This week in Shoulder & Elbow

Sep 7–13, 2026 · 16 new studies, 10 reviews · Shoulder & Elbow archive · All weeks

The new Shoulder & Elbow research The Reduction sent the week of Sep 7–13, 2026, with the week’s most recent reviews, each with a one-line summary.

Get papers like these by email, free: subscribe to The Reduction, focused on your interests, on the days you pick.

New research

  1. High-Velocity Changeups and Sweeper Usage Are Associated With Increased Odds of Undergoing Arthroscopic Shoulder Labral Repair in Professional Baseball Pitchers.

    Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine · Sep 11 2026 · PubMed

    In MLB pitchers, higher-velocity changeups and greater sweeper usage were linked to increased odds of undergoing arthroscopic shoulder labral repair, while low-velocity off-speed pitches were protective.

  2. Shear-Wave Elastography for Assessing the Histological Characteristics of Torn Rotator Cuff Tendons.

    Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery · Sep 10 2026 · PubMed

    Shear-wave elastography stiffness values correlated with collagen disorganization and cellularity patterns in torn supraspinatus tendons, supporting its use as a noninvasive histological marker.

  3. Determining the Elbow Flexion Angle That Minimizes Lateral Ulnar Collateral Ligament Deformity During Reconstruction.

    HAND · Sep 08 2026 · PubMed

    Cadaveric study found LUCL graft length variability is minimized when fixated between 50° and 60° of elbow flexion, suggesting this range may reduce graft stretching and long-term reconstruction failure.

  4. The impact of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists on postoperative outcomes following rotator cuff repair.

    Shoulder & Elbow · Sep 07 2026 · PubMed

    After adjusting for confounders, preoperative GLP-1 receptor agonist use was not independently associated with increased complications after rotator cuff repair, supporting safe perioperative continuation.

  5. Combined Ramp Lesion and Lateral Meniscus Root Tear Increase Rotational and Translational Instability in an Anterior Cruciate Ligament-Deficient Knee: A Cadaveric Study.

    Arthroscopy · Sep 06 2026 · PubMed

    Cadaveric testing showed that combining a ramp lesion with a lateral meniscus root tear in an ACL-deficient knee significantly worsens rotational and anterior translational instability compared to either lesion alone.

  6. The Lark-Loop Technique for Onlay Biceps Tenodesis: A Biomechanical, Histological, and Radiological Study in a Rabbit Model.

    American Journal of Sports Medicine · Sep 05 2026 · PubMed

    In a rabbit model, the novel Lark-Loop suture technique for biceps tenodesis achieved biomechanical and histological healing superior to Lasso-Loop and comparable to Krackow stitch, suggesting a viable arthroscopic alternative.

  7. Perioperative proton pump inhibitors use and postoperative surgical complications following primary total shoulder arthroplasty.

    Shoulder & Elbow · Sep 03 2026 · PubMed

    In a propensity-matched cohort study, perioperative proton pump inhibitor use before primary total shoulder arthroplasty was associated with higher rates of aseptic loosening, dislocation, revision, and overall complications at 3 years.

  8. Prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of patients with coracoid-based pain after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.

    Shoulder & Elbow · Sep 02 2026 · PubMed

    Coracoid-based pain occurs in 1% of RTSA patients, resolves nonoperatively in about half, and is linked to osteoporosis and glenosphere/humeral positioning factors surgeons can modify.

  9. Risk of venous thromboembolism after knee, hip, or shoulder arthroplasty : a retrospective cohort study of 476,620 procedures using linked hospital and primary care data.

    The Bone & Joint Journal · Sep 01 2026 · PubMed

    In a UK cohort of 476,620 arthroplasties, VTE rates fell over time for hip and knee (but not clearly due to NICE guidelines), while a 2018 guideline update was linked to a 9% VTE reduction after shoulder arthroplasty.

  10. Patient-evaluated functional outcome is systematically different from physician-evaluated outcome after proximal humerus fracture fixation.

    The Bone & Joint Journal · Sep 01 2026 · PubMed

    After proximal humerus fracture fixation, physician-rated Constant-Murley scores systematically diverged from patient-rated subjective shoulder values, with pain—not motion or strength—driving poor patient-reported outcomes.

  11. Distal Radius Morphology and Bone Mineral Density Show Significant Sex- and Age-Based Differences With Implications for Allograft Glenoid Reconstruction.

    Arthroscopy · Aug 30 2026 · PubMed

    CT analysis shows distal radius curvature, size, and bone density are greater in men and younger patients, suggesting young male donor grafts are optimal for glenoid allograft reconstruction.

  12. Clinical Outcomes and Predictors of Dissatisfaction Following Revision Surgery After Distal Clavicle Excision.

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

    Revision surgery after failed distal clavicle excision improves pain and function, but persistent subjective AC joint instability strongly predicts patient dissatisfaction despite good PROM gains.

  13. Hyperlipidemia Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Secondary Procedures in Patients Undergoing Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair.

