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Updated: Oct 13, 2026
Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Published on: July 5, 2011
Osteonecrosis of the Humeral Head Following Arthroscopic Repair of Rotator Cuff Tears: A Case Report
Karim Ben Aicha1, Lassaad Hassini1, Amir Mhiri1
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sahloul Hospital, 4054 Sousse, Tunisia.
Introduction:
The osteonecrosis and the collapse of the humeral head may have many risk factors such as trauma, alcoholism, metabolic diseases, and corticosteroid therapy. Otherwise, it was described as a rare complication of shoulder arthroscopy in the past few years.
Case Report:
We report the case of a 65-year-old right-handed woman who had a rotator cuff tear of the right shoulder. She underwent a double-row arthroscopic repair. Six months later she had an intense shoulder pain, with radiological and MRI signs of humeral head osteonecrosis. The patient had a reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.
Conclusion:
The aim of this case report is to underline the diagnostic particularities of this complication, and to shed light on the pathogenesis of the interruption of blood supply in the humeral head following rotator cuff repair. We also discuss the management of this complication with reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.
