A New "Trapdoor technique" for Fixation of Displaced Greater Tuberosity Fractures of the Shoulder.

Isolated greater tuberosity fractures of the proximal humerus are frequently displaced posteriorly and superiorly by the pull of the rotator cuff. This displacement can lead to a decline in function if left untreated. Traditionally these fractures have been treated surgically using screw fixation. On occasions this metalwork can remain prominent and potentially cause impingement. We present a new surgical "trapdoor" technique for fixation of isolated greater tuberosity fractures which can avoid these problems and be utilised either open or arthroscopically. Following reduction of the isolated greater tuberosity fragment, two double loaded metal screw in anchors are placed through stab incisions in the rotator cuff at the bone-tendon interface and secured into the humeral head. A suture from each of the anchors is tied together to secure the tuberosity fragment proximally and a suture-less anchor is inserted distal to the fracture site forming an inverted triangle. The remaining sutures are placed through the suture-less anchor and tensioned independently. As the sutures are tied and snugged tight, the distal aspect of the fracture reduces, thus closing the "trapdoor." This is a newly described versatile technique that can be used regardless of the size and comminution of the tuberosity fragment and can be performed either open or arthroscopically. It avoids the problems of metalwork prominence and irritation and the use of the suture-less anchor allows independent tensioning of the sutures to ensure adequate fracture reduction.

Arthroscopic suprascapular neurotomy for the painful irreparable rotator cuff tear.

BACKGROUND: Massive irreparable rotator cuff tears are becoming increasingly difficult to manage. METHODS: Patients were considered for treatment if they had a painful shoulder in the presence of a compensated cuff tear. All patients had radiological evidence of a massive irreparable cuff tear and underwent suprascapular neurotomy, arthroscopically. RESULTS: There were 15 males and 25 females with a mean age of 74 years (range 59 years to 88 years). The mean pre-operative Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) in all patients was 17.7, with a mean pre-operative visual analogue score (VAS) of 8.0. The mean post-operative OSS was 30.8 [27.42-34.18 = confidence interval (CI) 95%] with a mean VAS of 3.6 (2.64-4.56 CI 95%) at the 3-month (short-term) period (n = 32). The medium-term (1-year) OSS and VAS had improved to 33.6 (32.27-34.93 = CI 95%) and 3.7 (0-8.39 CI 95%) respectively (n = 26). The difference pre- and postoperatively at 12 months was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Patients who underwent biceps tenotomy at the time of surgery had a less significant improvement in their VAS and OSS. CONCLUSIONS: Suprascapular neurotomy can afford medium-term benefit in over two-thirds of the patients who would otherwise have undergone reverse polarity shoulder replacements. We consider that this is a reproducible technique.