Outcomes After Open Latarjet in Patients With or Without SLAP Lesions.

Background: Up to 20% of shoulders with anterior instability are associated with superior labrum anterior-posterior (SLAP) lesions, and they remain untreated after an open Latarjet procedure. SLAP lesions can be responsible for pain and feelings of instability in high-demand patients. Purpose/Hypothesis: The aim of this study was to compare the early functional outcomes and return to sport rates in athletes after the Latarjet procedure with versus without associated SLAP lesions. It was hypothesized that untreated SLAP lesions would not influence clinical results. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Inclusion criteria were athletes with anterior shoulder instability treated with Latarjet procedure, a minimum follow-up of 1 year, and an available preoperative computed tomography arthrogram. We recorded patient characteristics; type of sport; bone loss; Rowe, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE), and 11-item Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) scores; 5-point pain and satisfaction scores; reported apprehension; and return to sport. Patients with and without a preoperative type 5 SLAP lesion on imaging were compared. Results: Fifty patients were included (mean age, 22 ± 5 years [range, 16-36 years]; mean follow-up, 27 ± 9 months [range, 12-42 months]). Thirty-four patients practiced contact sports, including 20 rugby players. Twelve patients (24%) had a preoperative SLAP lesion. Groups with (+) and without (-) a SLAP lesion were comparable in terms of age, sex, number of instability episodes, type of sport, and glenoid and humeral bone loss. The SLAP+ group had significantly worse outcomes with a lower Rowe score (79 ± 23 vs 91 ± 15; P = .018) and painless rate (50% vs 77%; P = .04). There were no significant differences between the groups in SANE score (SLAP+ vs SLAP-: 80% vs 87%), QuickDASH score (8% vs 8%), return to sport (83% vs 91%), apprehension (79% vs 50%), and reported satisfaction. There was 1 episode of postoperative subluxation in each group. Conclusion: Patients who underwent an open Latarjet procedure with an associated SLAP tear more frequently reported postoperative pain than those without a SLAP lesion. Patients with untreated SLAP tears had significantly lower Rowe scores, although SANE score and return to sport were not significantly different between the groups.

Drain use can be avoided in reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Drains have demonstrated no clear benefits and some potentially harmful effects in hip and knee replacements. There is little evidence about the effects of its use in shoulder arthroplasty. We hypothesized that drain use would increase postoperative blood loss without reducing wound complications. METHODS: We included 103 reverse shoulder arthroplasties (RSA), 71 were operated for degenerative pathology, 32 due to a fracture. All complications were recorded. Hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Htc.) level were collected and compared to postoperative data. Length of hospitalization and volume output were also noted. RESULTS: 45 patients received a closed-suction drain. Patients with coagulopathy had significant higher bleeding and were excluded (p = 0.03). Patients operated for a fracture were older (80.1y.o vs 72.1 p < 0.01) and had higher blood drop (∆Hb p = 0.01; ∆Htc p = 0.03). There were neither differences between drain and control group in ∆Hb or ∆Htc in the degenerative RSA group (1.84+/-0.89 vs 1.68+/-0.84, p = 0.36; 5.78+/-2.89 vs 5.53+/-2.87 p = 0.50) nor in the fracture RSA group (2.65+/-0.94 vs 2.65+/-1.01, p = 0.90; 7.91+/-2.99 vs. 7.09+/-4.21, p = 0.56). There were neither differences in complications (degenerative p = 0.33; fracture p = 0.21). Drain use was related to a longer hospital stay in elective surgery (2.6 vs 1.8 days; p < 0.01). DISCUSSION: The rate of complication is similar between patients with and without drain use. Drain use after shoulder arthroplasty does not affect postoperative bleeding but increases the length of hospital stay. Drains seems to be an unnecessary intervention after RSA that may increase associated costs and can be safely abandoned. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III retrospective comparative study.

Computed tomography analysis of the relationship between the coronoid and the radial head.

BACKGROUND: The coronoid process is an important stabilizer of the elbow, and its anatomy has been extensively studied. However, data documenting the relationship of the coronoid relative to the radial head (RH) are limited. The latter is a good landmark for the surgeon when débriding or reconstructing the coronoid. This imaging-based study quantified the anatomic relationship between the coronoid and the proximal radius and ulna. METHODS: We investigated 80 cadaveric upper extremities (18 paired elbows) by 3-dimensional digital analysis of computed tomography data. After construction of a standardized coordinate system, the relationships between the coronoid, the anterior-most point of the RH, the deepest point of the articular surface of the RH, the top of the lesser sigmoid notch, and the deepest point of the guiding ridge of the trochlear notch were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean height of the tip of the coronoid was 36 ± 4 mm (range, 26-43 mm). The mean height of the anterior-most point of the RH was 40 ± 4 mm (range, 28-47 mm). The mean distance between the tip of the coronoid and the anterior-most point of the RH was 4.5 ± 1 mm (range, 2-10 mm). For paired elbows, the heights of the tip of the coronoid and the anterior-most point of the RH were similar between sides. CONCLUSION: This study described the relationship between the coronoid and RH. This information should prove useful when reconstructing a coronoid from a medial approach in the case of an intact RH. The difference in radiographic height between the tip of the coronoid and anterior RH in the normal elbow averages 5 mm. However, when we account for the normal cartilage thickness of the RH and coronoid, a 3- to 6-mm difference in height would be seen at surgery depending on whether the cartilage of the coronoid process is intact or removed. The distance between the tip of the coronoid and the anterior-most point of the RH is similar to the size of shavers used when débriding osteophytes during arthroscopy.

Median Sacral Artery Rupture as a Complication of Posterior-Only Approach of L4 Total En Bloc Spondilectomy: A Case Report.

CASE: A 6-year-old patient with Ewing sarcoma at L4 who was treated with total en bloc spondilectomy (TES) through a posterior-only approach. During the dissection of the anterior L4 body, there was uncontrollable bleeding from an unknown origin, which needed packing, massive transfusion, and urgent laparotomy. A median sacral artery (MSA) rupture was identified as the cause of this massive bleeding. Eventually, the patient was successfully stabilized. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first reported intraoperative bleeding of the MSA related to a lumbar TES through posterior-only approach. This life-threatening complication should be considered when planning for this type of surgery.