Lesser tuberosity osteotomy repair in stemless anatomic shoulder arthroplasty: a biomechanical analysis of repair techniques

In this controlled laboratory study, the decreased rate of initial construct gap formation and greater failure load of the suture construct suggests an environment for superior in vivo healing of the LTO as a result of decreased micromotion, with clinical implications still to be determined. Furthermore, the greater failure load in the suture construct could prevent catastrophic failure of the LTO in the delicate postoperative period. In the setting of total shoulder arthroplasty, an LTO subscapularis repair using a suture with a lateral plate construct provides a biomechanically superior repair to either a tensionable cortical button or suture anchor repair.