Shoulder & Elbow Flashcards
How many degrees do you aim to make the glenoid after TSA?
neutral
In valgus extension overload, when does pain occur (throwing phase)
Deceleration phase
Outcomes of ORIF vs. TEA in displaced intra-aritcular distal humerus fracture in elderly:
TEA has:
- Better 1-2 year outcomes with TEA
- less OR time with TEA
- No difference in ROM
- No difference in re-operation rates
McKee - JSES 2009
Humeral Head Cysts are associated with what kind of soft tissue pathology?
Chronic Rotator Cuff Tear
1st & 2nd line treatments in congenital radial head dislocation
1st: nonoperative
2nd: radial head resection
- Do this as an adult if the patient is symptomatic
- May show some improvement in pain and increased ROM
What type of constraint does a reverse total shoulder arthroplasty have?
Semi-constrained
AC separation classification
I: sprain
II: 25-100% displacement
III: >100% displacement
IV: Posterior
V: >300% through trapezius
VI: Subcoracoid
what are the 3 mechanisms of elbow dislocation?
Axial load: transolecranon dislocation
valgus posterolateral injury (most common)
varus posteromedial injury (coronoid fracture, tear of LCL)
What is the most important structue preventing medial subluxation of the LH biceps?
Subscapularis
Even a partial tear can lead to medial subluxation of the LHB
6 containdications for shoulder arthrodesis
Paralysis of the scapular muscles
Charcot arthropathy
Contralateral shoulder arthrodesis
Ipsilateral elbow arthrodesis
Elderly patient
Progressive neurologic disease
8 indications for shoulder fusion
Post-traumatic brachial plexus injury
Stabilization of paralytic disorder (in infancy)
Insufficiency of deltoid and rotator cuff with arthropathy
Chronic infection
Failed revision arthroplasty
Severe, refractory instability
Bone deficiency following resection of a tumour
Young, manual labourer, with triad of:
- Massive rotator cuff deficiency
- Deltoid muscle insufficiency
- Excessive excision of acromion
Describe the insertion of the biceps on the radial tuberosity. What does each head do?
Long head inserts proximally
Short head inserts distally

Intra-operative options for irreparable rotator cuff tears:
tenolysis to mobilize
graft jacket
partial repair
move footprint
Bail and do tendon transfer
Greatest risk of failure of rotator cuff repair?
Age >65
NOT smoking
How do you get more ER in reverse TSA?
Reduce and get GT to heal
Concurrent tendon transfers (Lat dorsi)
ER osteotomy
Where does a reverse TSA move the center of rotation?
Medial & inferior
Cause of lateral epicondylitis:
Repeated microtraumatic tearing of ECRB
Best repair for coronoid fractures associated with terrible triad
Suture lasso technique
Better than plates/screws
Better than suture anchors
Where does the LUCL usually avulse off of?
Humeral attachment
2 ways to judge reconstruction of humeral head height
- 56mm higher than top of pec major insertion
- 7-8mm higher than GT
What is the most common location for suprascapular nerve impingement?
Suprascapular notch
Most common complications in distal biceps tendon repair/reconstruction?
Lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve injury
- Most common in both
- new data suggests RARE in 2 incision (0-2%)
Interval for distal biceps tendon repair/
Radial: brachioradialis
Median: pronator teres
(used in both single and 2 incision techniques)
General options for correcting unstable TSA (reverse & anatomic)
Implant:
- Head size: make sure not over-stuffed
- lateralization of implant (more in reverse)
Bony:
Version:
- Make sure it’s correct
- If posterior instability (ie posterior dislocation), dial in more ANTEVERSION
Soft tissue repair:
- Subscap repair (and ensure good force coupling)
- capsule - ± plication












