Aims

This study aimed to determine clinical outcomes; relationships between postoperative anterior, lateral, and posterior acetabular coverage and joint survival; and prognostic factors for joint survival after transposition osteotomy of the acetabulum (TOA).

Aims. There has been limited literature regarding outcomes of acetabular rim syndrome (ARS) with persistent acetabular os in the setting of acetabular dysplasia. The purpose of this study was to characterize a cohort of adolescent and young adult patients with ARS with persistent os and compare their radiological and clinical outcomes to patients with acetabular dysplasia without an os. Methods. We reviewed a prospective database of patients undergoing periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) for symptomatic acetabular dysplasia between January 1999 and December 2021 to identify hips with preoperative os acetabuli, defined as a closed triradiate cartilage but persistence of a superolateral os acetabulum. A total of 14 hips in 12 patients with persistent os acetabuli (ARS cohort) were compared to 50 randomly selected ‘control’ hips without persistent os acetabuli. Preoperative and postoperative radiographs were measured for markers of dysplasia: lateral centre-edge angle, anterior centre-edge angle, acetabular inclination, and migration index. Union of the os was determined in patients with ≥ six months’ follow-up. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) included the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) activity score and modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS, maximum score 80) completed at one year postoperatively. Results. There was no significant difference between the ARS and control cohorts with regard to sex distribution (p = 0.270), age at surgery (p = 0.186), or BMI (p = 0.442). Preoperatively, the ARS cohort had more severe dysplasia, including lower lateral centre-edge angle (-9.3° (SD 12.5°) vs 7.6° (SD 10.7°); p < 0.001) and greater acetabular inclination (33.9° (SD 8.2°) vs 21.8° (SD 8.7°); p < 0.001). Postoperatively, 6/13 (46%) hips with ≥ six months of radiological follow up demonstrated union of the os. There was no difference between the ARS and control cohorts at one year in UCLA score (9.1 (SD 1.5) vs 8.2 (SD 1.9); p = 0.167) or mHHS (73.4 (SD 9.5) vs 69.9 (SD 8.8); p = 0.312). Conclusion. ARS with persistent acetabular os may occur in more severe dysplasia. Union occurs in 50% cases following corrective PAO. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(12):1393–1398

Aims

The Bankart and Latarjet procedures are two of the most common surgical techniques to treat anterior shoulder instability with satisfactory clinical and functional outcomes. However, the outcomes in the adolescent population remain unclear, and there is no information regarding the arthroscopic Latarjet in this population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of the arthroscopic Bankart and arthroscopic Latarjet procedures in the management of anterior shoulder instability in adolescents.

Aims

The survival of humeral hemiarthroplasties in patients with relatively intact glenoid cartilage could theoretically be extended by minimizing the associated postoperative glenoid erosion. Ceramic has gained attention as an alternative to metal as a material for hemiarthroplasties because of its superior tribological properties. The aim of this study was to assess the in vitro wear performance of ceramic and metal humeral hemiarthroplasties on natural glenoids.

The October 2024 Shoulder & Elbow Roundup360 looks at: Proximal humeral fractures with vascular compromise; Outcomes and challenges of revision arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: a systematic review; Evaluating treatment effectiveness for lateral elbow tendinopathy: a systematic review and network meta-analysis; Tendon transfer techniques for irreparable subscapularis tears: a comparative review; Impact of subscapularis repair in reverse shoulder arthroplasty; Isolated subscapularis tears strongly linked to shoulder pseudoparesis; Nexel and Coonrad-Morrey total elbow arthroplasties show comparable revision rates in New Zealand study; 3D MRI matches 3D CT in assessing bone loss and shoulder morphology in dislocation cases.

Bone defects are frequently observed in anterior shoulder instability. Over the last decade, knowledge of the association of bone loss with increased failure rates of soft-tissue repair has shifted the surgical management of chronic shoulder instability. On the glenoid side, there is no controversy about the critical glenoid bone loss being 20%. However, poor outcomes have been described even with a subcritical glenoid bone defect as low as 13.5%. On the humeral side, the Hill-Sachs lesion should be evaluated concomitantly with the glenoid defect as the two sides of the same bipolar lesion which interact in the instability process, as described by the glenoid track concept. We advocate adding remplissage to every Bankart repair in patients with a Hill-Sachs lesion, regardless of the glenoid bone loss. When critical or subcritical glenoid bone loss occurs in active patients (> 15%) or bipolar off-track lesions, we should consider anterior glenoid bone reconstructions. The techniques have evolved significantly over the last two decades, moving from open procedures to arthroscopic, and from screw fixation to metal-free fixation. The new arthroscopic techniques of glenoid bone reconstruction procedures allow precise positioning of the graft, identification, and treatment of concomitant injuries with low morbidity and faster recovery. Given the problems associated with bone resorption and metal hardware protrusion, the new metal-free techniques for Latarjet or free bone block procedures seem a good solution to avoid these complications, although no long-term data are yet available.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(10):1100–1110.

