Metastatic endometrial carcinoma presenting as a scapular mass: A case report and literature review.

Bone metastases of endometrial cancers are quite rare, especially in the scapula. Only two previous reports of such cases were found in the literature, and in each case a different approach to diagnosis was used. There are no established recommendations for screening for bone metastases at diagnosis or after initial treatment of endometrial cancers. In the present case, a 55-year-old woman with progressive abdominal distension was diagnosed with a cystic mass. Histopathological analysis revealed grade II synchronous endometrioid carcinoma in both the endometrium and the ovaries. The patient received three cycles of combined paclitaxel and carboplatin chemotherapy. Seven months after the last chemotherapy cycle, a palpable lump was found in the right shoulder, suggesting a lesion in the right scapula. A bone scan revealed heightened radioactivity uptake, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the disease progression. The choice of diagnostic imaging modality remains challenging. This case emphasises the need for ongoing investigation of the mechanisms of distant metastasis and for the development of standardised diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Finite element analysis of the treatment of a minimally invasive approach combined with a novel anatomical locking plate for scapular body fractures.

BACKGROUND: The minimally invasive approach for the treatment of displaced scapular neck or body fractures has the advantages of less trauma and minimal muscle dissection. In clinical practice, the minimally invasive approach combined with an anatomical locking plate has been used to treat scapular body fractures. In addition, we have made minor modifications to the minimally invasive approach. However, the biomechanical study about the approach combined with an anatomical locking plate in treating scapular body fractures was limited. METHODS: Finite element analysis (FEA) was used to conduct the biomechanical comparison between the anatomical locking plate (AP model) and reconstructive plate (RP model) in the treatment of scapular body fractures through the modified minimally invasive approach. A healthy male volunteer with no history of scapula or systemic diseases was recruited. High-resolution computed tomography images of his right scapula were obtained. Two scapula models were constructed and analyzed by the software of Mimics 21.0, Geomagic Wrap 2021, SolidWorks 2021, and ANSYS Workbench 2022, respectively. RESULTS: Through static structural analysis, in terms of equivalent von Mises stress, equivalent elastic strain, and total deformation, the AP model exhibited superior safety characteristics, enhanced flexibility, and anticipated stability compared with the RP model. This was evidenced by lower maximum stress, lower maximum strain and displacement. CONCLUSION: The minimally invasive approach combined with an anatomical locking plate for scapular body fractures had better biomechanical stability. The study provided a biomechanical basis to guide the clinical treatment of scapular body fractures.

Comparing shoulder proprioception, upper extremity dynamic stability, and hand grip strength in overhead athletes with and without scapular dyskinesis.

INTRODUCTION: Scapular dyskinesis is prevalent among asymptomatic athletes, particularly those involved in overhead activities, and can significantly impact their neuromuscular control. These changes may impair upper extremity function and strength, elevating the risk of injury. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate how scapular dyskinesis affects shoulder proprioception, upper extremity dynamic stability, and hand grip strength in overhead athletes. This study compared these parameters between overhead athletes with and without scapular dyskinesis. METHODS: The study included twenty asymptomatic professional overhead athletes with scapular dyskinesis and twenty without scapular dyskinesis, identified using the lateral scapular slide test. In this cross-sectional study, shoulder active joint position sense, serving as shoulder proprioception, was measured using an isokinetic dynamometer. Upper extremity dynamic stability and hand grip strength were evaluated using an upper quarter modified star excursion balance test (UQ-mSEBT) and a handheld dynamometer. RESULTS: The study found that the shoulder active joint position sense was significantly lower in the scapular dyskinesis group compared to the group without scapular dyskinesis (PExternal Rotation = 0.003, PInternal Rotation < 0.001, and PForward Flexion = 0.002). However, the two groups had no significant differences in UQ-mSEBT and hand grip strength scores. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that scapular dyskinesis could affect the sense of shoulder active joint position among asymptomatic overhead athletes. However, it did not affect their upper extremity dynamic stability and hand grip strength.

