This week in Shoulder & Elbow

Jul 27 – Aug 2, 2026 · 15 new studies, 10 reviews · Shoulder & Elbow archive · All weeks

The new Shoulder & Elbow research The Reduction sent the week of Jul 27 – Aug 2, 2026, with the week’s most recent reviews, each with a one-line summary.

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New research

  1. Weakening of the Active Muscle Restraint Against Valgus Loading During Repeated Baseball Pitching: Direct Evidence of Fatigue in Dynamic Valgus Stabilizers of the Elbow Joint in Collegiate Baseball Pitchers.

    American Journal of Sports Medicine · Aug 2026 · PubMed

    In collegiate pitchers, repeated pitching significantly reduced elbow varus (valgus-restraining) muscle strength over innings while valgus loads stayed constant, suggesting increasing reliance on the UCL as fatigue sets in.

  2. Simultaneous versus Staged Bilateral Shoulder Replacement: A Matched Cohort Study.

    Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery · Aug 06 2026 · PubMed

    In carefully selected patients, simultaneous bilateral shoulder arthroplasty shortens total hospital stay versus staged surgery while achieving equivalent outcomes, satisfaction, and complication rates.

  3. Short Term Results of Structural Bone Grafting of Glenoid Defects in Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review/Meta-analysis of Implant Design and Graft Characteristics.

    Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery · Jul 30 2026 · PubMed

    This systematic review/meta-analysis of 37 studies found structural bone grafts for glenoid defects in reverse shoulder arthroplasty incorporate well regardless of graft type or baseplate design, but revision surgery carries higher loosening/revision rates than primary cases.

  4. Endoscopic release of the lacertus fibrosus at the elbow: an anatomical feasibility study.

    Journal of Hand Surgery (European) · Jul 30 2026 · PubMed

    In a cadaveric feasibility study, endoscopic lacertus fibrosus release via a small proximal portal achieved complete release with full visualization and no neurovascular injury in all specimens.

  5. Mid- to Long-term Outcomes of Coracoclavicular Ligament Reconstruction for Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocations: A Systematic Review of Studies With Minimum 5-Year Follow-up.

    American Journal of Sports Medicine · Jul 29 2026 · PubMed

    At ≥5-year follow-up, coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction for AC joint dislocation yields excellent function, high satisfaction and return to sport, though arthroscopic/synthetic techniques show more recurrence and implant complications.

  6. Can Total Elbow Arthroplasty Effectively Treat Post-traumatic Sequelae After Proximal Ulna or Radius Fracture and Fracture-Dislocations?

    Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery · Jul 27 2026 · PubMed

    TEA for post-traumatic sequelae of proximal ulna/radius fractures is technically demanding but achieves 73% 10-year survival free of revision, similar to results for distal humerus fracture sequelae.

  7. Lower Postoperative Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index Is Associated with Increased Complications and Reoperations Following Shoulder Arthroplasty.

    Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery · Jul 26 2026 · PubMed

    Postoperative GNRI <109 (poor nutrition) was independently associated with over 13-fold higher odds of complications and 6-fold higher reoperation risk after shoulder arthroplasty, despite similar functional outcomes overall.

  8. Region-specific evaluation of Hounsfield units on elbow CT as a predictor of osteoporosis in patients at risk.

    Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery · Jul 26 2026 · PubMed

    Elbow CT Hounsfield unit measurements, especially at the trochlear notch and capitulum, correlate well with DXA and may help screen for osteoporosis when DXA isn't available preoperatively.

  9. Nerve Blocks for Shoulder Arthroscopy: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials With a Network Meta-analysis.

    American Journal of Sports Medicine · Jul 24 2026 · PubMed

    This network meta-analysis of 63 RCTs found interscalene block remains the most effective nerve block for reducing opioid use after shoulder arthroscopy, though combined blocks offer some early pain-control advantages.

  10. In Silico Biomechanical Performance of Inlay vs. Onlay Glenoid Implants in Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Finite Element Study.

    Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery · Jul 14 2026 · PubMed

    Finite element modeling shows inlay glenoid components experience substantially lower bone and implant stresses than onlay designs, potentially explaining their lower loosening rates in total shoulder arthroplasty.

  11. Validity and robustness of an AI-based tool for the assessment of shoulder joint range of motion in patients with shoulder pathologies.

    Shoulder & Elbow · Jul 14 2026 · PubMed

    The AI video tool Maia measured shoulder ROM as accurately as motion capture and more reliably than surgeon visual estimation, though it showed high individual variability for internal rotation.

  12. The New Munich Elbow Soft Tissue (MEST) classification is a reliable MRI-based injury severity grading system for acute simple elbow dislocations.

    Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy · Jul 13 2026 · PubMed

    The new MRI-based Munich Elbow Soft Tissue (MEST) classification for grading soft-tissue injury severity after simple elbow dislocation showed substantial inter- and excellent intrarater reliability, supporting its clinical use.

  13. Increased Tendon Thickness in Healthy Collegiate Baseball Pitchers Is Associated With Fewer Years of Pitching and Less External Rotation Motion Adjusted for Humeral Torsion.

    Sports Health · Jul 09 2026 · PubMed

    In healthy collegiate pitchers, dominant-arm rotator cuff tendon thickening was associated with fewer years of pitching rather than greater external rotation motion, suggesting complex, hypothesis-generating tendon adaptation patterns.

  14. Comparison of Long-term Supraspinatus Tear Progression After Arthroscopic Isolated Subscapularis Repair With and Without Comma Tissue Preservation: A Minimum 10-Year MRI Follow-up Study.

    American Journal of Sports Medicine · Jul 03 2026 · PubMed

    At minimum 10-year follow-up, preserving comma tissue during isolated subscapularis repair reduced long-term supraspinatus tear progression and yielded better clinical scores than margin disruption technique.

  15. Minimally Invasive Screw Fixation of Olecranon Fractures.

    Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma · Jul 01 2026 · PubMed

    In 31 patients, minimally invasive intramedullary screw fixation for undisplaced olecranon fractures yielded good functional outcomes, low complication rates, and no major intraoperative issues.

Recent reviews

  1. Upper Extremity Surgeon's Guide to the Evaluation of the Shoulder Girdle and Diagnosis of Associated Pathology.

    Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons · Mar 01 2026 · PubMed

    This review offers upper extremity surgeons a practical guide to shoulder girdle physical examination and differential diagnosis across common pathologies like rotator cuff tears, instability, and impingement syndromes.

  2. Perioperative Management, Complications, and Outcomes of Shoulder Arthroplasty in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus.

    JBJS Reviews · Jan 01 2025 · PubMed

    Diabetic patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty face longer stays, higher readmission and revision rates, increased cardiovascular/infection risk, and lower satisfaction, though optimal preoperative A1c cutoff remains unclear.

  3. Batter's Shoulder: Diagnosis, Management, and Outcomes.

    Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons · Nov 01 2024 · PubMed

    This review covers diagnosis (history, exam, MRI) and treatment of batter's shoulder posterior instability, noting arthroscopic labral repair yields favorable return-to-play outcomes.

  4. Tendon transfers for the management of irreparable subscapularis tears.

    The Bone & Joint Journal · Sep 01 2024 · PubMed

    This review outlines tendon transfer options (pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi, pectoralis minor, upper trapezius) for irreparable subscapularis tears, noting latissimus dorsi transfer may offer better outcomes than the more established pectoralis major transfer.

  5. Biologics in rotator cuff repair.

    The Bone & Joint Journal · Sep 01 2024 · PubMed

    This review summarizes current evidence on biologic augmentation strategies aimed at improving rotator cuff healing and reducing retear rates after repair.

  6. Treatment of Glenoid Wear with the Use of Augmented Glenoid Components in Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Scoping Review.

    JBJS Reviews · Oct 01 2023 · PubMed

    Scoping review finds augmented glenoid components offer a practical alternative to bone grafting for correcting glenoid wear in shoulder arthroplasty, though no single augment design has proven superior.

  7. Evaluation of the range of motion of scapulothoracic, acromioclavicular and sternoclavicular joints: State of the art.

    Shoulder & Elbow · Apr 2023 · PubMed

    This review summarizes current methods (goniometers, radiographs, 3D motion tracking) for measuring scapulothoracic, acromioclavicular, and sternoclavicular joint motion, noting the lack of an accurate, low-cost noninvasive technique.

  8. Considerations for Shoulder Arthroplasty Implant Selection in Primary Glenohumeral Arthritis With Posterior Glenoid Deformity.

    Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons · Oct 01 2022 · PubMed

    This review outlines an evidence-based approach to choosing anatomic versus reverse implants when managing posterior glenoid deformity (B2/B3) in primary glenohumeral arthritis.

  9. Principles of Locking Plate Fixation of Proximal Humerus Fractures.

    Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons · Jun 01 2021 · PubMed

    This review outlines anatomic and biomechanical principles for locked plate fixation of proximal humerus fractures, emphasizing screw placement and augmentation strategies to prevent fixation failure.

  10. Assessing the Value to the Patient of New Technologies in Anatomic Total Shoulder Arthroplasty.

    Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American) · May 05 2021 · PubMed

    Despite newer technologies like CT planning, patient-specific instrumentation, and novel implants, a review of 114 studies found no clear evidence that anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty outcomes have actually improved over 20 years.

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