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Introduction: A transparent, reliable and accurate reporting of complications is essential for an evidence-based evaluation of shoulder arthroplasty (SA). We systematically reviewed the literature for terms and definitions related to negative events associated with SA., Materials and Methods: Various biomedical databases were searched for reviews, clinical studies and case reports of complications associated with SA. Any general definition of a complication, classification system, all reported terms related to complications and negative events with their definitions were extracted. Terms were grouped and organised in a hierarchical structure. Definitions of negative events were tabulated and compared., Results: From 1086 initial references published between 2010 and 2014, 495 full-text papers were reviewed. Five reports provided a general definition of the term "surgical complication" and 29 used a classification system of complications. A total of 1399 extracted terms were grouped based on similarities and involved implant or anatomical parts. One hundred and six reports (21.4%) defined at least one negative event for 28 different terms. There were 64 definitions related to humeral or glenoid loosening, and 25 systems documenting periprosthetic radiolucency. Other definitions considered notching, stress shielding, implant failure and tuberosity malposition., Conclusions: A clear standardised set of SA complication definitions is lacking. Few authors reported complications based on definitions mainly considering radiological criteria without clinical parameters. This review should initiate and support the development of a standardised SA complication core set.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the timing and location of cortical bone resorption after total shoulder arthroplasty with an uncemented rectangular stem and investigate its effect on shoulder function up to 5 years after implantation., Methods: Between June 2003 and September 2006, 183 consecutive total shoulder arthroplasties were performed, 133 of which received a cementless rectangular stem as indicated by primary or post-traumatic osteoarthritis (OA). The 5-year postoperative follow-up rate was 80%. Standardized radiographic controls and clinical assessments were performed at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1, 2, and 5 years., Results: Twenty-two patients (17%) showed full-thickness cortical bone resorption, 21 of whom were diagnosed with Sperling zone 2 resorption. The maximum craniocaudal distance of full resorption averaged 19.1 mm (range, 5.6-46.7 mm). The median distance progressed significantly from 9.6 mm to 13.8 mm between 6 and 12 months (P = .005). The risk of bone resorption was 3.1 times higher for post-traumatic OA patients than for those with primary OA. The occurrence of bone resorption increased significantly with increasing stem diameters relative to the humeral diameter. There was no significant effect of bone resorption on functional outcome., Conclusion: Full-thickness cortical bone resorption in the proximal posterolateral humerus after receipt of a cementless rectangular stem has a prevalence of 17%, mostly occurring within the first year after surgery. Risk factors include age, post-traumatic conditions, and larger stem sizes relative to the humerus. This is a radiographic phenomenon without significant impairment of function or need for revision within 5 years after surgery., (Copyright © 2014 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Our goal was to evaluate the objective and subjective midterm outcome after revision of a failed shoulder arthroplasty with a reverse design prosthesis. Twenty consecutive patients with 21 revisions of a primary shoulder arthroplasty using reverse shoulder prosthesis Delta III(®) were followed up postoperatively for a mean of 46 months including clinical and radiological examination. Complications were recorded and Constant score, DASH and SF36 were assessed. With the numbers given a significant reduction of pain was achieved from 8.7 to 3.0 (p < 0.001). There was a significant improvement of active flexion from 43° to 97° (p < 0.001) and active abduction from 44° to 90° (p < 0.001). However, at the same time, active external rotation with an adducted humerus decreased significantly from 26° to 12° (p = 0.012). The constant score improved significantly from 16.7 to 55.9 (p < 0.001). Sixteen patients (84%) rated their shoulder better or much better than before. In 43% an intraoperative and in 38% a postoperative complication occurred including two late stage infections which required prosthesis removal. Our results support the use of the reverse prosthesis as revision prosthesis. The reverse design helps to compensate functional deficits due to severe soft-tissue damage except active external rotation. Nevertheless, the revision is a technically demanding procedure reflected in a high rate of intraoperative complications. The rate of secondary infections of 10% remains a special concern.

The purpose of this study was to describe the outcome after reversed Delta III shoulder prosthesis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and irreparable rotator cuff tear. Fifteen patients (17 joints) were prospectively analysed using the Constant-Murley score (CS). Comprehensive outcome measure was carried out by means of four widely used questionnaires as well as clinical and radiographic examinations at an average of 24.3 months postoperatively. The CS improved significantly from 19 to 59.5 points. The mental (MSC) and physical (PCS) component summary score of the Short Form 36 (SF-36) reached 108% and 77%, respectively, while the DASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand) was 58% of a comparative norm population. Remaining deficits were documented by SPADI (Shoulder Pain and Disability; 54.4 points) and ASES (clinical and patient-orientated American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons; 84.3 and 61.3 points, respectively). No radiological signs of loosening were found, but scapular notching occurred in four cases. Reversed arthroplasty provides a substantial improvement of shoulder function in patients with RA. The high incidence of notching is of concern.