Analysis of the three-dimensional scapular kinematics and associated scapular muscle activity during scapular muscle exercises.

OBJECTIVE: To compare scapular kinematics and muscle activity among various scapular muscle exercises. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: A university research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Eighteen healthy men participated in this study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Three-dimensional scapular kinematics was measured with an electromagnetic motion capture system. Activities of the upper trapezius (UT), lower trapezius (LT), and serratus anterior (SA) were measured by using surface electromyography (EMG). In addition, the ratio of LT to the UT (LT/UT) and SA to the UT (SA/UT) was calculated. A repeated one-way analysis of variance and Shaffer's post-hoc analysis were used to detect the differences in each outcome during five exercises. RESULTS: The scapula was rotated upwardly during all exercises except push-up plus. The LT/UT ratio during side-lying external rotation and side-lying flexion were significantly higher than that for scapular plane elevation (P < .05), although the highest activity of the lower trapezius was produced during scapular plane elevation. The activities of the serratus anterior and SA/UT ratio during horizontal adducted elevation and push-up plus were significantly higher than that during scapular plane elevation (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Horizontal adducted elevation might be more appropriate for increasing scapular upward rotation with high serratus anterior activity and SA/UT ratio than push-up plus.

Sprengel's Deformity: A Paediatric Case Report.

Sprengel's deformity is a conspicuous anomaly, affecting one or both scapulas. The congenital elevation of the scapula is frequently accompanied by additional anomalies, such as rib, vertebral, or muscular deformities, among which are rib fusion or vertebral deformity. Defects in the cervical vertebrae are most likely to result in Klippel-Feil syndrome, which is characterised by a short neck, restrictions on head mobility, and low-growing neck hair. Fewer than half of the instances had scoliosis, which is compensatory due to efforts to straighten the spine. The present case report was the case of Sprengel's deformity reported to our department.

Neural Drive and Motor Unit Characteristics of the Serratus Anterior in Individuals With Scapular Dyskinesis.

OBJECTIVE: Scapular dyskinesis is one of the causes of shoulder disorders and involves muscle weakness in the serratus anterior. This study investigated whether motor unit (MU) recruitment and firing property, which are important for muscle exertion, have altered in serratus anterior of the individuals with scapular dyskinesis. METHODS: Asymptomatic adults with (SD) and without (control) scapular dyskinesis were analyzed. Surface electromyography (sEMG) waveforms were collected at submaximal voluntary contraction of the serratus anterior. The sEMG waveform was decomposed into MU action potential amplitude (MUAPAMP), mean firing rate (MFR), and recruitment threshold. MUs were divided into low, moderate, and high thresholds, and MU recruitment and firing properties of the groups were compared. RESULTS: High-threshold MUAPAMP was significantly smaller in the SD group than in the control group. The control group also exhibited recruitment properties that reflected the size principle, however, the SD group did not. Furthermore, the SD group had a lower MFR than the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with scapular dyskinesis exhibit altered MU recruitment properties and lower firing rates of the serratus anterior; this may be detrimental to muscle performance. Thus, it may be necessary to improve the neural drive of the serratus anterior when correcting scapular dyskinesis.

Hydrodissection of the Eighth Cervical Nerve Root for Scapular Girdle Pain Associated With Nonunion of the First Rib Stress Fracture: A Case Report.

The first rib stress fracture is a rare overuse injury, with nonunion posing challenges to athletic performance. We report an 18-year-old international-level gymnast diagnosed with the nonunion of the first rib stress fracture, experiencing pain extending to the medial scapular area. Traditional treatments provided no relief, with tests suggesting C8 nerve root involvement. This study introduces a novel approach targeting the C8 nerve root using hydrodissection, which alleviates the pain. Post-procedure, the patient resumed competition without recurrence of pain after a year. This case suggests that pain due to first rib stress fracture nonunion might be associated with the C8 nerve root, and hydrodissection could be a potentially effective treatment.

