If you don't remember your password, you can reset it by entering your email address and clicking the Reset Password button. You will then receive an email that contains a secure link for resetting your password
If the address matches a valid account an email will be sent to __email__ with instructions for resetting your password
Globally, reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) has moved away from the Grammont design to modern prosthesis designs. The purpose of this study was to provide a focused, updated systematic review for each of the most common complications of RSA by limiting each search to publications after 2010. In this part II, the following were examined: (1) instability, (2) humerus/glenoid fracture, (3) acromial/scapular spine fractures (AF/SSF), and (4) problems/miscellaneous.
Methods
Four separate PubMed database searches were performed following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Overall, 137 studies for instability, 94 for humerus/glenoid fracture, 120 for AF/SSF, and 74 for problems/miscellaneous were included in each review, respectively. Univariate analysis was performed with chi-square and Fisher exact tests.
Results
The Grammont design had a higher instability rate vs. all other designs combined (4.0%, 1.3%; P < .001), and the onlay humerus design had a lower rate than the lateralized glenoid design (0.9%, 2.0%; P = .02). The rate for intraoperative humerus fracture was 1.8%; intraoperative glenoid fracture, 0.3%; postoperative humerus fracture, 1.2%; and postoperative glenoid fracture, 0.1%. The rate of AF/SSF was 2.6% (371/14235). The rate for complex regional pain syndrome was 0.4%; deltoid injury, 0.1%; hematoma, 0.3%; and heterotopic ossification, 0.8%.
Conclusions
Focused systematic reviews of recent literature with a large volume of shoulders demonstrate that using non-Grammont modern prosthesis designs, complications including instability, intraoperative humerus and glenoid fractures, and hematoma are significantly reduced compared with previous studies. As the indications continue to expand for RSA, it is imperative to accurately track the rate and types of complications in order to justify its cost and increased indications.
Comparison of clinical outcomes after anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty and reverse shoulder arthroplasty in patients 70 years and older with glenohumeral osteoarthritis and an intact rotator cuff.
RSA is frequently used to treat difficult clinical diagnoses; consequently, it is not surprising to see a relatively high complication rate. Reports have concluded that indications such as rheumatoid arthritis have a higher risk of intraoperative and postoperative fracture
and that prior nonarthroplasty shoulder surgery confers a higher complication rate post RSA compared with those with no prior surgery on the ipsilateral shoulder.
The use of RSA has continued to rise, and it has become the majority shoulder arthroplasty since 2016. It has had an even more profound effect on revision shoulder arthroplasty than what previously has been documented in the primary setting.
Complications have been well described; the studies in the literature, however, are heterogeneous (eg, different indications, different prostheses, and different populations) and definitions vary between authors.
The reported complication rate is variable among reports and seems to be influenced substantially by the mix of primary and revision procedures included in each study.
have all been linked to increased complications and/or unfavorable outcomes. Some advocate that primary shoulder arthroplasty is performed more efficiently by higher-volume surgeons,
Recent data have defined a volume-outcome relationship where, likely related to surgical experience, ancillary staff familiarity, and protocolized pathways, hospital surgical volumes of 54-70 RSAs/yr correlate with the highest outcomes.
The majority of the published studies on RSA have historically reported on a Grammont-style RSA (glenosphere with medialized center of rotation [MG] along with an inlay humeral component that medializes the humerus [MH]). Lessons learned using this style of prosthesis have led to the introduction of new designs with multiple options for glenosphere lateral offset and eccentricity, different neck-shaft angulations, and humeral-based lateralization (LH). These design modifications translate into different biomechanics compared with the first generation of RSA. As the concept, design, and surgical technique of RSA continue to improve, the rates and types of complications may change over time. One study noted that after implant modifications, there have been statistically significant declines in baseplate failure, humeral dissociation, and glenosphere dissociation.
Further, a recent study noted that primary RSA performed with contemporary implants and surgical techniques seems to be associated with a very low rate of reoperation.
As the indications and use of RSA continue to expand, it is important to track the rate and types of complication as the procedure continues to develop over time. The purpose of this 2-part study was to provide a focused systematic review for the most common complications of RSA using contemporary prosthetic designs, therefore limiting studies to those published after 2010. In this part II, a systematic review was performed for (1) instability, (2) humerus/glenoid fracture, (3) acromial/scapular spine fractures, and (4) problems/miscellaneous. We established a study design and specific objectives before commencing each literature research.
