Clinical outcomes of a novel 'all-suture' fixation for valgus-impacted proximal humeral fractures.

Background: Conventional techniques for the fixation of displaced proximal humeral fractures include the use of locking plates, intramedullary nailing, hemiarthroplasty and reverse shoulder replacement. Valgus-impacted fractures are a common subtype of proximal humeral fracture, but there are few publications concerning the outcomes of treatment. This study aims to review outcomes following an 'all-suture' technique for this fracture subtype without the use of transosseous sutures.

Should the beach chair position have national guidelines to reduce the risk of cerebrovascular complications? Results from a National Survey of Surgeons and Anaesthetists.

Background: The beach chair position is frequently used in UK shoulder surgeries, but cerebrovascular complications, while rare, can have severe consequences. No consensus exists on best practices due to limited evidence.

Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted with a convenience sampling method among the British Elbow and Shoulder Society and Regional Anaesthesia UK members to gauge the need for guidelines.

The N-brace trial: Does arm position during immobilisation of proximal humerus fractures influence outcome - A preliminary study.

Background: Traditional initial management of proximal humerus fractures (PHF) involves arm immobilisation in a simple sling (SS) in an internally rotated position. We believe this risks fracture displacement and imbalance of soft tissues, encouraging malunion and stiffness. A neutral-rotation brace (NRB) maintains an arm position which may prevent this, leading to quicker and superior recovery.

Review of the national usage of antibiotics in arthroplasty surgery: a need for evidence-based prescribing.

Introduction: Surgical site infections (SSI) remain one of the most serious complications of arthroplasty surgery. The role of antibiotic prophylaxis in preventing SSI post-arthroplasty is well established. However, there is considerable heterogeneity in prophylactic prescribing across the United Kingdom (UK), which is contradicted by the contemporaneous evidence.

Arthroscopic Distal Clavicular Autograft for Congruent Glenoid Reconstruction.

Arthroscopic distal clavicular autograft (DCA) is effective in shoulder instability with glenoid bone loss. The original technique uses an osteochondral autograft, fixed with screws or suture anchors. We developed a modified procedure called "congruent arc DCA" characterized by (1) use of drilling guides to optimize graft positioning and make the all-arthroscopic procedure safer and reproducible; (2) rotation of the DCA of 90° to reach a congruent arc with its undersurface; (3) fixation of the graft with cortical buttons to simplify its intra-articular passage, avoid hardware problems, and facilitate possible revision surgery; and (4) intraoperative use of a suture tensioner to achieve satisfactory compression of the graft and increase its consolidation.

Sharpened lateral acromion morphology (SLAM sign) as an indicator of rotator cuff tear: a retrospective matched study.

Background: Bigliani types of acromion and critical shoulder angle (CSA) have been implicated as indicators of rotator cuff disease. A sharpened inferolateral edge of acromion (termed as Sharpened Lateral Acromion Morphology or SLAM sign) is frequently observed in anteroposterior radiographs of the glenohumeral joint in patients with rotator cuff tears (RCT). We aimed to evaluate the association of the SLAM sign with RCT in comparison to high CSA (≥35°) and Bigliani type 3 (hooked) acromion.

Revision of failed shoulder arthroplasty: epidemiology, etiology, and surgical options.

Background: Our aim was to analyze the epidemiology, etiologies, and revision options for failed shoulder arthroplasty from 2 tertiary centers.

Methods: From 1993 to 2013, 542 failed arthroplasties were revised in 540 patients (65% women): 224 hemiarthroplasties (HAs, 41%), 237 anatomic total shoulder arthroplasties (TSAs, 44%) and 81 reverse total arthroplasties (RSAs, 15%). Data about patients, pathology, and reintervention procedures, as well as intraoperative data, were analyzed from our 2 local registries that prospectively captured all the revision procedures.

Short- to mid-term results of ulna head replacement as both a primary and revision implant.

Unlabelled: We present the results of short- to medium-term follow-up of 10 patients following ulna head replacement. The mean age of patients was 63.2 years (range 48-81 years), with the mean duration of follow-up being 48 months (12-88 months).

A guided surgical approach and novel fixation method for arthroscopic Latarjet.

Background: Most of the complications of the Latarjet procedure are related to the bone block positioning and use of screws. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if an arthroscopic Latarjet guiding system improves accuracy of bone block positioning and if suture button fixation could be an alternative to screw fixation in allowing bone block healing and avoiding complications.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-six patients (mean age, 27 years) underwent an arthroscopic Latarjet procedure with a guided surgical approach and suture button fixation.

Fibular nonunion after closed-wedge high tibial osteotomy.

Unlabelled: Closed-wedge valgus high tibial osteotomy (HTO) has been reported to be an effective procedure for the treatment of medial compartment osteoarthritis of the knee. It requires shortening the fibula, for which many techniques have been described. Dislocation of the proximal tibiofibular joint limits the correction angle of the procedure and the osteotomy of the fibular head runs the rare but dramatic risk of common fibular nerve palsy, which is why many surgeons perform the osteotomy more distally at the shaft.

Rotator cuff repair failure in vivo: a radiostereometric measurement study.

Background: The prevalence of failure among repairs of the rotator cuff is well known, but very few objective data exist regarding either the scale or timing of this complication. The aim of this study was to use a previously validated modified technique of roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis to monitor the behavior of the rotator cuff after repair to establish at what point failure may occur.

Materials And Methods: A series of 10 patients had metal beads and wire sutures embedded into the humeral greater tuberosity and supraspinatus tendon, respectively, during open cuff repair procedures.

Measurement of migration of soft tissue by modified Roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis (RSA): validation of a new technique to monitor rotator cuff tears.

The purpose of this study was to develop a technique to use Roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis (RSA) to measure migration of soft-tissue structures after rotator cuff repair. RSA stereo films were obtained; images were analysed using a semi-automatic software program allowing 3D viewing of results. RSA imaging experiments were performed to validate the technique, using a glass phantom with implanted RSA beads and an animal model with steel sutures as RSA markers which were moved known distances.

Glenoid loosening after total shoulder arthroplasty: an in vitro CT-scan study.

Glenoid fixation failure has only been grossly characterized. This lack of information hinders attempts to improve fixation because of a lack of methodologies for detecting and monitoring fixation failure. Our goal was twofold: to collect detailed data of glenoid fixation fracture, and to investigate computed tomography (CT)-scanning as a tool for investigations of fixation failure.

Management of rotator cuff disease: specific treatment for specific disorders.

Disease of the rotator cuff is common. It is responsible for a high proportion of patients with shoulder pain presenting to general practice, causing work absenteeism and claims for sickness benefits. Rotator cuff disease (RCD) can often be managed in primary health care services, although some cases may require secondary referral.