Atypical Fracture of the Scapular Spine: A Case Report.

Atypical fractures are gaining attention as a severe potential side effect of long-term treatment with bone-modifying agents (e.g., bisphosphonate and denosumab) for osteoporosis. Most atypical fractures occur in weight-bearing bones; the femur is the most frequent site. Atypical fractures occurring in non-weight-bearing bones are extremely rare. We describe an atypical fracture of the scapular spine in a 92-year-old Japanese woman with osteoporosis who had been treated with minodronate for ~7 years. Although the dislocation of the fracture site remained after conservative treatment, there was no obstacle to her daily life.

Maxillary reconstruction with horizontally oriented scapular tip free flap: outcomes in orbital support and palate closure.

BACKGROUND: Current indications of maxillary reconstruction with scapular tip free flap (STFF) are palatoalveolar defects associated with zygomaticomaxillary buttress and/or orbital floor defects. STFF can be placed either horizontally or vertically. Horizontal placement usually allows ideal palatal conformation, preventing oronasal communication, but has been argued to compromise orbital support and projection of the midface, whereas vertical placement is advocated for midface support but may be insufficient for the complete closure of the palate. The present study focuses on the horizontal placing of STFF to allow complete palate reconstruction and fistulae prevention while still obtaining optimal midface projection and orbital support. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 21 case complex maxillary reconstructions with this flap, in which the horizontally placed scapular tip component replaced the palate, a muscular flap component was included for midface volume restoration, and an alloplastic implant was utilized for supporting the orbital content when needed. RESULTS: None of the patients presented palatal fistulas or alterations in the orbital support. CONCLUSION: A multilevel approach was proposed according to the maxillectomy defect. This experience supported the horizontal insetting of STFF to allow palatal fistulae prevention while still obtaining an optimal midface projection and orbital support.

The effect of muscle-biased manual therapy on shoulder kinematics, muscle performance, functional impairment, and pain in patients with frozen shoulder.

BACKGROUND: Frozen shoulder (FS) is characterized by restricted active and passive shoulder mobility and pain. PURPOSE: Compare the effect of muscle-biased manual therapy (MM) and regular physical therapy (RPT) in patients with FS. STUDY DESIGN: Pretest-post-test control group study design. METHODS: We recruited 34 patients with FS and compared the effect of 12-session MM and RPT. The outcome measures were scapular kinematics and muscle activation, scapular alignment, shoulder range of motion, and pain intensity. Two-way analysis of variance was used to examine the intervention effect with α = 0.05. RESULTS: Both programs resulted in similar improvements in pain and shoulder function. Compared to the RPT, MM resulted in increased posterior tilt (MM: 7.04°-16.09°, RPT: -2.50° to -4.37°; p = 0.002; ES = 0.261) and lower trapezius activation (MM: 260.61%-470.90%, RPT: 322.64%-313.33%; p = 0.033; ES = 0.134) during scaption, and increased posterior tilt (MM: 0.70°-15.16°, RPT: -9.66° to -6.44°; p = 0.007; ES = 0.205) during the hand-to-neck task. The MM group also showed increased GH backward elevation (MM: 37.18°-42.79°, RPT: 43.64°-40.83°; p = 0.004, ES = 0.237) and scapular downward rotation (MM: -2.48° to 6.80°, RPT: 1.93°-1.44°; p < 0.001; ES = 0.404) during the thumb-to-waist task, enhanced shoulder abduction (MM: 84.6°-102.3°, RPT: 85.1°-92.9°; p = 0.02; ES = 0.153), and improved scapular alignment (MM: 10.4-9.65 cm, RPT: 9.41-9.56 cm; p = 0.02; ES = 0.114). CONCLUSIONS: MM was superior to the RPT regarding scapular neuromuscular performance. Clinicians should consider adding muscle-biased treatment when treating FS.

Effect of scapular posterior tilting exercise on scapular muscle activities in men and women with a rounded shoulder posture.

