Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) successfully restores shoulder function in different conditions. Glenoid baseplate fixation and positioning seem to be the most important factors influencing RSA survival. When scapular anatomy is distorted (eccentric osteoarthrirtis, rotator cuff arthropathy), optimal baseplate positioning and secure screw purchase can be challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether CT-based pre-operative planning, integrated with intra-operative navigation could improve glenoid baseplate fixation and positioning by increasing screw length, reducing number of screws required to obtain fixation and increasing the use of augmented baseplate to gain the desired positioning. Twenty patients who underwent navigated RSA were compared retrospectively with 20 patients operated on with a conventional technique. All the procedures were performed by the same surgeon, using the same implant. Mean screw length was significantly longer in the navigation group (35.5 ± 4.4 mm vs 29.9 ± 3.6 mm; p = .001). Significant higher rate of optimal fixation using 2 screws only (17 vs 3 cases, p = .019) and higher rate of augmented baseplate usage (13 vs 4 cases, p = .009) was also present in the navigation group. Pre-operative CT-based planning integrated with intra-operative navigation can improve glenoid component positioning and fixation, possibly leading to an improvement of RSA survival.

No abstract

Background: There is lack of consensus regarding best operative fixation strategy for periprosthetic femoral fractures (PFFs) around a stable stem. Based on our experience in the treatment of nonunions after PFFs and other challenging cases and on Literature, we propose an algorithm that can guide in choosing the ideal surgical technique even for first-time PFFs with a stable stem.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data on patients who failed to heal after a surgically treated Vancouver type B1 or C PFF. All patients were treated with locking plate, double structural allograft and autologous bone marrow concentrate (BMC) over a platelet-rich plasma (PRP)-based membrane at fracture site. All patients were also pharmacologically treated with Teriparatide in the postoperative period. We studied patients with radiograms, histological evaluation of the nonunion area, and phosphocalcic metabolism. Patients were assessed subjectively, clinically and radiographically until healing and then annually.Results: All nonunions healed over a six months period, and functional recovery appeared to be good. Retrospective evaluation of the proposed algorithm showed that none of the patients met biological or mechanical criteria such as to make valid the treatment with locking plate alone.Conclusion: Mechanical factors are not the only issues that should be taken into account when choosing the surgical approach to PFFs over a stable stem. Systemic and local biological conditions are factors that should drive to a rigid fixation with absolute stability (using a plate and structural allograft) plus local biological support (structural allograft and autologous BMC in a PRP-based scaffold) and systemic anabolic treatment (Teriparatide) in the first instance. A therapeutic algorithm is proposed, given the prosthetic stem to be stable, taking into account mechanical and biological criteria.