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Open research questions in Shoulder Injury and Treatment

899 gap statements mined from Shoulder Injury and Treatment papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 4,833 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

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What the literature leaves open

  • The lack of a shoulder-specific percentile reference range for postoperative C-reactive protein or erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The uncharacterized erythrocyte sedimentation rate trajectory after reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

    Timepoint-Specific Percentile Reference Curves for C-Reactive Protein and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate After Uncomplicated Primary Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Single-Center Cohort Study · 2026 · DOI

  • The optimal glenoid component for RSA conversion is unknown. The clinical and radiological outcomes of RSA conversion using a convertible total shoulder arthroplasty system are not well understood. The study aims to address these gaps in knowledge.

    Outcomes after revision of anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty to reverse shoulder arthroplasty and comparison between cemented or metal-backed glenoid in platform systems · 2026 · DOI

  • The optimal injection site for steroid injections in treating frozen shoulder is unclear. Prior studies have shown conflicting results, with some suggesting intra-articular injections and others suggesting suprascapular notch injections.

    Ultrasound-guided intra-articular steroid injection or ultrasound-guided suprascapular notch steroid injection for frozen shoulder? A sequential comparative study with a 1-year follow-up · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of understanding of the relationship between preoperative metformin use and outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. The need for real-world evidence evaluating this relationship.

    Metformin use and outcomes after arthroscopic full thickness rotator cuff repair: a real-world, propensity score-matched cohort study · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited number of events for definitive comparison between indications. Difficulty in identifying statistically significant predictors of implant failure. Challenge in evaluating the influence of surgical indication on implant survival.

    Does surgical indication influence implant survival in reverse shoulder arthroplasty? A comparative cohort study of fracture and glenohumeral osteoarthritis · 2026 · DOI

  • The study also had to address the technical challenges of arthroscopic-assisted posterior latissimus dorsi transfer, including the need for a standardized technique and experienced surgeon.

    Effect of preoperative subscapularis status on functional recovery after posterior latissimus dorsi tendon transfer for posterior–superior irreparable rotator cuff tears · 2026 · DOI

  • Current clinical decision-making relies largely on demographic factors, injury mechanism, and qualitative imaging findings, which may not capture complex, nonlinear interactions between patient-and joint-specific variables. Prior clinical scoring systems such as the ISIS and Dickens model have limitations in terms of sensitivity and specificity.

    ShRed: a machine learning model developed to predict shoulder redislocation · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited understanding of the incidence and treatment outcomes of scapular spine and acromion stress fractures following reverse shoulder arthroplasty. Lack of effective diagnosis and management strategies for these fractures. Uncertainty about the efficacy of standard fixation techniques in this unique biomechanical setting.

    Scapular spine and acromion stress fractures following reverse shoulder arthroplasty have a high rate of failure following operative treatment · 2026 · DOI

  • The risk of neurovascular injury and brachial plexopathy from the displacement of the humeral head is a significant challenge. The lack of consensus on the ideal timing for operative management is a challenge in clinical practice.

    Impact of operative timing for proximal humerus fracture dislocations on development of neurologic injury · 2026 · DOI

  • The paper identifies a gap in current research, which is the need for a comprehensive assessment of both bone and soft tissue injuries. It also highlights the challenge of differentiating between acute traumatic and degenerative rotator cuff tears.

    Imaging of acute sports injuries of the shoulder girdle · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of reliability data for measuring methods in acute fracture settings. The need to investigate the reliability of linear and surface area methods in assessing glenoid bone loss.

    Acute glenoid rim fractures: reliability of linear and surface area methods for CT-based bone loss assessment · 2026 · DOI

  • Few studies have reported on the long-term outcomes of surgical approaches for proximal humerus fractures. There is a lack of studies comparing the deltoid-split and deltopectoral approaches in terms of long-term functional outcomes.

    Does the Surgical Approach (Deltoid-Split Versus Deltopectoral) Have an Impact on Long-Term Outcomes After Locking Plate Fixation of Proximal Humerus Fractures in the Elderly? · 2026 · DOI

  • The complexities of behavior management and the technique-sensitive nature of the procedures require specialized materials not commonly used in everyday practice. Pediatric dentists face challenges in managing endodontic cases in permanent teeth due to inadequate residency training and limited experience.

    Pediatric Dentists’ Practice Patterns in the Management of Permanent Teeth Needing Endodontic Treatment · 2025 · DOI

  • The current study aims to address the gap in understanding the effect of subscapularis integrity on clinical outcomes after arthroscopic-assisted latissimus dorsi tendon transfer. Prior studies have shown that posterior latissimus dorsi transfer can be an effective treatment option, but the impact of subscapularis integrity on outcomes is not well understood.

