Background The treatment of proximal humerus tumors with endoprostheses is associated with a high risk of implant-related surgical complications. Because of extensive soft-tissue resection and muscular detachment during surgery, instability is the most common serious complication. A reverse total shoulder arthroplasty with a highly constrained design is one option to mitigate instability, but few studies have reported the results of this prosthesis for proximal humerus tumor resections. Questions/purposes (1) What are the short-term functional results of the constrained reverse total shoulder prosthesis in terms of Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS), DASH, and Constant-Murley scores and ROM values? (2) What is the frequency of revision, using a competing-risks estimator to assess implant survival, and what were the causes of the revisions that occurred? (3) What proportion of patients experienced dislocations at short-term follow-up? Methods Between January 2014 and June 2017, we treated 55 patients with proximal humeral resections and reconstructions for malignant tumors. Of those, 33% (18) of patients were treated with the constrained, reverse total shoulder arthroplasty implant under study here. During that period, no other constrained reverse total shoulder implant was used; however, 13% (seven) of patients were treated with conventional (unconstrained) reverse total shoulder implants, 27% (15) had hemiarthroplasties, 15% (eight) of patients had biologic reconstructions with auto- or allografts and 13% (seven) underwent amputation. During the period in question, our general indications for use of the constrained device under study here were resection of the deltoid muscle/axillary nerve or the deltoid insertion on the humerus due to tumor invasion, or extensive rotator cuff and surrounding soft tissue resection that might result in shoulder instability. During this period, these indications were adhered to consistently. Four of 18 patients treated with the study implant died (three died with the implant intact) and none were lost to follow-up before 2 years, leaving 14 patients (seven women and seven men) for study at a median (range) follow-up of 35 months (25 to 65). Two authors evaluated the clinical and functional status of each patient with ROM (flexion, extension, internal and external rotation, abduction, and adduction) and MSTS, (range 0% to 100%), Constant-Murley (range 0% to 100%), and DASH (range 0 points to 100 points) scores. For the MSTS and Constant-Murley scores, higher percentage scores mean better functional outcome; and for the DASH score, a higher score means more severe disability. Radiographs were obtained at each visit and were used to look for signs of loosening, which we defined as progressive radiolucencies between visits, prosthetic component migration, and fragmentation/fracture of the cement. The Sirveaux classification was used to determine scapular notching. A competing risks analysis with 95% confidence intervals was performed to estimate the cumulative incidence of revision surgery, which we defined as any reoperation in which the implant was removed or changed for any reason, with patient mortality as a competing event. Results At the most recent follow-up, the median (range) MSTS score was 78% (50 to 90), the DASH score was 20 (8 to 65), and the Constant-Murley score was 53% (26 to 83). The median ROM was 75° in forward flexion (40 to 160), 78° in abduction (30 to 150), 35° in internal rotation (10 to 80), and 33° in external rotation (0 to 55). Postoperatively, two of 14 patients underwent or were supposed to undergo revision surgery, and the cumulative incidence of revision surgery was 18% for both 30 and 48 months (95% CI 2 to 45). During the study period, no patients reported instability, and no dislocations occurred. Conclusions Our findings are concerning because the revision risk with this constrained reverse total shoulder implant was higher than has been reported by others for other proximal humerus prostheses. The highly constrained design that helps prevent instability might also transmit increased stresses to the humeral component-bone interface, therefore making it susceptible to loosening. We believe that any other implant with a similar degree of constraint will have the same problem, and changing the indications for patient selection may not solve this issue. These theories need to be tested biomechanically, but our desire is to warn surgeons that while trying to prevent instability, one might trade one complication (instability) for another: aseptic loosening. Level of Evidence Level IV, therapeutic study.

The study aimed to evaluate the results after arthroscopic tenodesis and tenotomy of the biceps tendon (LHBT), coupled in tenotomy modality with a personalized postoperative rehabilitation protocol. The study included patients who underwent arthroscopic biceps tenotomy or tenodesis due to chronic biceps tendinopathy. Postoperatively, a standard rehabilitation program was prescribed to the tenodesis group and personalized was introduced in the tenotomy group, respectively. The outcomes were assessed using the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scale (ASES), clinical tests that are dedicated to biceps tendinopathy, the occurrence of a Popeye deformity, night pain, and return to previous sporting activities. A cohort of 67 patients was enrolled in the final follow-up examination (mean 27 months) of which 40 patients underwent tenotomy (60%), and 27 patients (40%) underwent tenodesis. The mean ASES score improved from 48.1 to 87.8 in the tenotomy group and from 44 to 72.7 in the tenodesis group during the follow-up (p < 0.0001). The tenotomy group had better mean postoperative ASES scores than the tenodesis group (p < 0.0001). Positive clinical tests for biceps pathology were noticed more often in patients after LHB tenodesis (p = 0.0541). The Popeye deformity occurred more often in the tenotomy group; however, no patient complained of the visual appearance of the arm contour (p = 0.0128). Moreover, the frequency of night pain decreased in the tenotomy group (p = 0.0059). Return to previous sporting activities was more frequent in the tenotomy group (p = 0.0090). Arthroscopic biceps tenotomy is a reproducible, simple procedure, and augmented by a rapid rehabilitation protocol that provides promising clinical outcomes, reduces shoulder pain, and allows the patient to return to previous sporting activities, even in population older than 50 years.

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