Radiographic Study of Humeral Stem in Shoulder Arthroplasty After Lesser Tuberosity Osteotomy or Subscapularis Tenotomy.

Lesser tuberosity osteotomy (LTO) and subscapularis tenotomy (ST) are used for takedown of the subscapularis during shoulder arthroplasty. LTO offers the theoretical but unproven benefit of improved healing and function of the subscapularis. However, humeral stem subsidence and loosening may be greater when osteotomy is performed, which may compromise functional outcomes. Our hypothesis is that no difference in proximal collar press-fit humeral stem subsidence or loosening exists, with no impairment of functional outcomes using the LTO technique. Radiographs of 39 shoulders from 35 patients who underwent shoulder arthroplasty with a minimum of 1 year of radiographic follow-up were included in the study cohort. All patients received the same press-fit implant (Bigliani-Flatow; Zimmer Biomet). We collected data including demographic information; radiographic measurements, including humeral-acromial distance (HAD); subsidence; subluxation index; the presence of lucent lines >2 mm; and functional outcome scores using the Western Ontario Osteoarthritis of the Shoulder Index, the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, and the Constant score. Subsidence was 2.8 ± 3.1 mm for LTO vs 2.5 ± 3.1 mm for ST (P = .72). HAD did not differ between the LTO and ST groups preoperatively (9.5 ± 2.4 mm vs 10.9 ± 2.7 mm, P = .11). The first postoperative and final follow-up films for HAD for the LTO and ST groups showed a statistically significant difference (first postoperative film, 11.9 ± 3.7 mm vs 15.9 ± 4.5 mm, P = .005; final follow-up film, 11.8 ± 3.2 mm vs 14.5 ± 3.9 mm, P = .03). We identified no differences in subsidence, lucent lines >2 mm, posterior subluxation, and Constant, and DASH functional outcome scores for patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty via the LTO vs ST techniques with the same proximal collar press-fit humeral stem at short-term follow-up.