Should we avoid shoulder surgery in wheelchair users? A systematic review of outcomes and complications

Jordan, RW, Sloan, R and Saithna, A ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2408-5307, 2018. Should we avoid shoulder surgery in wheelchair users? A systematic review of outcomes and complications. Orthopaedics & Traumatology: Surgery & Research, 104 (6), pp. 839-846. ISSN 1877-0568

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Abstract

Introduction: The prevalence of shoulder pathology in wheelchair dependent patients is high. The shoulder joint is critical for maintaining independence but traditionally there has been reluctance to offer surgical intervention in view of perceived poor outcomes. The aim of this study was to provide patients and surgeons with a realistic overview of outcomes following surgical intervention for shoulder pathology.

Methods: A systematic review of the online databases Medline and EMBASE was performed in September 2017. Studies reporting functional outcomes, complications or rate of revision surgery after shoulder surgery in patients’ dependent on wheelchair for mobility were included. A narrative synthesis of the studies and appraisal using the MINORS tool was performed.

Results: The search strategy identified 11 eligible studies; 7 assessed rotator cuff repair and 4 shoulder arthroplasty. Six of the seven studies reporting on rotator cuff repairs demonstrated improvement in pain, range of motion and functional outcomes with a re-tear rate between 12% and 39%. Although total shoulder arthroplasty and hemiarthroplasty reportedly improved pain and function, the subsequent risk of rotator cuff failure was reported up to 100%. The two studies assessing reverse arthroplasty demonstrated significant improvement in function and pain with the largest series reporting a 15.8% failure rate.

Conclusion: Rotator cuff repairs and reverse shoulder arthroplasties performed in wheelchair users are associated with significant functional improvement and a slightly higher complication profile to those performed in ambulatory patients. This review provides a resource to aid surgeons and patients in holding realistic expectations following shoulder surgery in wheelchair users.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Orthopaedics & Traumatology: Surgery & Research
Creators:	Jordan, R.W., Sloan, R. and Saithna, A.
Publisher:	Elsevier
Date:	October 2018
Volume:	104
Number:	6
ISSN:	1877-0568
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1016/j.otsr.2018.03.011 DOI S1877056818301191 Publisher Item Identifier
Divisions:	Schools > School of Science and Technology
Record created by:	Linda Sullivan
Date Added:	26 Oct 2018 11:47
Last Modified:	27 Apr 2019 03:00
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/34757

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