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Rapid collapse of the humeral head after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

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Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

This report presents a case of rapidly progressive collapse of the humeral head following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. We performed humeral head replacement 8 months after the index surgery; histological examination of the collapsed area revealed necrosis, degeneration, fibrillation, and granulation in the cartilage and trabeculae. Osteonecrosis due to the use of metal anchors was considered the primary cause of the post-operative humeral head collapse. As the demand for arthroscopic cuff repair is expected to increase in the future, we recommend that surgeons become aware of the potential for complications, as seen in the present case.

Level of evidence

IV.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kurume University Medical Center, 155-1 Kokubu-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka, 839-0863, Japan

    Masafumi Goto, Masafumi Gotoh, Yasuhiro Mitsui, Takahiro Okawa & Fujio Higuchi

  2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kurume University, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan

    Kensei Nagata

Authors
  1. Masafumi Goto
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  2. Masafumi Gotoh
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  3. Yasuhiro Mitsui
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  4. Takahiro Okawa
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  5. Fujio Higuchi
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  6. Kensei Nagata
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Masafumi Goto.

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Goto, M., Gotoh, M., Mitsui, Y. et al. Rapid collapse of the humeral head after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 23, 514–516 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-013-2790-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-013-2790-7

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