Preoperative partial-thickness rotator cuff tears do not compromise anatomic total shoulder replacement outcomes: medium-term follow-up

Shoulder arthroplasty in the elderly

Background

Shoulder arthroplasty is increasingly being used for definitive treatment of various shoulder pathologies, especially in more elderly patients. Controversy surrounds the optimal choice in total shoulder arthroplasty for elderly patients. In this review we discuss the options available when considering TSA for an elderly patient.

Review

Anatomical total shoulder arthroplasty (ATSA) relies upon an intact, functioning rotator cuff. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) relies upon a functioning deltoid for optimal outcomes. The setting of partial cuff tears. Both options confer their own advantages and disadvantages.ATSA are a valuable treatment option for elderly patients with severe shoulder arthritis or degenerative conditions, offering significant pain relief and functional improvement. While it provides numerous advantages, including pain relief, preservation of bone stock, and natural joint mechanics, careful patient selection and consideration of potential drawbacks such as rotator cuff integrity and surgical complexity are crucial for optimising outcomes in this population.RTSA has become a valuable treatment solution for elderly patients with complex shoulder conditions, offering significant pain relief, improved functionality, and enhanced quality of life. While careful consideration of patient factors and potential complications is necessary, RTSA continues to demonstrate favourable outcomes and good survivorship in the elderly.

Discussion

Debate continues optimal shoulder arthroplasty management for elderly patients. Technology continues to advance the surgical technique for shoulder arthroplasty and address some of the challenges encountered. Research continues to try and help answer many of the debated areas of shoulder arthroplasty, but current evidence continues to show an improving trend in survivorship and long-term outcomes for most shoulder arthroplasty procedures.

Complications and revisions in anatomic and reverse short stem shoulder arthroplasty

INTRODUCTION

One current trend in the field of shoulder arthroplasty is a design shift to shorter and metaphyseal fixed humeral stem components. The aim of this investigation is to analyze complications resulting in revision surgery after anatomic (ASA) and reverse (RSA) short stem arthroplasty. We hypothesize that complications are influenced by the type of prosthesis and indication for arthroplasty.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 279 short stem shoulder prostheses were implanted by the same surgeon (162 ASA; 117 RSA), and 223 of these prostheses were implanted as primary procedures; in 54 cases, arthroplasty was performed secondary to prior open surgery. Main indications were osteoarthritis (OA) (n = 134), cuff tear arthropathy (CTA) (n = 74) and posttraumatic deformities (PTr) (n = 59). Patients were evaluated at 6 weeks (follow-up 1; FU1), 2 years (FU2) and the time span of the last follow-up defined as FU3 with a minimum FU of 2 years. Complications were categorized into early complications (within FU1), intermediate complications (within FU2) and late complications (> 2 years; FU3).

RESULTS

In total, 268 prostheses (96.1%) were available for FU1; 267 prostheses (95.7%) were available for FU2 and 218 prostheses (77.8%) were available for FU3. The average time for FU3 was 53.0 months (range 24-95). A complication leading to revision occurred in 21 prostheses (7.8%), 6 (3.7%) in the ASA group and 15 (12.7%) in the RSA group (p < 0.005). The most frequent cause for revision was infection (n = 9; 42.9%). After primary implantation, 3 complications (2.2%) occurred in the ASA and 10 complications (11.0%) in the RSA group (p < 0.005). The complication rate was 2.2% in patients with OA, 13.5% in CTA and 11.9% in PTr.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary reverse shoulder arthroplasty had a significantly higher rate of complications and revisions than primary and secondary anatomic shoulder arthroplasty, respectively. Therefore, indications for reverse shoulder arthroplasty should be critically questioned in each individual case.

When should reverse total shoulder arthroplasty be considered in glenohumeral joint arthritis?

Anatomical total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) has been used widely in treatment of glenohumeral osteoarthritis and provides excellent pain relief and functional results. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) was created to treat the complex problem of rotator cuff tear arthropathy. RSA also has been performed for glenohumeral osteoarthritis even in cases where the rotator cuff is preserved and has shown good results comparable with TSA. The indications for RSA are expanding to include tumors of the proximal humerus, revision of hemiarthroplasty to RSA, and revision of failed TSA to RSA. The purposes of this article were to describe comprehensively the conditions under which RSA should be considered in glenohumeral osteoarthritis, to explain its theoretical background, and to review the literature.