intraoperative information. 477 patients had preoperative and postoperative radiographs available for analysis of acromial-greater tuberosity distance change (AGT) which was utilized to calculate arm lengthening. A regression analysis was then performed to determine which factors were most influential in predicting postoperative active range of motion.Introduction:
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