Risk Factors of Graft Resorption after Arthroscopic Autologous Scapular Spine Bone Graft for Recurrent Shoulder Instability

Objective To analyze if general factors such as age, gender, dominant side, fasting blood sugar level, BMI (body mass index), smoking, and drinking play a role in graft resorption after arthroscopic autologous scapular spine bone grafting. Methods From July 2016 to August 2018, patients who were diagnosed with anterior shoulder instability with subcritical bone loss (10%–15%) and underwent arthroscopic autologous scapular spine bone graft transplant were retrospectively reviewed and enrolled in this study. The age, gender, dominant side, fasting blood sugar level, BMI, smoking, and drinking conditions of the enrolled patients were recorded. The graft resorption rate at postoperative 1 year was also measured on three‐dimensional computed tomography (3D‐CT) scans. The Pearson test and the Spearman test were used to identify any significant correlation between the general factors and graft resorption rate. Results A total of 27 patients who underwent arthroscopic autologous scapular spine bone graft for recurrent shoulder instability qualified and were included in this study. There were 20 males and seven females, the mean age was 30.8 ± 9.4 years, the mean follow‐up time was 29.3 months (range, 25–39 months), during which no severe complications such as infection, neurovascular injury, or re‐dislocation were observed. The bone graft healed in all cases, the mean healing time was 2.6 ± 0.5 months (range, 2–3 months). At the last follow‐up, the mean Constant–Murley score was 89.74 ± 3.71, the mean Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score was 9.77 ± 5.31, and the mean visual analogue score (VAS) was 0.74 ± 0.64. The apprehension test was all negative at final follow‐up. The fasting blood sugar level was 4.78 ± 0.42 mmol/L, BMI was 23.70 ± 4.70. Five patients were “smoking” and 22 “non‐smoking”, four patients were “drinking” and 23 were “non‐drinking.” The graft resorption rate at postoperative 1 year was 19.4% ± 7.5%. The Pearson test and the Spearman test showed no significant correlation between age, gender, dominant side, fasting blood sugar level, BMI, smoking, drinking, and graft resorption rate. Conclusion Age, gender, dominant side, fasting blood sugar level, BMI, smoking, and drinking were not significantly correlated with graft resorption after the arthroscopic autologous scapular spine bone graft for recurrent shoulder instability.
We innovatively treat recurrent shoulder instability with arthroscopic autologous scapular spine bone graft and consequently explore the correlation between patient's age, gender, dominant side, fasting blood sugar level, BMI, smoking, drinking, and graft resorption rate.