Round-shoulder posture (RSP) is a common postural condition, characterized by protraction, downward rotation, anterior tilting and internal rotation of the scapula. RSP can lead to shoulder dysfunction. Different methods have been proposed for rehabilitating and correcting the altered posture in RSP including stretching, strengthening exercises, and shoulder brace or taping. However, the findings are controversial and studies are ongoing to develop more effective method. The present study is aimed at investigating the effects of scapular posterior tilting (SPT) exercise in different support positions on scapular muscle activities in men and women with RSP. In a prospective observational clinical study, we assessed demographic, basic clinical parameters and study variables of the subjects with RSP (n = 20) (men/women = 9/11) attending Daegu University in Gyeongsan, South Korea. To do so, we compared electromyographic (EMG) activities of lower trapezius and serratus anterior muscles between men and women with RSP during SPT exercise on four different support surfaces to determine any difference in the EMG activities. The results revealed that women showed significant differences in EMG activities in the lower and left upper trapezius and serratus anterior muscles, while men showed significant differences in EMG activity only in the lower trapezius muscle during SPT exercise on four different surfaces (P < 0.05). The post-hoc analysis revealed significantly greater EMG activity values in the lower trapezius and serratus anterior muscles during SPT exercise on the upper body unstable surface and whole-body unstable surface (p < 0.05). Independent t-tests after the Bonferroni correction showed no significant differences in muscle activities between men and women on the four different surfaces (p > 0.0125).

Breaking the operator variability in Kibler's scapular dyskinesis assessment.

INTRODUCTION: Alterations of scapular kinematics are generically reported as scapular dyskinesis (SD), and are a nonspecific response to various shoulder pathologies. The most widely used classification is Kibler's (K), which is, however, characterized by poor sensitivity. To overcome this limit, using a 3D motion analysis system, we identified a specific pattern for each type of SD according to Kibler. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 34 patients with a total of 68 shoulders who came to our observation for shoulder pain. All patients underwent clinical examination, video-recording and motion analysis with SHoW Motion 3D kinematic tracking system (SM). Three independent observers classified SD into K types I, II and III. Only patients with concordant classification among the 3 operators were studied to identify a characteristic graphic pattern by type of SD. RESULTS: Typical patterns emerged from the examination with SM. K. type 1 consists of decreased or reversed posterior tilt and increased protraction in flexion-extension (FE) in early degrees of motion. K. type 2 consists of increased protraction and marked reversal of lateral rotation in abduction-adduction (Ab-Ad) in early degrees of movement. K. type 3 has been subdivided into two subgroups: K. type 3-A, composed of patients with massive rotator cuff lesions, shows an increase in all scapular movements in both FE and Ab-Ad. K. type 3-B, composed of patients with scapular stiffness and/or impingement, presents a slight increase in posterior tilt and lateral rotation in the final grades of FE and Ab-Ad. CONCLUSIONS: The SM system allows reproducible dynamic analyses with low intra- and intra- operator variability. In our study, we demonstrated its applicability in the classification of SD. It also provides an objective and quantitative assessment of motor pattern alteration that is essential in the follow-up of patients to evaluate the effectiveness of rehabilitation and/or surgical treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3: According to "The Oxford 2011 Levels of Evidence".

Periscapular Strength Profile Changes in Collegiate Baseball Pitchers Over the Course of a Season.

