Role of Subscapularis Repair on Muscle Force Requirements with Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty.

Concomitant repair of the subscapularis with reverse shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) is controversial. To evaluate the biomechanical impact of subscapularis repair with rTSA, a cadaveric shoulder controller quantified the muscle forces required to elevate the arm during scapular abduction with the elbow flexed at 90°. The results of this study demonstrate that concomitant subscapularis repair with rTSA creates a biomechanically unfavorable condition during arm elevation. Specifically, repair of the subscapularis significantly increased the force required by the deltoid and posterior rotator cuff and also significantly increased the joint reaction force relative to when the subscapularis was not repaired. These results also demonstrated that both the 42 mm Grammont and 42 mm Equinoxe® rTSA prostheses significantly decreased the mean force required by the posterior rotator cuff and also significantly decreased the mean joint reaction force over the range of motion relative to the native joint with a rotator cuff tear (supraspinatus). As the posterior rotator cuff is often compromised in patients undergoing rTSA, patients may not be able to sustain these elevated forces in the infraspinatus and teres minor required to counteract the adduction and internal rotation moments generated by the subscapularis during activities of daily living. Similarly, the elevated posterior deltoid force and joint reaction loads could be deleterious to the long-term life of the prosthesis and can also increase the risk of loosening and fractures. For all these reasons, rTSA functional outcomes may be compromised if the subscapularis is repaired.

Influence of Morbid Obesity on Surgical Outcomes in Robotic-Assisted Gynecologic Surgery.

Objective: The aim of this research was to estimate the impact of body mass index (BMI) on surgical outcomes in patients undergoing robotic-assisted gynecologic surgery. Materials and Methods: This study was a retrospective review of prospectively collected cohort data for a consecutive series of patients undergoing gynecologic robotic surgery in a single institution. BMI, expressed as kg/m2, was abstracted from the medical charts of all patients undergoing robotic hysterectomy. Data on estimated blood loss (EBL), hemoglobin (Hb) drop, procedure time, length of hospital stay, uterine weight, pain-medication use, and complications were also extracted. Results: Two hundred and eighty-one patients underwent robotic operations. Types of procedures were total hysterectomy with or without adnexal excision, and total hysterectomies with lymphadenectomies. Eighty-four patients who were classified as morbidly obese (BMI>35) were compared with 197 patients who had a BMI of<35 (nonmorbidly obese). For patients with BMI<35, and BMI>35, the mean BMI was 27.1 and 42.5 kg/m2 (p<0.05), mean age was 49 and 50 (p=0.45), mean total operative time was 222 and 266 minutes (p<0.05), console time 115 and 142 minutes (p<0.05), closing time (from undocking until port-site fascia closure) was 30 and 41 minutes (p<0.05), EBL was 67 and 79 mL (p=0.27), Hb drop was 1.6 and 1.4 (p=0.28), uterine weight was 196.2 and 227 g (p=0.52), pain-medication use 93.7 and 111 mg of morphine (p=0.46), and mean length of stay was 1.42 and 1.43 days (0.9), all respectively. No statistically significant difference was noted between the 2 groups for EBL, Hb drop, LOS, uterine weight, pain-medication use, or complications. The only statistically significant difference was seen in operating times and included docking, console, closing, and procedure times. There were no perioperative mortalities. Morbidity occurred in 24 patients (8%). In the morbidly obese group, there were 6 complications (7%) and, in the nonmorbidly obese group, there were 18 complications (9%). Conclusions: Morbid obesity does not appear to be associated with an increased risk of morbidity in patients undergoing robotically assisted gynecologic surgery. Morbid obesity is associated with increased procedure time, but otherwise appears to have no difference in outcomes. Robotic surgery offered an ideal approach, allowing minimally invasive surgery in these technically challenging patients, with no significant increase in morbidity. J GYNECOL SURG 30:81).