Aims

The risk factors for recurrent instability (RI) following a primary traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation (PTASD) remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to determine the rate of RI in a large cohort of patients managed nonoperatively after PTASD and to develop a clinical prediction model.

Aims. Favourable short-term outcomes have been reported following latissimus dorsi tendon transfer for patients with an irreparable subscapularis (SSC) tendon tear. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term outcomes of this transfer in these patients. Methods. This was a retrospective study involving 30 patients with an irreparable SSC tear and those with a SSC tear combined with a reparable supraspinatus tear, who underwent a latissimus dorsi tendon transfer. Clinical scores and active range of motion (aROM), SSC-specific physical examination and the rate of return to work were assessed. Radiological assessment included recording the acromiohumeral distance (AHD), the Hamada grade of cuff tear arthropathy and the integrity of the transferred tendon. Statistical analysis compared preoperative, short-term (two years), and final follow-up at a mean of 8.7 years (7 to 10). Results. There were significant improvements in clinical scores, in the range and strength of internal rotation and aROM compared with the preoperative values in the 26 patients (87%) who were available for long-term follow-up. These improvements were maintained between short- and long-term follow-ups. Although there was a decreased mean AHD of 7.3 mm (SD 1.5) and an increased mean Hamada grade of 1.7 (SD 0.5) at final follow-up, the rate of progression of cuff tear arthropathy remained low-grade. Comparison between the isolated SSC and combined SSC and reparable supraspinatus tear groups showed no significant differences. At final follow-up, one patient (3.8%) had undergone revision surgery to a reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA). No neurological complications were associated with the procedure. Conclusion. Latissimus dorsi transfer for an irreparable SSC tendon tear resulted in a significant clinical improvement, particularly in pain, range and strength of internal rotation and aROM, which were maintained over a mean of 8.7 years following surgery. Given that this was a long-term outcome study, there was a low-grade progression in the rate of cuff tear arthropathy. Thus, the long-term clinical efficacy of latissimus dorsi tendon transfer in patients with irreparable SSC was confirmed as a joint-preserving procedure for these patients, suggesting it as an effective alternative to RSA in young, active patients without degenerative changes of the glenohumeral joint. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(9):957–963

Rotator cuff pathology is the main cause of shoulder pain and dysfunction in older adults. When a rotator cuff tear involves the subscapularis tendon, the symptoms are usually more severe and the prognosis after surgery must be guarded. Isolated subscapularis tears represent 18% of all rotator cuff tears and arthroscopic repair is a good alternative primary treatment. However, when the tendon is deemed irreparable, tendon transfers are the only option for younger or high-functioning patients. The aim of this review is to describe the indications, biomechanical principles, and outcomes which have been reported for tendon transfers, which are available for the treatment of irreparable subscapularis tears.

The best tendon to be transferred remains controversial. Pectoralis major transfer was described more than 30 years ago to treat patients with failed surgery for instability of the shoulder. It has subsequently been used extensively to manage irreparable subscapularis tendon tears in many clinical settings. Although pectoralis major reproduces the position and orientation of the subscapularis in the coronal plane, its position in the axial plane – anterior to the rib cage – is clearly different and does not allow it to function as an ideal transfer. Consistent relief of pain and moderate recovery of strength and function have been reported following the use of this transfer. In an attempt to improve on these results, latissimus dorsi tendon transfer was proposed as an alternative and the technique has evolved from an open to an arthroscopic procedure. Satisfactory relief of pain and improvements in functional shoulder scores have recently been reported following its use. Both pectoralis minor and upper trapezius transfers have also been used in these patients, but the outcomes that have been reported do not support their widespread use.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(9):970–977.

Aims

To propose a new method for evaluating paediatric radial neck fractures and improve the accuracy of fracture angulation measurement, particularly in younger children, and thereby facilitate planning treatment in this population.