Background: Repetitive application of high forces to the shoulder and scapular musculature during the pitching motion over the course of a collegiate baseball season may lead to changes in strength and increased fatigue, potentially predisposing pitching athletes to injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate periscapular strength profiles of Division I collegiate baseball players over the course of a season. Methods: This study was a retrospective data analysis of 18 Division I baseball pitchers. Isometric scapular plane abduction (scaption), external rotator, internal rotator, middle trapezius, and lower trapezius isometric strength was measured on throwing arm of each subject using a MicroFET 2 handheld dynamometer. Data were collected in a single session at the preseason, midseason, and postseason of the college baseball season, which spanned a five-month period. A repeated measures ANOVA was utilized to determine if there was a significant change in periscapular strength across the baseball season. Results: Over the three time-points, all strength values decreased for each muscle group, with decreases ranging from 3-14%. Changes in scaption strength values were statistically significant (p=0.018, partial eta squared =0.284) with an 8% reduction over the entire season, specifically with a 5% decline from mid-season to post-season. While external rotator, internal rotator, middle trapezius, and lower trapezius strength values all decreased over the course of the season (range 0.02kg to 1.8kg), these differences were not statistically significant. However, the middle trapezius strength value change (1.3kg loss) exceeded the minimal detectible change. Conclusion: Periscapular muscles in baseball pitchers diminish in strength over the course of a collegiate baseball season. Understanding strength changes over the course of a season may influence training and therapeutic interventions. Level of Evidence: 3b.

Neurolysis of the Long Thoracic Nerve for Scapular Winging due to Isolated Serratus Anterior Palsy: Early and Midterm Results in 29 Patients.

Objective: This study aimed to report our surgical outcomes of thoracic long thoracic nerve (LTN) decompression in patients with isolated LTN palsy, using a clinical scoring system designed to facilitate the grading of scapular winging severity. Methods: This was a retrospective review of patients who had undergone decompression and neurolysis of the LTN for scapular winging. Each patient underwent needle electromyography of the serratus anterior for confirmation of diagnosis and were refractory to a minimum of 6 months of nonoperative management. Preoperatively and at final follow-up, shoulder range of motion and the Wrightington Winging Score (WWS) was used to objectively grade the dynamic and static components of winging. Results: Between 2014 and 2020, 29 patients who underwent thoracic neurolysis for scapular winging were analyzed. These were 16 males and 13 females with a mean age of 37 years. The injury mechanism was due to trauma in 19 cases and neuralgic amyotrophy in 10. The median duration between winging onset and surgery was 30 months. There were significant improvements in mean active shoulder abduction and forward flexion. Winging was noticeably improved in 22 patients. At presentation, the median WWS was 3, which improved to 1 at final follow-up. Conclusion: In patients with isolated LTN palsy causing persistent scapular winging which is not responsive to conservative treatment, neurolysis of the thoracic portion of the LTN can be considered. Level of Evidence: IV.

Severity of rotator cuff disorders and additional load affect fluoroscopy-based shoulder kinematics during arm abduction.

BACKGROUND: Rotator cuff disorders, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, may result in abnormal shoulder kinematics (scapular rotation and glenohumeral translation). This study aimed to investigate the effect of rotator cuff tears on in vivo shoulder kinematics during a 30° loaded abduction test using single-plane fluoroscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 25 younger controls, 25 older controls and 25 patients with unilateral symptomatic rotator cuff tears participated in this study. Both shoulders of each participant were analysed and grouped on the basis of magnetic resonance imaging into healthy, rotator cuff tendinopathy, asymptomatic and symptomatic rotator cuff tears. All participants performed a bilateral 30° arm abduction and adduction movement in the scapular plane with handheld weights (0, 2 and 4 kg) during fluoroscopy acquisition. The range of upward-downward scapular rotation and superior-inferior glenohumeral translation were measured and analysed during abduction and adduction using a linear mixed model (loads, shoulder types) with random effects (shoulder ID). RESULTS: Scapular rotation was greater in shoulders with rotator cuff tendinopathy and asymptomatic rotator cuff tears than in healthy shoulders. Additional load increased upward during abduction and downward during adduction scapular rotation (P < 0.001 in all groups but rotator cuff tendinopathy). In healthy shoulders, upward scapular rotation during 30° abduction increased from 2.3° with 0-kg load to 4.1° with 4-kg load and on shoulders with symptomatic rotator cuff tears from 3.6° with 0-kg load to 6.5° with 4-kg load. Glenohumeral translation was influenced by the handheld weights only in shoulders with rotator cuff tendinopathy (P ≤ 0.020). Overall, superior glenohumeral translation during 30° abduction was approximately 1.0 mm with all loads. CONCLUSIONS: The results of glenohumeral translation comparable to control but greater scapular rotations during 30° abduction in the scapular plane in rotator cuff tears indicate that the scapula compensates for rotator cuff deficiency by rotating. Further analysis of load-dependent joint stability is needed to better understand glenohumeral and scapula motion. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 2. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Ethical approval was obtained from the regional ethics committee (Ethics Committee Northwest Switzerland EKNZ 2021-00182), and the study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov on 29 March 2021 (trial registration number NCT04819724, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04819724 ).