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

    Large database analysis shows hyperlipidemia modestly raises the risk of repeat rotator cuff repair and arthroplasty after arthroscopic RCR, with statin therapy failing to lower this risk.

  14. Innovative intramedullary nail system with internally locking: A safe alternative fixation technique for humerus shaft fracture that reduces the risk of the iatrogenic radial nerve injury and surgical time.

    Injury · Aug 27 2026 · PubMed

    A novel humeral nail with internal distal locking (no fluoroscopy needed) achieved excellent union and functional outcomes with no radial nerve palsy, while cutting operative time in humeral shaft fractures.

  15. Comparison of Clinical Outcome and Return to Work Following Exactech Equinoxe Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: Pectoralis Major Tendon Transfer versus Subscapularis Repair.

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

    In this retrospective comparison after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, pectoralis major tendon transfer yielded better internal rotation function and strength than subscapularis repair and was independently associated with higher return-to-work rates, without proving overall superiority.

  16. Predictors of External Rotation Recovery following Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty in Patients with Preoperative Lag Signs.

    Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery · Aug 24 2026 · PubMed

    In rTSA for patients with preoperative ER lag, functional external rotation recovery depends on preoperative active ER magnitude and lag severity rather than implant lateralization/distalization geometry, with thresholds (ER1>25°, ER2>40°, ER2 lag<25°) predicting success.

Recent reviews

  1. Low-tension rotator cuff repair for retracted tears: Balancing mechanical relaxation and footprint coverage.

    Shoulder & Elbow · Sep 03 2026 · PubMed

    Narrative review proposes a tension-aware framework for retracted rotator cuff tears, balancing footprint restoration against repair tension using selective mobilization, margin convergence, or partial repair when full anatomic repair isn't feasible.

  2. Age- and time-specific management of traumatic anterior shoulder instability: The 2024 ESSKA-ESA Formal Consensus. Part 2: Treatment and return to sports.

    Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy · Aug 2026 · PubMed

    This ESSKA-ESA European consensus provides age- and timing-specific treatment and return-to-sport recommendations for traumatic anterior shoulder instability, emphasizing bone loss thresholds and soft tissue repair to guide individualized surgical versus conservative management.

  3. Maximizing Exposure of the Distal Humerus.

    Hand Clinics · Nov 2025 · PubMed

    This review outlines standard and less common surgical approaches to maximize exposure for open reduction and internal fixation of distal humerus fractures.

  4. The Unreconstructable Distal Humerus Fracture: Options and Bail Outs in Complex Articular Fractures.

    Hand Clinics · Nov 2025 · PubMed

    This review covers salvage strategies—including bone grafting, fusion, hemiarthroplasty, and total elbow arthroplasty—for managing unreconstructable distal humerus fractures with significant bone loss or articular comminution.

  5. A historical review: Surgical management of massive irreparable rotator cuff tears.

    Shoulder & Elbow · Nov 20 2025 · PubMed

    This historical review traces the evolution of surgical treatment for massive irreparable rotator cuff tears, from early open repairs and tendon transfers to modern reverse shoulder arthroplasty and biologic augmentation, noting no single approach is universally best.

  6. Principles of the superior labrum and biceps complex: an expert consensus from the NEER Circle.

    Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery · Jun 2025 · PubMed

    An expert consensus from shoulder surgeons found only partial agreement on managing superior labrum/biceps pathology, favoring SLAP repair in younger active patients and biceps treatment in older, lower-demand patients, with age as the key decision driver.

  7. Orthobiologic Augmentation to Improve Rotator Cuff Repair Outcomes: Current and Future Strategies.

    Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons · May 30 2025 · PubMed

    Reviews biologic mechanisms of tendon-bone healing after rotator cuff repair and current augmentation strategies—bone marrow stimulation, PRP, and stem cell therapy—while previewing emerging cell-based treatments like extracellular vesicles.

  8. Augmentation Techniques for Rotator Cuff Repairs.

    JBJS Reviews · Apr 01 2025 · PubMed

    Reviews rotator cuff repair augmentation options, noting they may strengthen repairs and aid healing in high-risk tears, but no consensus exists on best approach per scenario.

  9. Advances in Anatomic Total Shoulder Arthroplasty Glenoid Implant Design.

    Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons · Jan 15 2025 · PubMed

    Reviews advances in anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty glenoid implant design, highlighting augmented, inlay, and convertible options aimed at reducing glenoid loosening and improving longevity.

  10. Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty to Treat Proximal Humerus Fracture Sequelae: A Review.

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

    Reviews reverse shoulder arthroplasty as an effective salvage option for painful proximal humerus fracture malunions/nonunions, highlighting outcome classification and technical pearls for tuberosity management.

← Week of Aug 31 – Sep 6, 2026Week of Sep 14–20, 2026 →

Home  ·  All weeks  ·  Archive  ·  Subscribe  ·  FAQ

© 2026 The Reduction