    Effect of preoperative subscapularis status on functional recovery after posterior latissimus dorsi tendon transfer for posterior–superior irreparable rotator cuff tears · 2026 · DOI

  • The mid-term clinical course after intra-articular corticosteroid injection for adhesive capsulitis in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus remains unclear. The effects of corticosteroid injections on the clinical outcomes of patients with type-2 diabetes and adhesive capsulitis are not well understood.

    Mid-term outcomes after corticosteroid injection for adhesive capsulitis in patients with type-2 diabetes: a retrospective cohort study · 2026 · DOI

  • Statin use is associated with reduced incidence of periprosthetic fracture and revision surgery following total hip and knee arthroplasty, but whether a similar relationship exists for shoulder arthroplasty remains unclear.

    Preoperative statin exposure and postoperative outcomes after primary shoulder arthroplasty: a propensity-matched analysis · 2026 · DOI

  • However, its long-term impact on functional outcomes remains unclear and warrants further investigation.

    Mid‐frequency electrical muscle stimulation during immobilization may prevent early deltoid muscle atrophy and promote early strength recovery after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair · 2026 · DOI

  • There is little information on the primary stability of the uncemented implant when used in acute proximal humeral fractures. The initial stability of the uncemented stem in proximal humeral fractures has been a source of debate.

    Primary stability of an uncemented humeral stem in reverse shoulder arthroplasty for acute proximal humeral fractures: a prospective study · 2026 · DOI

  • The limited number of events, - No definitive effect of surgical indication on implant survival can be concluded, - The study was a retrospective cohort…

    Does surgical indication influence implant survival in reverse shoulder arthroplasty? A comparative cohort study of fracture and glenohumeral osteoarthritis · 2026 · DOI

  • Further investigation into the use of machine learning techniques for predicting shoulder redislocation, - Exploration of additional clinical and imaging-derived variables, - Larger sample sizes to validate…

    ShRed: a machine learning model developed to predict shoulder redislocation · 2026 · DOI

  • Investigation of alternative fixation techniques, - Study of the effects of RTSA on shoulder biomechanics, - Examination of the role of osteopenic bone and suboptimal deltoid tensioning in insufficiency…

    Scapular spine and acromion stress fractures following reverse shoulder arthroplasty have a high rate of failure following operative treatment · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited by only 1 patient experiencing a preoperative neurologic change in the > 5 days group, - Small sample size, - Retrospective nature of the study, - Lack of consensus on ideal timing for operative…

    Impact of operative timing for proximal humerus fracture dislocations on development of neurologic injury · 2026 · DOI

  • Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed, - Prospective investigations could provide more robust results, - Comparison of DS and DP approaches in different patient…

    Does the Surgical Approach (Deltoid-Split Versus Deltopectoral) Have an Impact on Long-Term Outcomes After Locking Plate Fixation of Proximal Humerus Fractures in the Elderly? · 2026 · DOI

  • Further research is needed to understand the relationship between corticosteroid injections and outcomes in patients with T2DM and adhesive capsulitis, - Studies should investigate the effects of baseline pain severity, range of motion, and response to initial therapy on treatment…

    Mid-term outcomes after corticosteroid injection for adhesive capsulitis in patients with type-2 diabetes: a retrospective cohort study · 2026 · DOI

  • These findings support further investigation of intensified lipid-lowering therapy, while accounting for tear size and fatty infiltration.

    Association between perioperative statin–ezetimibe therapy and reoperation following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: A TriNetX database study · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Shoulder Injury and Treatment

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Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) The lack of a shoulder-specific percentile reference range for postoperative C-reactive protein or erythrocyte sedimentation rate (“Timepoint-Specific Percentile Reference Curves for C-Reactive Protein and…”, 2026); (2) The optimal glenoid component for RSA conversion is unknown (“Outcomes after revision of anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty to reverse…”, 2026); (3) The optimal injection site for steroid injections in treating frozen shoulder is unclear (“Ultrasound-guided intra-articular steroid injection or ultrasound-guided…”, 2026); (4) The lack of understanding of the relationship between preoperative metformin use and outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (“Metformin use and outcomes after arthroscopic full thickness rotator cuff…”, 2026); (5) Lack of effective diagnosis and management strategies for these fractures (“Scapular spine and acromion stress fractures following reverse shoulder…”, 2026). 899 gap statements have been mined from Shoulder Injury and Treatment papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 4,833 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

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