Effectiveness of specific scapular therapeutic exercises in patients with shoulder pain: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Background: Therapeutic exercise has been considered a useful tool to rehabilitate shoulder pain, namely through its influence on scapular dynamics. Accordingly, the effectiveness of scapular therapeutic exercise needs to be explored. The present study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of scapular therapeutic exercises in shoulder pain and to identify the most effective exercise type (focal or multijoint) and ways of delivering them (as dose and progression). Methods: Search was conducted at EMBASE, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE via PubMed, Web of Science, PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database), and trial registration databases. The meta-analysis considered randomized controlled/crossover trials that compared the effect of scapular exercises against other types of intervention in the shoulder pain, shoulder function, scapular motion, and/or muscular activity. The risk of bias was assessed through the PEDro scale. Results: From the 8318 records identified, 8 (high to low risk of bias- scoring from 4 to 8 on the PEDro scale) were included. The overall data, before sensitivity analysis, indicated that the scapular therapeutic exercises are: a) more effective than comparators in improving shoulder function (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.52 [95% Cl: 0.05, 0.99], P = .03, I2 = 76%); and b) as effective as comparators in reducing shoulder pain (SMD = 0.32 [95% Cl: -0.09, 0.73], P = .13, I2 = 70%). Subgroup analysis revealed that scapular exercises are more effective in improving shoulder function when the program duration is equal to or higher than 6 weeks (SMD = 0.43 [95% Cl: 0.09, 0.76] P = .01, I2 = 21%) and/or when the maximum number of exercise repetitions per session is lower than 30 (SMD = 0.79 [95% Cl: 0.15, 1.42], P = .01, I2 = 77%). Only 1 study considered scapular motion as an outcome measure, revealing therapeutic exercise effectiveness to improve scapular range of motion. Conclusions: Intervention programs involving scapular therapeutic exercises are effective in improving shoulder function, presenting benefits when performed for 6 or more weeks and/or when used up to a maximum of 30 repetitions per exercise, per session.

Clavicle fractures do not increase the occurrence of later subacromial pain syndrome. A registry-based case-control study with 15-25 years of follow-up of 131.838 persons from the Danish National Patient Register.

Background: A clavicle fracture often changes the mechanical axes of the shoulder girdle due to displacement and shortening, potentially leading to scapular protraction and decreased subacromial space. If protraction of the scapula is a major risk factor for developing subacromial pain syndrome (SAPS), a previous clavicle fracture could increase the risk of later SAPS. The purpose of this study was to investigate if a previous clavicle fracture correlates with a higher occurrence or earlier diagnosis of SAPS. Methods: In this retrospective case-control study with data from the Danish National Patient Register, all persons aged 18-60 years, with any hospital contact due to a clavicle fracture (DS420) between January 1, 1996, and December 31, 2005, were identified as cases. For each case, five controls, matched on age and sex, were identified. Primary outcome was the first hospital contact with a SAPS diagnosis (DM751-755) registered more than 180 days following the fracture. Follow-up was until November 01, 2021. Results: 21.973 cases and 109.865 controls were included. The incidence of clavicle fractures was 76 fractures per 100.000 persons per year. Twenty-three percent were female. 1.640 (7.46%) cases and 8.072 (7.35%) controls received a SAPS diagnosis within the following 15-25 years, demonstrating no significant difference in the occurrence of SAPS (P = .56). The mean time from fracture to SAPS diagnosis was shorter for cases compared to controls (4040 vs. 4442 days, P < .001), and cases were slightly younger when receiving the diagnosis (51.3 vs. 53.6 years, P < .001). 1614 cases underwent surgical fixation. This subgroup had a statistically significant higher occurrence of later SAPS diagnosis (205 cases, 13%, P < .001). Conclusions: Persons with a previous clavicle fracture did not have an increased occurrence of receiving a SAPS diagnosis compared to matched controls. However, the diagnosis was given 1-2 years earlier for people with a previous fracture. Based on these findings, no strong argument for protraction of the scapula as a major risk factor for the development of SAPS was found.

