Introduction. Insufficient arthroscopic cuff tear reconstruction leading to massive osteoarthritis and irreparable rotator cuff tears might be salvaged by implantation of an inverted total shoulder prosthesis Delta in the elderly. However, despite the generally high success rate and satisfying clinical results of inverted total shoulder arthroplasty, this treatment option has potential complications. Therefore, the objective of this study was a prospective evaluation of the clinical and radiological outcome after a minimum of 2 years follow-up of patients undergoing inverted shoulder replacement with or without prior rotator cuff repair. Patients and Methods. Sixty-eight shoulders in 66 patients (36 women and 30 men) operated between February 2002 and June 2007 with a mean age of 66 years (ranging from 53 to 84 years) were first assessed preoperatively and then at minimum 2 years follow-up, using the Constant score for pain, Constant Shoulder Score, Oxford Shoulder Score, UCLA Shoulder rating scale, DASH Score, Rowe Score for Instability and Oxford Instability Score. 29 patients (Group A) had undergone previous shoulder arthroscopy for cuff tear reconstruction at a mean of 29 months (range 12 to 48 months) before surgery and 39 patients (Group B) underwent primary implantation of an inverted total shoulder prosthesis Delta. Any complications in both groups were assessed according to Goslings and Gouma. Results. We report statistically significant improvements of all obtained scores at a mean follow-up of 42 months (ranging from 24 to 96 months) in both groups. Significant outcome differences between 29 patients with previous shoulder arthroscopy for cuff tear reconstruction and 39 without previous shoulder arthroscopy were not observed. Eight complications occurred altogether, in terms of a nerve lesion once, loosening of the humeral stem three times, and loosening or fracture of the glenoid component four times. Conclusion. We did not detect any statistically significant impact of previous insufficient shoulder arthroscopy for cuff tear reconstruction on the outcome and survival rate after the implantation of the inverted total shoulder prosthesis Delta. We conclude that reverse total shoulder arthroplasty with the Delta prosthesis is significantly beneficial in terms of less shoulder pain, higher stability and gain of range of motion without this beneficial effect being significantly weakened by previous insufficient shoulder arthroscopy for cuff tear reconstruction. We believe that previous arthroscopic cuff tear reconstruction should therefore be included in the treatment algorithm

Introduction

Reverse shoulder replacement is a surgical option for cuff tear arthropathy. However scapular notching is a concern. Newer designs of glenospheres are available to reduce scapular notching. Eccentric glenosphere with a lowered centre of rotation have been shown to improve range of adduction in vitro. We hypothesize that the eccentric glenosphere improve clinical outcomes and reduce scapular notching.

Purpose. to analyze the survivorship of the RSA with a minimum 10 years follow up. Patients and Methods. Between 1992 and 1999, 145 Delta (DePuy) RSAs have been implanted in 138 patients. It was a mulicentric study. Initial etiologies were gathered as following: group A (92 cases) Cuff tear arthropaties (CTA), osteoarthritis (OA) with at least 2 involved cuff tendons, and massive cuff tear with pseudoparalysis (MCT); group B (39 cases) -failed hemiarthroplasties (HA), failed total shoulder arthroplasties (TSA), and fracture sequelae; and group C (14 cases) rheumatoid arthritis, fractures, tumor, and instability. Survival curves were established with the Kaplan-Meier technique. Two end-points were retained: -implant revision, defined by glenoid or humeral replacement or removal, or conversion to HA; - a poor clinical outcome defined by an absolute Constant score of less than 30. Results. At the time of review, 47 patients had died with their prosthesis in place and 30 were lost to follow-up. There were 12 revisions, 6 for infections, 3 for glenoid loosening, 1 for dislocation, 1 for glenoid dissociation (by unscrewing), and 1 for humeral loosening. The survival curve to prosthetic removal showed an overall survivorship of 92% at 10 years. Segmentation according to etiology showed a 97% survivorship for group A and 88% for group B This difference was not significant. No patients of group C had a minimum follow up of ten years because there were died or lost to follow up. The survival curve to a Constant score of less than 30 showed an overall survivorship of 90% at 10 years. Segmentation according to etiology showed a significant difference at 10 years in favor of group A (92%) compared to group B (86%) with a break of the curve after 9 years for group B. Discussion. Our results show that the overall survivorship of the reverse shoulder prosthesis to removal is good even 10 years after implantation, in particular if it had been implanted for CTA, OA, or MCT. However, functional results did deteriorate progressively after 9 years in particular if it had been implanted for revision (HA or TSA). Therefore, extreme caution must be observed in relation to the indications for reverse shoulder arthroplasty, especially in younger patients

The surgical treatment of three- and four-part fractures of the proximal humerus in osteoporotic bone is difficult and there is no consensus as to which technique leads to the best outcome in elderly patients. Between 1998 and 2004 we treated 76 patients aged over 70 years with three- or four-part fractures by percutaneous reduction and internal fixation using the Humerusblock.

A displacement of the tuberosity of > 5 mm and an angulation of > 30° of the head fragment were the indications for surgery.

Of the patients 50 (51 fractures) were available for follow-up after a mean of 33.8 months (5.8 to 81). The absolute, age-related and side-related Constant scores were recorded. Of the 51 fractures, 46 (90.2%) healed primarily. Re-displacement of fragments or migration of Kirschner wires was seen in five cases. Necrosis of the humeral head developed in four patients. In three patients a secondary arthroplasty had to be performed, in two because of re-displacement and in one for necrosis of the head. There was one case of deep infection which required a further operation and one of delayed healing.

The mean Constant score of the patients with a three-part fracture was 61.2 points (35 to 87) which was 84.9% of the score for the non-injured arm. In four-part fractures it was 49.5 points (18 to 87) or 68.5% of the score for the non-injured arm.

The Humerusblock technique can provide a comfortable and mobile shoulder in elderly patients and is a satisfactory alternative to replacement and traditional techniques of internal fixation.

We used an inverted shoulder arthroplasty in 43 consecutive patients with a mean age of 78 years (65 to 97) who had sustained a three- or four-part fracture of the upper humerus. All except two were reviewed with a mean follow-up of 22 months (6 to 58).

The clinical outcome was satisfactory with a mean active anterior elevation of 97° (35° to 160°) and a mean active external rotation in abduction of 30° (0° to 80°). The mean Constant and the mean modified Constant scores were respectively 44 (16 to 69) and 66% (25% to 97%). Complications included three patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy, five with neurological complications, most of which resolved, and one with an anterior dislocation. Radiography showed peri-prosthetic calcification in 36 patients (90%), displacement of the tuberosities in 19 (53%) and a scapular notch in ten (25%). Compared with conventional hemiarthroplasty, satisfactory mobility was obtained despite frequent migration of the tuberosities. However, long-term results are required before reverse shoulder arthroplasty can be recommended as a routine procedure in complex fractures of the upper humerus in the elderly.