Patients over 70 years old have subclinical or impending rotator cuff dysfunction, raising concern about TSA in this population. The purpose of this study is to examine whether reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) should be considered for the treatment of glenohumeral osteoarthritis in the presence of an intact rotator cuff (GHOA+IRC in patients older than 70 years of age.

Twenty-five elderly (>70 years) patients at least one year status-post RTSA for GHOA+IRC were matched via age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, and whether the procedure involved the dominant extremity with 25 GHOA+IRC patients who received anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). Standardised outcome measures, range of motion, and treatment costs were compared between the two groups. Treatment cost was assessed using implant and physical therapy costs as well as reimbursement.

Patients who received RTSA for GHO+IRC had significantly lower pre-operative active forward elevation (AFE, 69° vs. 98°, p <0.001) and experienced a greater change in AFE (p=0.01), but had equivalent AFE at final follow-up (140° vs. 142°, p=0.71). Outcomes were otherwise equivalent between groups with no differences. In both those patients who underwent TSA and those that underwent RTSA, significant improvements between pre-operative and final follow-up were seen in all standardised outcome measures and in AFE (p<0.001 in all cases). RTSA provided these outcomes at a cost savings of $2,025 in Medicare reimbursement due to decreased physical therapy costs.

In patients over the age of 70 with GHOA+IRC, RTSA provides similar improvement in clinical outcomes to TSA at a reduced cost while avoiding issues related to the potential for subclinical or impending rotator cuff dysfunction.

Purpose: Performing a labral repair alone in patients with recurrent anterior instability and a large glenoid defect has led to poor outcomes. We present a technique involving the use of iliac crest allograft inserted into the glenoid defect in athletes with recurrent anterior shoulder instability and large bony defects of the glenoid (> 25% of glenoid diameter) We hypothesized that restoring a near-normal glenoid structure would prevent further dislocations and that osseous union would be achieved

Method: All athletes with recurrent anterior shoulder instability and a large glenoid defect who underwent open anterior shoulder stabilization and glenoid reconstruction with iliac crest allograft were prospectively followed over a three year period. Pre-operatively, a detailed history and physical exam was obtained along with radiographs, a CT scan, and magnetic resonance imaging of the affected shoulder. All patients also complete the Simple Shoulder Test (SST) and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) evaluation forms pre – and post-operatively. A CT scan was again obtained 6 months post-operatively to assess osseous union of the graft, and the patient again when through a physical exam in addition to completing the SST, ASES, and Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI) forms.

Results: Nine patients (all male) were followed for an average of 16 months (4 – 36 months) and had a mean age of 24.4 years. All patients exhibited a negative apprehension/ relocation test and full shoulder strength at final follow-up. Eight of nine patients had achieved osseous union at six months (88.9%). ASES scores improved from 64.3 to 96.7, and SST scores improved from 66.7 to 100. Average post-operative WOSI scores were 94%.

Conclusion: The use of iliac crest allograft provides a safe and clinically useful alternative compared to previously described procedures for recurrent shoulder instability in the face of glenoid deficiency

Purpose: This study sought to examine return to sports in athletes younger than 25 following ACL reconstruction with either patellar tendon (PT) or hamstring (HS) autografts using a matched-pairs case-control experimental design.

Method: Twenty-three matched pairs were obtained based on gender (56.5% Female), age (18.3±2.5yrs PT vs.17.6±2.6 HS), and length of follow-up (4.7±2.1yrs PT vs. 4.2±1.6 HS). All patients reported participating in very strenuous (soccer, basketball etc.) or strenuous (skiing, tennis etc.) sporting activity 4–7 times/ week prior to their knee injury. Outcomes other than return to play included the IKDC, SAS, ADLS, SF-36, knee range of motion, laxity, and hop/jump testing.

Results: Most patients in both groups were able to participate in very strenuous or strenuous sporting activity at follow-up [18 (78.3%) PT vs. 19 (82.6%) HS]. However, only 13 (56.5%) of the patellar tendon subjects and 10 (43.5%) of the hamstrings patients were able to return to pre-injury activity levels in terms of frequency and type of sport (p=.63). Hamstrings patients showed higher ADLS (p< .01) and SAS (p< .01) scores and better restoration of extension (p< 0.05).