Objective: Exact restoration of the glenohumeral joint, especially in the case of complex pathologies, due to high prosthesis modularity and in situ assembly; later conversion to inverse design with same shaft possible., Indications: Primary shoulder osteoarthritis, secondary joint destruction after previous fracture or its treatment, humeral head necrosis, or inflammatory processes, revisions of defect situations such as hemiprostheses., Contraindications: General contraindications of total shoulder arthroplasty, additionally, functional loss of the rotator cuff, advanced osteoporosis, narrow medullary canal, e.g., in patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis., Surgical Technique: After deltopectoral approach free resection of the humeral head along landmarks, stepwise rasping of the humeral medullary canal, insertion of the rectangled stem, realignment of humeral height with the body, realignment of inclination and possible retroversion with the inclination set. The asymmetric head ensures exact restoration of the joint center. Implantation of the cemented glenoid, test of range of motion and soft-tissue tension, and exchange of components in situ, if necessary., Results: A prospective evaluation of the first 146 consecutive patients with 1-year follow-up revealed significant improvements of about 151% regarding pain and of about 98% in function without significant differences between different indications. Four shaft fissures were observed and treated with intraoperative cerclages during the learning period. No further fissures were noted after adaptation of the surgical procedure and subsequent guidelines. One traumatic and one atraumatic head rotation were observed but should be prevented with a new torque wrench. Similar functional results can be achieved even in complex shoulder pathologies due to the high modularity of the prosthesis.

The purpose of this report is to assess the association of concomitant biceps tenodesis in total shoulder arthroplasty with treatment success 1 year after total shoulder arthroplasty. Of 136 consecutive shoulders (124 patients) undergoing primary total shoulder arthroplasty between 2003 and 2006, 54 (39.7%) underwent biceps tenodesis. For each patient, we obtained potential preoperative confounding data, such as age; gender; presence of rheumatoid arthritis; Short Form 36; number of previous shoulder operations; Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score; Shoulder Pain and Disability Index score; and insurance status. At the 1-year follow-up, we calculated the Constant score of all patients (ranging from 0 [worst] to 100 [best]). We first determined the crude association of concomitant biceps tenodesis with 1-year treatment success (Constant score > or =80) and then fitted a multivariate model correcting for potential confounders to assess the adjusted association of the biceps tenodesis on treatment success. The total number of treatment successes was 46 of 136 shoulders (33.8% of all prosthesis implantations). The crude association (odds ratio) of a concomitant biceps tenodesis with treatment success was 2.38 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15 to 4.93; P = .02). When adjusting for potential confounders, we found that this association slightly increased to 2.97 (95% CI 1.00 to 8.85; P = .05). Concomitant biceps tenodesis appears to have a favorable effect on 1-year treatment success after total shoulder arthroplasty.

Objective: To assess the responsiveness (sensitivity to change) of 6 shoulder outcome instruments., Methods: In a prospective cohort study of 153 total shoulder arthroplasties, outcome was measured by the Short Form 36 (SF-36); Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire (DASH); Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI); American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons questionnaire for the shoulder (ASES); and the Constant (Murley) Score (CS). Responsiveness was mainly quantified by effect sizes before and 6 months after operation. Sensitivity analysis of the effects by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves was performed to determine the instruments' ability to classify effects into global health change assessment categories., Results: Effect sizes of the self-assessment total scores were 0.71, 1.19, 2.10, and 2.13 for the SF-36, DASH, SPADI, and ASES, respectively. The clinical ASES and the CS had effect sizes of 1.87 and 2.23, respectively. The SPADI (effect size 2.12) and the CS (effect size 2.72) were most responsive for pain. For functioning, the patient ASES (effect size 2.10), the CS (effect size 1.82), and the clinical ASES (effect size 1.85) were almost equal. The SF-36 bodily pain scale and most scores of the condition-specific instruments showed a significant area under the ROC of up to 0.77., Conclusion: The SPADI and/or the CS are the most suitable for short, responsive, shoulder-specific assessment. The more expensive patient ASES can be used for most responsive shoulder-function assessment. For a comprehensive measurement of health and quality of life, the DASH and/or the SF-36 should be added to the set.

Objective: To explore the physiometric and psychometric properties of clinical, generic, and condition-specific assessment instruments. To describe patients' outcome after total shoulder arthroplasty., Methods: Forty-three patients were assessed in a 5-6-year cross-sectional catamnesis., Results: With regard to shoulder joint stability, pain, general physical health, and mental health, the patients showed scores comparative to normative scores. Significant functional limitation was evidenced by low mean scores on the specific function scales (e.g., Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire score = 64.0, normative score = 86.6). There were high correlations among the joint-specific scales (up to 0.93) and moderate correlations between these and the generic and clinical scales. Factor analysis identified 3 different assessment domains., Conclusion: The patients' quality of life (QOL) was high and not affected by impairment in some specific functional abilities. Physical QOL, mental QOL, clinical assessment, condition-specific measures, and generic measures were identified as separate domains, all of which are required for a comprehensive and sophisticated assessment in practical clinical routine.