Survivorship and Patient-Reported Outcomes After Comprehensive Arthroscopic Management of Glenohumeral Osteoarthritis: Minimum 10-Year Follow-up

Abstract

Background:

Few long-term outcome studies exist evaluating glenohumeral osteoarthritis (GHOA) treatment with arthroscopic management.

Purpose:

To determine outcomes, risk factors for failure, and survivorship for the comprehensive arthroscopic management (CAM) procedure for the treatment of GHOA at minimum 10-year follow-up.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

The CAM procedure was performed on a consecutive series of patients with advanced GHOA who opted for joint preservation surgery and otherwise met criteria for total shoulder arthroplasty. At minimum 10-year follow-up, postoperative outcome measures included change in the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation, 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) Physical Component Summary, and visual analog scale for pain, along with the QuickDASH (shortened version of Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) and satisfaction score. Kaplan-Meier survivorship analysis was performed, with failure defined as progression to arthroplasty.

Results:

In total, 38 CAM procedures were performed with 10-year minimum follow-up (range, 10-14 years) with a mean patient age of 53 years (range, 27-68 years) at the time of surgery. Survivorship was 75.3% at 5 years and 63.2% at minimum 10 years. Those who progressed to arthroplasty did so at a mean 4.7 years (range, 0.8-9.6 years). For those who did not undergo arthroplasty, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores significantly improved postoperatively at 5 years (63.3 to 89.6; P < .001) and 10 years (63.3 to 80.6; P = .007). CAM failure was associated with severe preoperative humeral head incongruity in 93.8% of failures as compared with 50.0% of patients who did not go on to arthroplasty (P = .008). Median satisfaction was 7.5 out of 10.

Conclusion:

Significant improvements in patient-reported outcomes were sustained at minimum 10-year follow-up in young patients with GHOA who underwent a CAM procedure. The survivorship rate at minimum 10-year follow-up was 63.2%. Humeral head flattening and severe joint incongruity were risk factors for CAM failure. The CAM procedure is an effective joint-preserving treatment for GHOA in appropriately selected patients, with sustained positive outcomes at 10 years.