The use of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) has spread worldwide as a result of an expansion of indications and an aging society. However, the value of RTSA for very old patients is rarely analyzed. This study was conducted to investigate the outcome of primary RTSA in patients older than 80 years. We identified 171 shoulders (159 patients) treated with RTSA at an age of more than 80 years between January 2005 and March 2018. The primary outcome parameters were Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV) and the Constant-Murley score, mortality, complications, and reoperation rates. Secondary outcomes were adverse radiographic outcomes. A minimum follow-up of 1 year was accepted in 14 patients (8%) because of these patients' older age. We included 171 cases (159 patients; 120 female) with a mean age of 84 ± 3 years (range 80.1-94). The main indication for RTSA was cuff tear arthropathy (43%), isolated rotator cuff tear (22%), and fracture (21%). A total of 136 patients (79%) were eligible for physical examination with a mean follow-up of 41 ± 25 months (12-121). Relative Constant-Murley scores improved significantly from 39% ± 19% to 77% ± 16% and SSV from 31% ± 18% to 74% ± 22%. The range of motion and force improved significantly as well. The surgical site complication rate was 30%, with a reoperation rate of 8% (13 patients) mainly due to fracture and glenoid loosening. The overall mortality was 16% with a mean time to death of 53 ± 31 months (95% confidence interval 15, 120), thereby no higher than the age-adjusted, expected mortality rate without this procedure. Despite a quite high postoperative complication rate, RTSA is a valid therapeutic option in patients older than 80 years, with an unexpectedly low medical complication rate and good to excellent improvement of shoulder function and pain.

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is established for autologous breast reconstruction. ERAS leads to a shortened hospital stay and improved outcome after elective surgery. In this retrospective, two-center case–control study, we compared two different treatment regimens for patients undergoing a DIEP-flap breast reconstruction from two centers, one with an established ERAS protocol and one without. All patients with DIEP breast reconstructions over the period of 12 months were included. The primary outcome measure was the length of hospital stay (LOS) in days. A total of 79 patients with 95 DIEP-flaps were analyzed. In group A (ERAS) 42 patients were operated with DIEP flaps, in group B (non-ERAS) 37 patients. LOS was significantly reduced in the ERAS group (4.51 days) compared to the non-ERAS group (6.32; p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that, in group A, LOS is significantly affected by surgery duration. BMI in the ERAS group had no effect on LOS. In group B a higher BMI resulted in a significantly higher LOS. In multivariate analysis, neither age nor type for surgery (primary/secondary/after neoadjuvant therapy, etc.) affected LOS. In both groups, no systemic or flap-related complications were observed. Comparing two reconstructive centers with and without implemented ERAS, ERAS led to a significantly decreased LOS for all patients. ERAS implementation does not result in an increased complication rate or flap loss. Postoperative pain can be well managed with basic analgesia using NSAID when intraoperative blocks are applied. The reduced use of opioids was well tolerated. With implementation of ERAS the recovery experience can be enhanced making autologous breast reconstructions more available and attractive for various patients.

Background: Primarily posterior bone deficient (dysplastic) (Walch type C) or secondarily eroded (Walch type B2 or B3) glenoids represent a surgical challenge for shoulder arthroplasty. Due to the posteriorly static decentered head, reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) is often considered as the treatment of choice. The purpose of this study is to report the clinical and radiographic outcomes, complications and reoperations of RTSA for posteriorly deficient glenoids. Materials and methods: All patients who underwent RTSA for osteoarthritis secondary to underlying glenoid deficiency (Walch type B2, B3 and C) between 2005 and 2018 (study group), were identified from our institutional shoulder arthroplasty database and gender- and age-matched to a cohort of patients with normal glenoid bone stock (control group). Longitudinal pre- and postoperative clinical [Constant–Murley (CS) score, Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV)] and radiographic outcomes were assessed. Results: We included 188 patients (94 in each group). The median follow-up was 43 ± 26 (24–144) months in the study group and 59 ± 32 (24–124) months in the control group. The glenoid deficiency was addressed by using glenoid bone reconstruction. The surgical site complication and revision rate of RTSA in patients with bony deficient glenoids were 17% and 7%. Although glenoid loosening was slightly higher in the study group (5 vs. 2), overall no significant differences were found between the study and control groups in satisfaction scores, preoperative and postoperative absolute and relative Constant scores, complication and revision rates, respectively. Conclusion: Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) seems to be a valuable treatment option for patients with primary (dysplasia) or secondary (wear) posterior glenoid deficiency. Although severe glenoid bone loss seems to be a risk factor for glenoid component failure, the overall complication and revision rates as well as clinical and radiographic outcome are comparable to RTSA in patients without compromised glenoid bone stock. Level of evidence: Level III: case–control study

The identification of factors that specify prognostic models for postoperative results should be based on the best scientific evidence and expert assessment. We aimed to identify, map, and evaluate potential prognostic factors for the improvement of shoulder function in patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Longitudinal primary studies of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair reporting any multivariable factor analyses for shoulder function improvement with an endpoint assessment of at least 6 months were included. We systematically searched EMBASE, Medline, and Scopus for articles published between January 2014 and June 2021. The risk of bias of included studies and the quality of evidence were assessed using the Quality in Prognosis Studies tool and an adapted Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations framework. Overall, 24 studies including 73 outcome analyses were included. We classified younger age and smaller tear size as probably prognostic for a greater improvement in objective outcomes. Shorter symptom duration, absence of a worker compensation claim, low preoperative level of functional status, and high preoperative pain level were classified as probably prognostic for greater improvement in patient-reported outcome measures. The quality of the synthesized evidence was low. Twenty-one studies had an overall high risk of bias. Six potential prognostic factors for shoulder function after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were identified. Along with ongoing expert opinion assessments, they will feed into a prognostic model-building process.

Symmetrical height of the nipple-areola complex (NAC) is a key factor in the perception of breast symmetry. For preoperative markings, we mainly rely on conventional anthropometric measurements of distances in correlation to anatomical landmarks. In this study, we evaluated whether the use of a class 2 laser projection water level would lead to better symmetry of nipple height in reduction mammoplasty procedures when used for preoperative planning. We analysed 100 patients undergoing reduction mammoplasty with a supero-medial pedicle and wise-pattern skin resection. We compared the bilateral differences in nipple height of the last 50 reduction mammoplasty procedures before using the laser projection water level (group A; no laser) with the first 50 reduction mammoplasties after implementation of this device (group B; laser). The follow-up period was 12 months. A total of 48 patients were included in group A and 44 patients in group B. Patient demographics, mean resection weight and complications did not differ statistically significantly. Nipple height differences were significantly lower in group B (laser), measuring 0.22 ± 0.20 cm (0-0.9; n = 44), than those in group A (no laser; p < 0.001), measuring 0.61 ± 0.28 cm (0.2-1.2; n = 49). Using laser level projection helped improve nipple height symmetry in reduction mammoplasty. We consider a difference of more than 1 cm in nipple height to be unacceptable in aesthetic reduction mammoplasty. This simple tool facilitates preoperative markings, and we find it to be safe, quick to install and very helpful in daily practice.