Effects of the open Latarjet procedure on shoulder kinematics and periscapular muscle activity three months postoperatively.

BACKGROUND: The debate surrounding the influence of the open Latarjet procedure on postoperative scapular motions persists, and there is no evidence regarding its effects on periscapular muscle activation. This study aimed to assess the short-term influence of open Latarjet procedure on scapular kinematics and periscapular muscle activity during arm raising and lowering based on comparisons between patient and healthy athletes. METHODS: 22 healthy male athletes and 22 male athletes scheduled for glenohumeral stabilization surgery by open Latarjet procedure were included. Scapular kinematics, periscapular muscle activities and shoulder-related quality of life were recorded prior to surgery and 3 months postoperatively for the Latarjet group. For the healthy group, same assessments were performed 3 months apart. Bilateral differences in both scapular kinematics and periscapular muscle activation ratios, and Western Ontario Shoulder Instability (WOSI) index were defined as dependent variables. RESULTS: Scapular kinematics of the operated shoulder, namely scapular upward/downward rotation, internal/external rotation and anterior/posterior tilt recorded between 20° and 120° of humerothoracic elevation, showed no alterations 3 months post-surgery (p>0.05), and did not differ from those observed in healthy athletes (p>0.05). Similarly, all periscapular muscle activations were not different within time and between groups (p>0.05). WOSI index of the operated shoulder was significantly improved postoperatively (871.9 ± 443.7 vs. 1346.3 ± 552.3) but remained higher than the WOSI indices of the non-operated shoulder or those of the healthy group (52.7±75.6). CONCLUSION: This study emphasizes the short-term effects of the open Latarjet procedure, demonstrating an improvement in the shoulder-related quality of life 3 months after surgery. Notably, during this period, both kinematics and periscapular muscle activity remained consistent, and similar to the patterns observed for healthy athletes.

Low acromial insufficiency fracture rate in reverse shoulder arthroplasty with distal clavicle excision.

Background: This study investigated the rate of acromial insufficiency fractures (AIF) in patients undergoing reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) with concomitant distal clavicle excision (DCE). Methods: Patients who underwent primary RSA with DCE by a single surgeon from 2010 to 2021 were identified. Exclusion criteria included revision RSA, RSA for fracture, or cases utilizing an augmented baseplate or bone graft. AIF was defined as a radiographically proven acromion or scapular spine fracture. Pain without an identifiable fracture on imaging was defined as an acromial insufficiency reaction. Patient demographics, implant information, and radiograph measurements were compared between patients with and without acromial pathology. Results: One hundred and seventy-five patients were included. Mean age was 72.8 years, and 67% of patients were female. There were 3/174 acromial insufficiency fractures (1.7%). AIF occurred at a mean of 9.3 months after surgery. Twelve patients had insufficiency reactions (6.9%). Patients with acromial pathology were more likely to be female (p = .003) and have a diagnosis of osteoporosis (p = .047) and inflammatory arthritis (p = .049). There was no significant difference between groups in terms of other factors. Conclusion: The AIF rate in patients who underwent RSA with DCE was 1.7%. These findings suggest that DCE in the setting of RSA may have a protective role against AIF.