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Treatment of end-stage glenohumeral arthritis in young patients is a challenge; however, there is a lack of consensus on optimal treatment algorithms. A thorough history and physical examination are essential. Nonoperative treatments should first be attempted, whereas surgical options range from arthroscopic debridement to arthroplasty. One arthroplasty option is glenohumeral resurfacing with the objective of maintaining more native anatomy and bone stock. The described treatment includes a hemi-cap implant for the humerus and inlay polyethylene glenoid. While hemi-caps have been successfully used for decades, inlay glenoid implants are a more modern treatment, with the objective of less glenoid loosening, the typical complication and failure method in young patients. With the potential for greater longevity and preservation of anatomy, glenohumeral resurfacing for end-stage shoulder arthritis is an important treatment option to consider before total shoulder arthroplasty. This Technical Note describes resurfacing of the glenohumeral joint in a young, active patient presenting with extensive osteoarthritis on both the glenoid and humerus after a previous failed Trillat stabilization.

Chronic instability of the sternoclavicular (SC) joint is a challenging clinical problem, particularly in a patient population for which nonoperative forms of treatment prove ineffective. Patients present after experiencing recurrent subluxation events and subsequent pain, which commonly result in increasing functional limitation. Recurrent SC joint instability of this nature can lead to damage of the SC joint cartilage and bone, and in cases of posterior subluxation or dislocation, damage to mediastinal structures. While the precise treatment algorithm requires tailoring to individual patients and their respective pathologies, we have demonstrated successful outcomes in correcting chronic SC joint instability by means of SC joint reconstruction with semitendinosus allograft, SC joint capsular reconstruction, and, in cases of arthritic damage, resection of a small portion of the degenerative component of the medial clavicle. The purpose of this Technical Note is to describe a technique that uses a semitendinosus allograft to stabilize the SC joint combined with a capsular reconstruction in patients who have previously failed nonoperative treatment methods.

Injuries to the acromioclavicular (AC) joint are common, particularly in the young and active population. Approximately 9% of all shoulder girdle injuries involve the AC joint, and AC joint dislocations represent approximately 8% of all joint dislocations throughout the body. AC joint injuries are graded as type I through type VI according to the Rockwood classification. Type I and II injuries are typically treated nonoperatively, whereas type IV, V, and VI injuries are most often treated surgically. A variety of surgical techniques have been described, including anatomic and nonanatomic reconstruction. However, up to 80% of patients go on to lose radiographic reduction, and between 20% and 30% have complications leading to reoperation. Therefore, the objective of this Technical Note is to describe our preferred technique for the treatment of AC joint instability in the revision setting. This technique uses a Dog Bone Button (Arthrex, Naples, FL) and 2 allografts.

Advanced glenohumeral osteoarthritis can transform glenoid morphology and, in some cases, is found in association with severe glenoid retroversion. The associated glenoid retroversion leads to difficulty in fixation of the glenoid component in reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. In the context of extreme glenoid wear, structural grafts can be used to restore glenoid volume and version in order for the glenoid component of the reverse total shoulder arthroplasty to be more easily implanted. Nevertheless, literature regarding structural grafts remains limited, with optimal graft choice and technique still controversial at best. This article details our technique for humeral head autograft transplantation before reverse total shoulder arthroplasty in the context of extreme glenoid retroversion with advanced osteoarthritis.

Massive rotator cuff tears are particularly challenging to treat and severely limit the function of the shoulder. Compared with a small rotator cuff tear, massive tears are more unpredictable and usually present with low tendon quality. When performing an anatomical repair of the rotator cuff, the surgical treatment is often associated with failure of the construct. An alternative procedure that can be performed in the setting of a massive tear is superior capsular reconstruction (SCR), using an autograft or allograft. This procedure has been shown to be effective and is associated with positive treatment outcomes. Moreover, the combination of an SCR with an anatomic repair of the rotator cuff tendon may provide a stronger fixation for the rotator cuff and ultimately lead to a lower likelihood of retear and failure. The purpose of this Technical Note is to describe our preferred procedure for the treatment of a massive rotator cuff tear through SCR with superimposition of the repair of the native rotator cuff tendons.

With a range of tear characteristics such as chronicity, degree of fatty atrophy, and number of tendons involved as well as varying patient-specific characteristics including age, injury mechanism, and expectations after treatment to consider, proper and successful treatment of a rotator cuff tear is multifactorial and, consequently, challenging. Although conservative management of a rotator cuff tear may be successful, a more severe tear with involvement of more tendons may warrant surgical intervention. Furthermore, additional pathology including biceps tendinopathy may result in greater patient morbidity and an even more complex treatment decision-making process and surgical technique. The purpose of this Technical Note is to describe our preferred surgical technique for the treatment of a rotator cuff tear involving 2 rotator cuff tendons in conjunction with a lesion of the long head of the biceps tendon.

Chondral lesions of the knee can occur secondary to limb malalignment. To address these interrelated problems, a high tibial osteotomy with concomitant osteochondral allograft transfer may be performed. It is important to address these chondral lesions as they often affect the young and active population and cause morbidity in an otherwise healthy population. Although numerous approaches for the treatment of chondral lesions have been described, long-term results demonstrating regeneration of hyaline cartilage have yet to be reported. Furthermore, larger, full-thickness cartilage defects, which can be caused by limb malalignment, have proven to be particularly challenging to treat. This Technical Note details our technique for multicompartmental osteochondral allograft transplantation with concomitant high tibial osteotomy in a patient with 2 focal cartilage lesions in the knee.

Posterior shoulder instability, although relatively rare in the general population, is more commonly seen in athletes, especially those in contact sports. Although nonoperative treatment has been associated with satisfactory results in the setting of posterior shoulder instability, conservative management may ultimately fail and lead to recurrence particularly in young, male patients. Both arthroscopic and open repair techniques to address posterior instability have been described, with each showing positive patient-reported outcomes, low risk of recurrence, and considerably high return-to-sport rates. In particular, arthroscopic treatment includes the following: capsular plication and knotted and/or knotless suture anchor fixation. The purpose of this technique is to describe our preferred technique to treat recurrent posterior shoulder instability through arthroscopic labral repair using knotless suture anchor fixation.

Chondral lesions of the knee can affect the young, active population, thereby causing severe morbidity and a large economic burden. Although numerous approaches have been described in the literature, restoration of hyaline cartilage has yet to be shown. Specifically, larger, full-thickness cartilage defects remain a challenge. This Technical Note details our technique for biologic unicompartmental osteochondral allograft transplantation for the treatment of large femoral condyle articular cartilage defects.

Symptomatic scapular winging resulting in scapular dyskinesia leads to a wide spectrum of clinical complaints, most notably periscapular pain. The malpositioning of the scapula, termed through use of the acronym SICK (scapular malposition, inferior-medial border prominence, coracoid pain and malposition, and dyskinesia of scapular movement), is due to the irregular activity of one or more of the periscapular muscles. In particular, the serratus anterior, innervated by the long thoracic nerve, is a key muscle that stabilizes the scapula and provides coordinated scapulohumeral rhythm. If the long thoracic nerve is injured, this results in significant shoulder dysfunction and scapular winging that may require surgical intervention. The purpose of this Technical Note is to present our preferred technique to treat symptomatic scapular winging due to long thoracic nerve palsy through transfer of the pectoralis major with its bone insertion to the inferior edge of the scapula.