ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Reverse shoulder arthroplasty normally has adequate functional outcomes in patients with cuff tear arthropathy. The present study aimed to investigate the midterm clinical outcomes of reverse shoulder arthroplasty in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: Between July 2014 and May 2016, reverse shoulder arthroplasty was performed in 14 rheumatic shoulders with joint destruction and rotator cuff tears. The range of motion, Constant score, and Shoulder36, which is a patient-reported outcome measure, were compared preoperatively and postoperatively. The prevalence of subscapular notching, subscapular osteophytes, postoperative fractures, and stress shielding of the humeral stem were evaluated by X-ray. RESULTS: Range of motion significantly improved from 77 to 122 degrees in flexion and from 67 to 111 degrees in abduction at four years. The Constant score significantly improved from 27 to 62, and each domain of Shoulder36 also significantly increased at four years. There was no dislocation, infection, or loosening of the prosthesis. Three shoulders presented scapular notching, and three cemented humeral stems showed stress shielding in the proximal humeral cortical bone. CONCLUSION: Reverse shoulder arthroplasty performed in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis not only decreased the pain and improved the function of the shoulder joint but also significantly improved patients' health and activity of daily living in midterm results.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Congenital pseudoarthrosis of the tibia (CPT) is one of the most difficult conditions to treat. METHODS: Five girls and 3 boys with CPT were treated by vascularized fibular grafting (VFG). The average age at VFG was 7.0 years (range: 1.9-11.5 years) with an average follow-up term of 11.7 years (range: 4.9-19.6 years). Five of the children had undergone multiple operations before VFG, while the other 3 had no such history. RESULTS: Bone consolidation was obtained in all cases after an average term of 6.6 months (range: 4-10 months); this was with the first VFG in 7 cases but with the second VFG in 1 case. Complication of stress fracture and ankle pain occurred in 1 and 3 cases, respectively, only in cases undergoing multiple operations. Leg-length discrepancy was more prominent in the patients with multiple previous operations (mean: 7.5 cm), than in the cases with no prior surgery (mean: 0.7 cm). CONCLUSION: The long-term results of VFG for CPT were excellent, especially in the cases, with no prior surgery. VFG should be considered as a primary treatment option for CPT.
