Postoperative Subscapularis Muscle Insufficiency After Primary and Revision Open Shoulder Stabilization

BackgroundPostoperative subscapularis muscle insufficiency after open shoulder stabilization procedures represents an unrecognized condition.HypothesisPrimary and revision open shoulder stabilization using the inverted L-shaped tenotomy approach impairs subscapularis muscle recovery and affects final clinical outcome.Study DesignCohort study; Level of evidence, 3.MethodsTwenty-five patients who underwent primary (group 1: n = 13; mean age, 36.5 years; follow-up, 48 months) or revision (group 2: n = 12; mean age, 34.2 years; follow-up, 52 months) open shoulder stabilization procedures were followed up clinically (clinical subscapularis tests and signs, Constant score, and Rowe score) and by magnetic resonance imaging (tendon integrity, defined muscle diameters, and signal intensity analysis [ratio infraspinatus/upper subscapularis muscle and infraspinatus/lower subscapularis muscle]). A third group (group 0) of 12 healthy volunteers served as a control.ResultsClinical signs for subscapularis muscle insuffi...