ABSTRACT
Background: The Latarjet procedure was developed for the treatment of anterior shoulder instability in young, high-demand patients with attritional glenoid bone loss, whose risk of redislocation following primary dislocation may exceed 90%. Coracoid graft osteolysis and prominent screws are commonly observed in late computed tomography (CT) scans of patients who re-present following the procedure, but the clinical relevance of osteolysis in the overall Latarjet cohort is undetermined. We aimed to evaluate clinical and radiological outcomes in patients who underwent the Latarjet procedure, and to determine if severe coracoid graft osteolysis compromised clinical outcomes. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent the open Latarjet procedure. Patients were invited via an e-questionnaire that contained a Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI), and queried about redislocation and reoperation since index surgery. Preoperative glenoid bone loss was calculated on CT using the best-fit circle method. Osteolysis was graded (0, screw head buried in graft; 1, screw head exposed; 2, threads exposed; 3, complete resorption/severe osteolysis) at the level of the proximal and distal screws respectively, on axial CT scans performed ≥ 12 months postoperatively. Results: Between 2011 and 2022, a single surgeon performed 442 Latarjet procedures. One hundred fifty eight patients responded to the questionnaire at median (interquartile range [IQR]) 44 (27-70) months postoperatively, among whom the median (IQR) WOSI score was 352 (142-666) points (0 = best, 2100 = worst). Recurrent anterior instability occurred in 3/158 (2%) patients. One patient required reoperation for this indication. Among patients who had CT scans ≥ 12 months postoperatively (median [IQR] 40 [29-69] months), 1 patient developed severe osteolysis around both screws (WOSI = 90), 17/62 (27%) patients developed severe osteolysis around 1 screw, all of which were proximal (median [IQR] WOSI = 235 [135-644]), and 44/62 (71%) patients did not develop severe osteolysis around either screw (median [IQR] WOSI = 487 [177-815]). There were no statistically significant differences in WOSI scores between groups based on the presence of severe osteolysis. Conclusion: The Latarjet is reliable procedure that has a low rate of redislocation and reoperation. Severe coracoid graft osteolysis occurs with time, and always affects the proximal graft first. The presence of severe osteolysis did not compromise clinical outcomes.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Ultrasound is commonly used to assess rotator cuff repair (RCR), but no standardized criterion exists to characterize the tendon. PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to (1) develop content validity for ultrasound specific criteria to grade the postoperative appearance of a tendon after RCR, (2) assess the reliability of the criteria, and (3) assess the feasibility to use these assessments. METHODOLOGY: Following expert consultation and literature review for content validity, 2 scales were created: 1) the Fibrillar matrix, Echogenicity, Contour, Thickness, and Suture (FECTS) scale and 2) the Rotator Cuff Repair-Investigator Global Assessment (RCR-IGA). A prospective cohort study was undertaken on patients who had received a RCR and serial B-mode ultrasound images. Four raters assessed the 64-ultrasound images using the scales created in a blinded fashion using intraclass correlation coefficients. RESULTS: The FECTS scale was a composite score with 5 key parameters and the RCR-IGA scale was a 5-point global score. The intrarater reliability for the FECTS scale was excellent for the most experienced rater (0.92) and fair for the rater with no experience (0.72). The intrarater reliability for the RCR-IGA scale was excellent for 3 of the 4 raters (0.80-0.87) and fair when used by the least experienced rater (0.56). Inter-rater testing for all the FECTS scale parameters had excellent reliability (0.82-0.92) except for Fibrillar matrix (0.73). The average time to complete the FECTS scale per image was 23 seconds and 11 seconds for the RCR-IGA scale. CONCLUSION: The FECTS scale and the RCR-IGA scale are reliable tools to assess the ultrasonic appearance of the repaired rotator cuff tendon. The FECTS scale was more reliable for less experienced assessors. The RCR-IGA scale was easier, more time efficient and reliable for those with experience.
