Osteonecrosis of the Humeral Head Following Arthroscopic Repair of Rotator Cuff Tears: A Case Report

IntroductionThe 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 ReportWe 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.ConclusionThe 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.