Advanced 3D imaging and CT-based navigation have emerged as valuable tools to use in total knee arthroplasty (TKA), for both preoperative planning and the intraoperative execution of different philosophies of alignment. Preoperative planning using CT-based 3D imaging enables more accurate prediction of the size of components, enhancing surgical workflow and optimizing the precision of the positioning of components. Surgeons can assess alignment, osteophytes, and arthritic changes better. These scans provide improved insights into the patellofemoral joint and facilitate tibial sizing and the evaluation of implant-bone contact area in cementless TKA. Preoperative CT imaging is also required for the development of patient-specific instrumentation cutting guides, aiming to reduce intraoperative blood loss and improve the surgical technique in complex cases. Intraoperative CT-based navigation and haptic guidance facilitates precise execution of the preoperative plan, aiming for optimal positioning of the components and accurate alignment, as determined by the surgeon’s philosophy. It also helps reduce iatrogenic injury to the periarticular soft-tissue structures with subsequent reduction in the local and systemic inflammatory response, enhancing early outcomes. Despite the increased costs and radiation exposure associated with CT-based navigation, these many benefits have facilitated the adoption of imaged based robotic surgery into routine practice. Further research on ultra-low-dose CT scans and exploration of the possible translation of the use of 3D imaging into improved clinical outcomes are required to justify its broader implementation.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(9):892–897.

There is a limited literature available describing the various diagnostic modalities and treatment options for the management of subspine impingement (SSI). We developed a study to evaluate the clinical improvement at 1 year and 5 years, with iHOT 33 and HOS hip scores. (1) Do patients with subspine compression improve with arthroscopic treatment clinically at short term follow-up (1 year)? (2) Is the improvement maintained in the mid-term (5 years)?. 43 young patients with subspine compression (prominent anterior inferior iliac spine) treated arthroscopically between January 2010 and December 2021 were included. Patients completed the iHOT33, HOS-SPORT and HOS-ADL questionnaires before surgery, 1 year and 5 years follow up. We evaluated pre and postoperative differences at one year and at 5 years. Minimum Clinically Significant Difference (MCID) and the Substantial Clinical Benefit (SCB) were used to stablish clinical improvement. Mean age was 37.38 years and 66% were males. Almost 75% and 70% of our patients exceed the MCID and the SCB respectively in all the questionnaires after 1 year-follow up. However, at 5 years-follow up, nearly 70% and 65% of the patients exceeded MCID and SCB respectively. We demonstrate that arthroscopic treatment of subspine impingement as an effective treatment for Subspine impingement. However, it is necessary larger sample size and longer follow up period to analyze the long-term results to demonstrate this treatment as the “gold standard”

Hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA) is being offered as a viable alternative to total hip arthroplasty (THA). For very young patients (under 30 years old), THA achieves fair results but with high revision and complication rates. This retrospective study was designed to evaluate the results of HRA performed in patients under 30 years old with a long follow-up. During the inclusion period (2007–2021), we collected in a single operator database, all HRA performed in patients under 30 with a minimum follow up of 2 years. 103 HRA in 93 patients (77 male / 16 females; a mean age at operation 27.7 years (18 to 29.9)) were included. The two mean preoperative diagnoses were osteoarthritis in 54 HRA (52.5%) and DDH or hip dislocation in 19.4% (20 cases). No patient was lost to follow-up and 3 patients (5 HRA) deceased. There were 2 revisions (one for femoral aseptic loosening and one infection recurrence (pediatric osteoarthritis)). No dislocation and adverse wear-related failures were found. At a mean follow-up of 10.4 years (2–17.4), mean UCLA activity and Oxford Hip score improved respectively from 5.4 (1 to 7) and 39.9 (25–55) pre-operatively to 7.9 (3 to 10) and 15.8 (12–34) post-operatively (p<0.001). Mean Harris hip score increased from 41.6 (22–63) to 91.8 (72–100) (p<0.001). There were no radiological cases exhibiting lysis while two cases displayed limited partial radiolucency around the femoral stem. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, with the endpoint revision for any reason, showed a 10.8-year survival rate of 98% (95% expected with NICE guidelines). This cohort of HRA performed under 30 is the longest follow-up ever reported in the literature. Despite a challenging cohort of patients, HRA exceeds the stricter NICE survivorship criteria. HRA remains an effective treatment with excellent functional outcomes and a very low rate of complications

