Posterolateral approach of the shoulder: Assessment of 50 cases

A new posterior approach of the shoulder for hemiarthroplasty or fetal arth roplasty has been used 53 times over a 6-year period. The posterior part of the deltoid is detached subperiosteally from the spine and the posterior a spect of the acromion. Distally, the incision is made between the posterior and middle parts of the muscle. The subacromial bursa is opened to reveal the plane of the external rotator muscles. The articular approach is perfor med by means of an osteotomy of the external rotator muscles' insertion. Th is approach provides a wide exposure of the joint. The socket can be seen a lmost head-on, which eases glenoid preparation during arthroplasty. Transos seous reinsertion of the osteotomy fragments seems stronger that tendinous suture. One early case of failure of external rotator muscle repair was rec orded. Atrophy of the posterior deltoid was found in 2 cases.