Although it is well recognized that deltoid disruption after shoulder surgery is associated with poor function, little information is available regarding results of surgical treatment for this problem. 24 patients underwent direct repair or rotational deltoidplasty reconstruction of a detached muscle origin after shoulder surgery. The original surgical procedure was rotator cuff repair in 12, acromioplasty in 4, and lateral acromionectomy with or without rotator cuff repair in 8. The average duration of symptoms before deltoid reconstruction was 17 months. The mean followup was 39 months (range, 13-84 months). 12 patients reported moderate to severe pain, whereas 12 had minimal pain. 2 patients required a shoulder fusion for intractable pain. Overall, one (4%) excellent, 7 (29%) good, and 16 (67%) unsatisfactory results were observed. A poor outcome was associated with a prior lateral acromionectomy, involvement of the middle deltoid, a massive rotator cuff tear with weakness in external rotation, and a residual postoperative defect larger than 2 cm. In select cases, repair or deltoidplasty can improve function and pain.
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Although it is well recognized that deltoid disruption after shoulder surgery is associated with poor function, little information is available regarding results of surgical treatment for this problem. 24 patients underwent direct repair or rotational deltoidplasty reconstruction of a detached muscle origin after shoulder surgery. The original surgical procedure was rotator cuff repair in 12, acromioplasty in 4, and lateral acromionectomy with or without rotator cuff repair in 8. The average duration of symptoms before deltoid reconstruction was 17 months. The mean followup was 39 months (range, 13-84 months). 12 patients reported moderate to severe pain, whereas 12 had minimal pain. 2 patients required a shoulder fusion for intractable pain. Overall, one (4%) excellent, 7 (29%) good, and 16 (67%) unsatisfactory results were observed. A poor outcome was associated with a prior lateral acromionectomy, involvement of the middle deltoid, a massive rotator cuff tear with weakness in external rotation, and a residual postoperative defect larger than 2 cm. In select cases, repair or deltoidplasty can improve function and pain.
Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.