Simovitch, J Bone Joint Surg Am 2007 - Impact of Fatty Infiltration of the Teres Minor Muscle on the Outcome of Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

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Impact of Fatty Infiltration of the Teres Minor Muscle on the Outcome of Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

Simovitch, Gerber, et al.·J Bone Joint Surg Am·2007·228 citations·Retrospective cohort

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Background

Reports have demonstrated that reverse shoulder arthroplasty restores overhead elevation but fails to restore active external rotation. The teres minor muscle-tendon unit contributes to active external rotation, and its deficiency may impair the clinical outcome. It was therefore the purpose of this study to evaluate the influence of fatty infiltration of the teres minor muscle on the clinical outcome after reverse total shoulder replacement.

Methods

42 shoulders in 42 patients (average age, 71 years) with painful cuff tear arthropathy or an irreparable rotator cuff deficiency with pseudoparesis were treated with a reverse Delta-III shoulder arthroplasty and followed clinically for a minimum of 24 months.
Preoperatively, fatty infiltration of the teres minor was assessed, according to the grading system of Goutallier et al., with use of magnetic resonance imaging.
The effect of teres minor fatty infiltration on the subjective and objective outcomes of the reverse shoulder arthroplasty was evaluated.

Results

The 30 shoulders with stage-0, 1, or 2 fatty infiltration of the teres minor muscle (group 1) had a significantly better ultimate Constant score, a significantly better subjective shoulder value, and significantly greater preoperative-to-postoperative improvement than the 12 shoulders with stage-3 or 4 fatty infiltration (group 2).
In group 1 the relative Constant score increased by an average of 41% and the subjective shoulder value increased by an average of 44%, whereas in group 2 the respective increases were 32% (p = 0.033) and 25% (p = 0.018).
Group 1 had an average increase of 6.2 points in the score for extremity positioning, whereas group 2 gained only 5.3 points (p = 0.033).
Group 1 had a net gain of 9° of external rotation with the arm at the side compared with an average net loss of 7° in group 2 (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Stage-3 or 4 fatty infiltration of the teres minor compromises the clinical outcome of reverse shoulder arthroplasty for the treatment of irreparable rotator cuff tears.

Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.

Impact of Fatty Infiltration of the Teres Minor Muscle on the Outcome of Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

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Impact of Fatty Infiltration of the Teres Minor Muscle on the Outcome of Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

Simovitch, Gerber, et al.·J Bone Joint Surg Am·2007·228 citations·Retrospective cohort

|

Background

Reports have demonstrated that reverse shoulder arthroplasty restores overhead elevation but fails to restore active external rotation. The teres minor muscle-tendon unit contributes to active external rotation, and its deficiency may impair the clinical outcome. It was therefore the purpose of this study to evaluate the influence of fatty infiltration of the teres minor muscle on the clinical outcome after reverse total shoulder replacement.

Methods

42 shoulders in 42 patients (average age, 71 years) with painful cuff tear arthropathy or an irreparable rotator cuff deficiency with pseudoparesis were treated with a reverse Delta-III shoulder arthroplasty and followed clinically for a minimum of 24 months.
Preoperatively, fatty infiltration of the teres minor was assessed, according to the grading system of Goutallier et al., with use of magnetic resonance imaging.
The effect of teres minor fatty infiltration on the subjective and objective outcomes of the reverse shoulder arthroplasty was evaluated.

Results

The 30 shoulders with stage-0, 1, or 2 fatty infiltration of the teres minor muscle (group 1) had a significantly better ultimate Constant score, a significantly better subjective shoulder value, and significantly greater preoperative-to-postoperative improvement than the 12 shoulders with stage-3 or 4 fatty infiltration (group 2).
In group 1 the relative Constant score increased by an average of 41% and the subjective shoulder value increased by an average of 44%, whereas in group 2 the respective increases were 32% (p = 0.033) and 25% (p = 0.018).
Group 1 had an average increase of 6.2 points in the score for extremity positioning, whereas group 2 gained only 5.3 points (p = 0.033).
Group 1 had a net gain of 9° of external rotation with the arm at the side compared with an average net loss of 7° in group 2 (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Stage-3 or 4 fatty infiltration of the teres minor compromises the clinical outcome of reverse shoulder arthroplasty for the treatment of irreparable rotator cuff tears.

Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.

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