Conclusion: While autograft and allograft patellar tendon ACL reconstruction exhibit similar clinical outcomes in high-demand individuals, autogenous hamstring grafts may lead to better subjective outcomes in young patients who participate in very strenuous levels of activity. Both graft options only allowed approximately half of the injured athletes to return to their previous level of sporting activity.

Purpose: There are few reports in the literature detailing the arthroscopic treatment of multidirectional instability of the shoulder. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of arthroscopic methods in the treatment of athletes with symptomatic multidirectional instability of the shoulder.

Method: Forty patients (43 shoulders) with multidi-rectional instability of the shoulder were treated via arthrscopic means and were evaluated at a mean of 33.5 months post-operatively. The mean patient age was 19.1 years (range 14 to 39). There were 24 male patients and 16 female patients. Patients were evaluated with the ASES and WOSI scoring systems. Stability, strength, and range of motion were evaluated with patient-reported scales.

Results: The mean ASES score postoperatively was 91.4 out of 100. The mean WOSI post-operative percentage score was 91.1 out of 100. Ninety-one percent of patients had full or satisfactory range of motion, 98% had normal or slightly decreased strength, and 86% of patients were able to return to their sport with little or no limitation.

Conclusion: Arthroscopic methods can provide an effective treatment for symptomatic multidirectional instability in an athletic population.

Purpose: This study sought to compare clinical outcomes and return to activity in high-demand patients following ACL reconstruction with either autograft or allograft patellar tendon using a matched-pairs case-control experimental design.

Method: Nineteen matched pairs were obtained based on gender (36.8 % female), age (27.9±8.1yrs autograft versus 28.1±9.1 allograft), and length of follow-up (9.1±2.7yrs autograft versus 10.3±2.6 allograft). All patients reported participating in very strenuous (soccer, basketball etc.) or strenuous (skiing, tennis etc.) sporting activity 4–7 times/ week prior to their knee injury. Patient-reported outcomes included the IKDC Subjective Knee Form, Activities of Daily Living (ADLS) and Sports Activity Scales (SAS) of the Knee Outcome Survey and SF-36. Range of motion, laxity, and functional strength were also assessed.

Results: There were no significant differences in patient-reported or clinical outcome measures. Sixteen (84.2%) subjects undergoing autograft reconstruction and 12 (63.2%) subjects reconstructed with allograft were able to participate in strenuous or very strenuous sporting activity at follow-up (p=.34). Similar percentages of subjects were able to return to their pre-injury level of sports activity [12 (63.2%) autograft vs. 11 (57.9%) allograft; p=1.0]. Fewer subjects undergoing reconstruction with autograft reported instability with very strenuous activity [5 (26.3%) autograft vs. 12 (63.2%) allograft], but this difference was not significant (p=.07).

Conclusion: While autograft and allograft patellar tendon ACL reconstruction exhibit similar clinical outcomes in high-demand individuals, autogenous patellar tendon grafts may be indicated to allow patients to return to very strenuous levels of activity.

The purpose of this prospective randomised clinical trial is to examine the effect of acromioplasty on the outcome of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Patients included individuals that were referred for assessment after six months of failed conservative management. Following informed consent patients were randomly assigned to receive arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with or without acromioplasty. The surgeon was not blinded to the type of procedure; however, the researcher who performed the follow-up evaluations and the patient was blinded to the surgical protocol. Subacromial decompression (acromioplasty) was performed with release of the coracoacromial ligament off the anterior undersurface of the acromion. The procedure for arthroscopic cuff repair without acromioplasty followed the protocol of arthroscopic cuff repair with acromioplasty, without division of the coracoacromial ligament or resection of the acromion. Both groups experienced the same post-operative rehabilitation protocol. Wound healing and active and passive range of motion were assessed and recorded at six to eight weeks post-operatively. Subsequent post-operative visits occurred at three, six, twelve, eighteen and twenty-four months and included documentation of patient range of motion, patient derived WORC scores (1) and complete ASES scores.

Preliminary results suggest, based on a one-tailed t-test, patients that receive a rotator cuff repair with acromioplasty demonstrate a statistically significant improvement (< 0.05) in Quality of Life, based on WORC and ASES scores, compared to the non-acromioplasty group. To date, three patients in the non-acromioplasty group required a revision surgery; two of these patients had a Type III acromion.

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with arthroscopic acromioplasty in the treatment of full thickness rotator cuff tears is recommended for patients with a Type III acromion.