Suprascapular nerve injury after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty: correlation with screw out of vault penetration and functional situation: prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Baseplate screws have been suggested as a possible cause of suprascapular neuropathy after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. This study aims to investigate the association between screw penetration out of the vault, electromyographic study, and the clinical outcomes. METHODS: A total of 31 patients who underwent reverse total shoulder arthroplasty for cuff tear arthropathy were prospectively enrolled. They were followed up for a minimum of 24 months. All patients underwent computed tomography 6 months postoperatively to determine the extraosseous position of the screws (perforation of the second bone cortex and protrusion into the supra- or infraspinatus fossa). Electrodiagnostic evaluation was performed preoperatively and postoperatively to stablish any relation between cortex perforation of the screw and suprascapular nerve (SSN) injury. Clinical outcomes pre- and postoperatively (Constant score, ranges of motion, and visual analog scale) of patients with and without documented injury were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 14 patients (45.2%) had an abnormal preoperative SSN electrodiagnostic study (chronic or disuse injuries), and 6 patients (19.4%) had an abnormal postoperative study (acute injury). Of the 6 patients, 2 cases appeared over the pre-existing lesion and 4 appeared over an intact preoperative nerve, all of them affecting the infraspinatus branch of the SSN. Perforation of the second cortex was detected for 60% of superior screws and 40% of posterior screws. The mean lengths of the superior and posterior screws were 30 and 18.2 mm, respectively. Patients with screw perforation of the second cortex were assessed as having a high risk of nerve injury (40% vs. 9.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative SSN injuries do not have a significant clinical impact and do not predispose to an acute postoperative SSN lesion. The Constant score and visual analog scale score for patients with acute SSN injuries were not statistically different from those without SSN injury. The extraosseous position of the screw increases the probability of an SSN injury to 31%. This risk is higher with the posterior screw, which leads us to question whether it is really necessary to use it.

Shoulder problems after percutaneous antegrade intramedullary nailing in humeral diaphyseal fractures using contemporary straight third-generation nail.

BACKGROUND: Antegrade intramedullary nailing in humeral shaft fracture has been abandoned by certain orthopedic surgeons because of rotator cuff injury caused by first- and second-generation intramedullary nails (IMNs). However, only a few studies have specifically addressed the results of antegrade nailing for the treatment of humeral shaft fractures with a straight third-generation IMN; thus, complications need to be re-evaluated. We hypothesized that fixation of displaced humeral shaft fractures with a straight third-generation antegrade IMN with the percutaneous technique avoid shoulder problems (stiffness and pain) incurred by first- and second-generation IMNs. METHODS: This was a retrospective, single-center, nonrandomized study of 110 patients with a displaced humeral shaft fracture between 2012 and 2019 treated surgically with a long third-generation straight IMN. Mean follow-up was 35.6 months (range, 15-44 months). RESULTS: There were 73 women and 37 men with a mean age of 64.7 ± 19 years. All fractures were closed (37.3% 12A1, 13.6% 12B2, and 13.6% 12B3 AO/OTA classification). Mean Constant score was 82 ± 19, Mayo Elbow Performance Score 96 ± 11 and the mean EQ-5D visual analog scale score was 69.7 ± 21.5. Mean forward elevation 150° ± 40°, abduction 148° ± 45°, and external rotation 38° ± 15°. Symptoms associated with rotator cuff disease were present in 6.4%. Evidence of radiographic fracture healing was detected in all but 1 case. One postoperative nerve injury and 1 adhesive capsulitis were present. Overall, 6.3% underwent second surgeries (4.5% were minor surgeries like hardware removal). CONCLUSION: Percutaneous antegrade intramedullary nailing of humeral shaft fractures with a straight third-generation nail considerably reduced complications related to shoulder problems and achieved good functional results.