Clinical and Functional Results of Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty and Postoperative Rehabilitation Protocol

Functional assessment and quality of life of patients after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty in the late follow-up period

BACKGROUND

Due to the systematically increasing number of shoulder replacement procedures among older people, the need to assess their quality of life is becoming more and more important.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to functionally assess the shoulder joint and the quality of life of patients before and after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA).

METHODS

The observational study included 15 patients after the rTSA procedure (randomly selected). The quality of life and shoulder joint function before and after rTSA were assessed using the following scales: SF-36, Constant-Murley Score, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Scale (DASH) and the University of California-Los Angeles Shoulder Rating Scale (UCLA scale) and Simple Shoulder Test (SST).

RESULTS

There were statistically significant differences (p< 0.001) between measurements in the overall scores of the SF-36 questionnaire. Statistically significant differences (p< 0.001) were found between measurements in terms of the Constant-Murley, DASH, UCLA and SST scales results.

CONCLUSIONS

Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty significantly improved the patients' quality of life and the functional condition of the operated limb.