In 1997 the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing was introduced to address the needs of young active patients. Alternative designs were introduced to try and improve wear performance. The aim of this study was a comparative cohort study of two types of metal-on-metal bearing to determine the mechanism of failure at 15 years. The study reviewed 91 Brimingham Hip Resurfacings (BHR) (Smith and Nephew) and 715 DUROM hip resurfacing (Zimmer) procedures in prior to 2009. Failure was defined as revision of either component for any reason. Kaplan-Meyer survivorship analysis performed. Routine follow-up with serum metal ion levels and radiographs. Mean follow-up was 17.9 years (range 15.2 – 25.1). The mean age at operation was 51.6 years (SD 8.6, range 20.7 to 70.2), including 299 women (37.1%). The Birmingham resurfacing demonstrated 92.3% survivorship at 15 years (SE 2.8, 95% CI 3.9 – 7.8) and 90.0% at latest follow-up (SE 3.5, 95% CI 4.9 to 9.4). By comparison, the DUROM survivorship at 15 years was 89.1% at 15 years (SE 1.2, 95% CI 2.0 to 2.5) and 87.4% (SE 1.3, 95% CI 2.5 to 2.3) at latest follow-up. There was no statistically significant difference in survivorship between groups (p= 0.32). Survival in male patients was 92.7% compared to 80.0% in females. The reported failures occurred from Adverse Reaction to Metal Debris (32 patients), periprosthetic femoral neck fracture (6) and aseptic loosening (41), PJI (12) and undiagnosed pain (6). The mean cobalt and chromium levels at last follow-up were 33.4 nmol/L and 36.5 nmol/L respectively. This study demonstrates two differently designed metal-on-metal hip resurfacing provided a durable alternative to total hip replacement, particularly in younger male patients with osteoarthritis. Differences in design did determine the reason for revision with acetabular fixation being one of the principal failure mechanisms for the DUROM compared to elevated ion levels

The August 2024 Foot & Ankle Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: ESWT versus surgery for fifth metatarsal stress fractures; Minimally invasive surgery versus open fusion for hallux rigidus; Diabetes and infection risk in total ankle arthroplasty; Is proximal medial gastrocnemius recession useful for managing chronic plantar fasciitis?; Fuse the great toe in the young!; Conservative surgery for diabetic foot osteomyelitis; Mental health and outcome following foot and ankle surgery.

The August 2024 Hip & Pelvis Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: Understanding perceived leg length discrepancy post-total hip arthroplasty: the role of pelvic obliquity; Influence of femoral stem design on revision rates in total hip arthroplasty; Outcomes of arthroscopic labral treatment of femoroacetabular impingement in adolescents; Characteristics and quality of online searches for direct anterior versus posterior approach for total hip arthroplasty; Rapid return to braking after anterior and posterior approach total hip arthroplasty; How much protection does a collar provide?; Timing matters: reducing infection risk in total hip arthroplasty with corticosteroid injection intervals; Identifying pain recovery patterns in total hip arthroplasty using PROMIS data.

Aims. Spinopelvic pathology increases the risk for instability following total hip arthroplasty (THA), yet few studies have evaluated how pathology varies with age or sex. The aims of this study were: 1) to report differences in spinopelvic parameters with advancing age and between the sexes; and 2) to determine variation in the prevalence of THA instability risk factors with advancing age. Methods. A multicentre database with preoperative imaging for 15,830 THA patients was reviewed. Spinopelvic parameter measurements were made by experienced engineers, including anterior pelvic plane tilt (APPT), spinopelvic tilt (SPT), sacral slope (SS), lumbar lordosis (LL), and pelvic incidence (PI). Lumbar flexion (LF), sagittal spinal deformity, and hip user index (HUI) were calculated using parameter measurements. Results. With advancing age, patients demonstrate increased posterior APPT, decreased standing LL, decreased LF, higher pelvic incidence minus lumbar lordosis (PI-LL) mismatch, higher prevalence of abnormal spinopelvic mobility, and higher HUI percentage. With each decade, APPT progressed posteriorly 2.1°, LF declined 6.0°, PI-LL mismatch increased 2.9°, and spinopelvic mobility increased 3.8°. Significant differences were found between the sexes for APPT, SPT, SS, LL, and LF, but were not felt to be clinically relevant. Conclusion. With advancing age, spinopelvic biomechanics demonstrate decreased spinal mobility and increased pelvic/hip mobility. Surgeons should consider the higher prevalence of instability risk factors in elderly patients and anticipate changes evolving in spinopelvic biomechanics for young patients. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(8):792–801

Aims

Vascular compromise due to arterial injury is a rare but serious complication of a proximal humeral fracture. The aims of this study were to report its incidence in a large urban population, and to identify clinical and radiological factors which are associated with this complication. We also evaluated the results of the use of our protocol for the management of these injuries.