Oct 5–11, 2026 · 1 randomized trial, 23 new studies, 7 reviews · Shoulder & Elbow archive · All weeks
The new Shoulder & Elbow research The Reduction sent the week of Oct 5–11, 2026, with the week’s most recent reviews, each with a one-line summary.
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In this randomized trial of 52 elderly patients with 3- and 4-part proximal humerus fractures, nonoperative care had better 12-month DASH and Constant scores than locked plating, with similarly low complication rates.
Occult Infection Risk with Stem Retention in Revision Anatomic to Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty.
Among 65 low-suspicion aTSA-to-rTSA conversions retaining the stem, PJI reoperation was low (3.1%), yet 14% had unexpected positive cultures, so stay vigilant for occult infection.
After anterior latissimus dorsi plus teres major transfer for irreparable anterosuperior cuff tears, matched patients with preoperative pseudoparesis reached the same final scores, motion, strength, and retear rates as controls, with larger gains.
In 791 anatomic total shoulder arthroplasties, survivorship was 96% at 10 years and most patients kept meaningful clinical benefit, though function gradually declined; Walch B glenoids and younger age raised revision risk.
Outcomes and Complications of Elbow Arthrodesis.
In 13 elbows at 7 years, arthrodesis gave reasonable pain relief and satisfaction but poor function, with a 46% nonunion or fracture complication rate; reserve it as a salvage option.
In cadaver elbows, sequential distal UCL release increased both valgus and internal rotation instability, with internal rotation increasing more, which may explain the poorer prognosis of distal tears.
In a matched claims cohort, documented social determinants of health roughly doubled 2-year infection odds and raised stiffness and non-home discharge after total elbow arthroplasty, without raising revision risk.
In 157 reverse shoulder arthroplasty patients, preoperative malnutrition (GNRI <98) independently raised periprosthetic joint infection risk (10.4% vs 1.8%), though 2-year function was similar, supporting preoperative nutritional screening.
After arthroscopic labral repair with remplissage, most of 45 patients met clinically meaningful outcome thresholds; larger external rotation deficits tied to medial/superior Hill-Sachs lesions and non-dominant arm did not worsen outcomes.
In 450 pediatric supracondylar fractures, only 16% waited beyond 18 hours for surgery; evening ED arrival and high Gartland severity predicted delay, questioning the arbitrary 18-hour quality metric.
Biologic and Synthetic Augmentation in Rotator Cuff Repair: Emerging Technologies.
Review of rotator cuff repair augmentation: xenografts are no longer favored, allografts and synthetics are of uncertain benefit, and bioinductive collagen implants have the strongest evidence, with biceps autograft a cost-effective option.
In this randomized trial, leukocyte-rich and leukocyte-poor PRP for lateral epicondylitis both improved wrist extensor strength at 12 months, but neither beat saline by a clinically meaningful margin.
CT analysis of 92 humeri found the medial column accommodates at least a 5.0-mm screw in nearly all elderly patients, supporting medial column screw fixation for transcondylar fractures, though trajectories need patient-specific adjustment.
Failure Patterns Leading to Revision After Distal Humerus Fracture Fixation: A Multicenter Study.
In 411 revisions after distal humerus fracture fixation, failures were mechanical (43%), functional (41%), or infectious (16%), with open fractures strongly predicting infection and infections presenting earliest.
Predictors of PROMIS Pain Interference Two Years After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair.
In 152 patients two years after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, better preoperative ASES predicted less pain interference, while higher comorbidity burden and worse depression scores predicted more; useful for preoperative counseling.
In a claims database of 5269 patients, reverse shoulder arthroplasty showed 95% 10-year survivorship; revision risk was higher with younger age, male sex, prior cuff repair, and glenohumeral osteoarthritis.
In anterosuperior irreparable cuff tears with narrow acromiohumeral distance, adding middle trapezius transfer to latissimus/teres transfer outperformed superior capsular reconstruction, with better elevation, strength, AHD, and far fewer structural failures (10% vs 64%).
Infection risk following total shoulder arthroplasty in patients with diabetic foot ulcers.
In diabetic patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty, a diabetic foot ulcer independently raised odds of periprosthetic joint infection, deep infection, and sepsis, so it should factor into counseling and perioperative optimization.
In 130 women with rotator cuff tears, proximal humeral cortical thickness on shoulder MRI predicted osteoporosis well (AUC about 0.96); a thickness under 4.5 mm should prompt DXA referral, pending external validation.
In 29 patients, salvage reverse shoulder arthroplasty after failed proximal humerus plating improved function but recovery was moderate, with 34% complications; tuberosity deficiency and anterior deltoid dysfunction predicted worse outcomes.
In 102 repairs, postoperative supraspinatus volume increase on MRI was linked to tendon healing, lower retear odds, and better strength and Constant scores.
An international expert consensus (97 surgeons) on reverse shoulder arthroplasty, revision surgery, and rehabilitation for rotator cuff tears: most of 47 statements reached agreement, but no consensus emerged on follow-up and imaging surveillance.
This ESSKA-ESA formal consensus offers twelve graded recommendations on defining, classifying, and diagnosing partial-thickness posterosuperior rotator cuff tears, noting multifactorial etiology, unpredictable progression, and imaging limitations.
Low early post-operative pain is a strong predictor of favorable outcomes after rotator cuff repair.
In 178 rotator cuff repairs, low pain at one month (predicted by no subscapularis tear, no preoperative analgesics, lower baseline pain) marked a better functional course through one year, without differences in complications or revisions.
Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy: A Comprehensive Guide for Shoulder Surgeons.
Review for shoulder surgeons on facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, covering presentation, diagnosis, exam findings, and scapulothoracic arthrodesis for selected patients with severe winging, elevation below 90\u00b0, and preserved deltoid function.
The management of distal humeral fractures in older patients.
Review of managing distal humeral fractures in older patients, comparing nonoperative care, ORIF, and elbow hemi- or total arthroplasty; short-term outcomes appear similar, but evidence is limited and largely retrospective.
Global Burden of Disease analysis found shoulder dislocation incidence, prevalence, and disability declined modestly worldwide from 1990 to 2021, with peak burden in young males and adolescent females; prevention should target athletes, military personnel, and elderly women.
A Mechanistic Classification for Superior Labral Injuries Guides Operative Management.
Expert-opinion ABCD classification of superior labral injuries (acute trauma, Bankart extension, chronic overhead, degenerative) ties mechanism to treatment, favoring initial nonoperative care and guiding repair versus biceps tenotomy or tenodesis when surgery is needed.
A Delphi consensus of shoulder experts found surgery after first anterior dislocation is favored for contact athletes over 14 with apprehension and bone loss, and nonoperative care for non-athletes without either.
Solutions for the Unstable and Arthritic Elbow Joint.
Review of options for the young, active patient with an unstable arthritic elbow: arthroplasty reliably relieves pain but is generally reserved for low-demand elderly patients, while interposition arthroplasty is an alternative for younger patients.
An Algorithmic Approach to the Management of Shoulder Instability.
Algorithm for shoulder instability: nonoperative care carries up to 87% recurrence in high-risk patients; CT/MR arthrography quantifies glenoid bone loss; arthroscopic stabilization suits minimal loss (~4% recurrence), while open procedures suit over 20% loss.
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