Pyrocarbon interposition shoulder arthroplasty: preliminary results from a prospective multicenter study at 2 years of follow-up.

Background: The concept of free interposition arthroplasty proved successful for small joints of the hand, wrist, and foot, particularly after the use of implants coated with pyrocarbon, which enhanced their tribologic and elastic properties. The present study reports preliminary outcomes of a pyrocarbon-coated interposition shoulder arthroplasty (PISA) implant.

Methods: This was a prospective study of 67 consecutive patients who underwent shoulder PISA at 9 centers.

Is rotator cuff repair appropriate in patients older than 60 years of age? prospective, randomised trial in 103 patients with a mean four-year follow-up.

Background: The objective of this randomised trial was to compare surgical rotator cuff repair to simple decompression by acromioplasty and biceps tenotomy in patients older than 60 years of age with a mean follow-up of 4 years.

Hypothesis: Tendon repair produces better functional outcomes than simple decompression and prevents progression towards cuff tear arthropathy in the longer term.

Patients And Method: Of 130 initially included patients older than 60 years of age and having rotator cuff tears deemed amenable to surgical repair, 103 (79%) were evaluated after a mean of 4 years.

Os acromiale, a cause of shoulder pain, not to be overlooked.

Introduction: Os acromiale is a failure of fusion of the acromial process. It is usually asymptomatic and discovered by chance. When it is painful a differential diagnosis must be made in relation to the subacromial impingement syndrome.

Acetabular reconstruction using morselized allograft and a reinforcement ring for revision arthroplasty with Paprosky type II and III bone loss: survival analysis of 95 hips after 5 to 13 years.

Introduction: Treatment of acetabular loosening and accompanying bone defects requires that the bone stock be rebuilt, the primary stability ensured, and the hip center of rotation restored to its anatomical location.

Hypothesis: Acetabular reconstruction using morselized allograft and a reinforcement ring will meet these requirements and ensure medium-term survival.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 95 acetabular revision cases (95 patients) performed between 1987 and 1995.

Arthroscopic treatment of rotator cuff tear in the over-60s: repair is preferable to isolated acromioplasty-tenotomy in the short term.

Introduction: The principal study objective was to compare clinical results for arthroscopic repair of rotator cuff tear and acromioplasty-tenotomy in patients aged over 60 years.

Hypotheses: Repair provides better clinical results than isolated acromioplasty-tenotomy. Shoulder function is improved when healing is obtained.