Fractures of the acromion and scapula are known to occur after reverse shoulder arthroplasty. We present a case of a fracture at the base of the acromion 5 months after arthroplasty treated successfully with dual plating of the acromion. Eighteen months after fracture fixation, the patient had 160 degrees of active forward flexion, a QuickDASH of 29.5, a Constant score of 69 and she was satisfied with the result. A concomitant review of the literature produced, in addition to our patient, 56 cases. These were used to produce a classification system, based on bony and functional anatomy as follows. Tip fractures are of the most lateral or anterior portion of the acromion, those of the body of the acromion are medial to the tip but lateral to the beginning of the scapular base. Fractures at the scapular base are termed fractures of the base of the acromion and those more medial to that, fractures of the scapular spine. The functional results of these case series demonstrated poorer functional outcomes for more medial fractures. As future research in this domain increases, clarity on the nomenclature of these fractures will allow for prognostication and treatment based on fracture location as well as comparison between studies.

II.

Level IV retrospective case series.

Study design: Population-based retrospective cohort study.Clinical question: Are patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or more who undergo elective lumbar spine surgery at increased risk of post-surgical complications, as evidenced by reoperation within a 3-month period?Methods: The Alberta Health and Wellness Administrative database was queried to identify patients who underwent elective lumbar spine surgery over a 24-month period. This same database was used to classify subjects as obese (BMI ≥35) and non-obese (BMI <35) and to determine who underwent repeated surgical intervention. The rate of reoperation was determined for both the obese and non-obese groups; further analyses were performed to determine whether certain subjects were at increased risk of reoperation.Results: The point estimate for relative risk for requiring reoperation was 1.73 (95% confidence interval, 1.03–2.90) for obese subjects compared with non-obese subjects. The adjusted point estimate shows that deformity correction surgery is predictive for early reoperation while obesity is not.Conclusions: In obese subjects we observed an increased complication rate after elective lumbar spine surgery, as evidenced by reoperation rates within 3 months. When we considered other possible associations with reoperation, in adjusted analysis, deformity surgery was found to be predictive of early reoperation.Final class of evidence-prognosisStudy designProspective CohortRetrospective Cohort•Case controlCase seriesMethodsPatients at similar point in course of treatment•F/U ≥ 85%•Similarity of treatment protocols for patient groups•Patients followed up long enough for outcomes to occur•Control for extraneous risk factorsOverall class of evidenceIIIThe definiton of the different classes of evidence is available on page 55.