Instability
Methods
A systematic review was performed using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
The search was performed using the PubMed medical database in April 2020 (Fig. 1). The search terms used were [(Dislocation) OR (Instability) OR (Revision) OR (Reoperation) OR (Complication) AND (reverse shoulder arthroplasty) OR (reverse total shoulder) OR (reverse total shoulder arthroplasty)] with filters as follows: date range (1/1/2010 to 12/31/2019), species (human), and language (English). The search resulted in 761 total titles. Inclusion criteria were titles that specified primary or revision RSA. Exclusion criteria were duplicate titles, review articles, editorials, technique articles without reported patient outcomes, cadaveric studies, kinematic/finite element model/computer model analyses, case reports, survey studies, elastography/histologic studies, cost-benefit analyses, and instructional course lecture articles. After application of these criteria, 323 titles remained for abstract review. Articles that reported 2-year follow-up studies with clearly reported instability, reoperation, revision, or complication data were included. Articles with <15 patients, a minimum average follow-up of <24 months, and evaluated treatment of shoulder periprosthetic infection, blood transfusion rates, venous thromboembolism rates, RSA with concomitant tendon transfer, or RSA for tumor were excluded. This process eliminated 154 more articles, leaving 169 for full-text review. Articles with repeat data from publications prior to 2010 without further instability on long-term follow-up were also excluded in the full-text review. Definition of instability/dislocation was left to the discretion of each individual study. This final elimination stage resulted in 137 articles for inclusion in the analysis. Two authors (A.M.R. and S.S.S.) reviewed the articles and collected the data.
Figure 1Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses diagram for instability.
The rates of instability overall and according to (1) revision status (primary vs. revision arthroplasty vs. failed open reduction internal fixation [ORIF] proximal humerus fracture [PHF]), (2) publication date (2010-2016 vs. 2017-2020), (3) diagnosis, (4) center of rotation (CoR) (medialized vs. lateralized), and (5) prosthesis design were determined by pooled statistics. CoR and prosthesis design was defined according to Routman et al,
who stated that a glenosphere with a CoR of ≤5 mm to the glenoid face is considered an MG, and a glenosphere with a CoR >5 mm lateral to the glenoid face is considered a lateralized glenoid (LG). Comparisons were also made to Zumstein et al.
Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (version 26; IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Univariate analysis was performed with the chi-square test, or with Fisher exact test when the expected count for at least 1 cell in the comparison was less than 5. The alpha level for statistical significance was set to 0.05.
Results
The majority of the studies were Level IV (96) and III (37), with only 3 Level II and 1 Level I evidence studies.
Anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty with posterior capsular plication versus reverse shoulder arthroplasty in patients with biconcave glenoids: a matched cohort study.
Clinical outcomes following reverse shoulder arthroplasty-allograft composite for revision of failed arthroplasty associated with proximal humeral bone deficiency: 2- to 15-year follow-up.
Salvage reverse total shoulder arthroplasty for failed operative treatment of proximal humeral fractures in patients younger than 60 years: long-term results.
Reverse shoulder arthroplasty with glenoid bone grafting for anterior glenoid rim fracture associated with glenohumeral dislocation and proximal humerus fracture.
Long stem reverse shoulder arthroplasty and cerclage for treatment of complex long segment proximal humeral fractures with diaphyseal extension in patients more than 65 years old.
"Shaped" humeral head autograft reverse shoulder arthroplasty: treatment for primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis with significant posterior glenoid bone loss (B2, B3, and C type).
Conversions from anatomic shoulder replacements to reverse total shoulder arthroplasty: do the indications for initial surgery influence the clinical outcome after revision surgery?.
Five-year outcome after conversion of a hemiarthroplasty when used for the treatment of a proximal humeral fracture to a reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.
Complications after surgical treatment of proximal humerus fractures in the elderly—an analysis of complication patterns and risk factors for reverse shoulder arthroplasty and angular-stable plating.
Reverse shoulder arthroplasty with a cementless short metaphyseal humeral prosthesis without a stem: survivorship, early to mid-term clinical and radiological outcomes in a prospective study from an independent centre.
Reverse shoulder arthroplasty for acute proximal humeral fractures in the geriatric patient: results, health-related quality of life and complication rates.
Early clinical and radiological outcomes of reverse shoulder arthroplasty with an eccentric all-polyethylene glenosphere to treat failed hemiarthroplasty and the sequelae of proximal humeral fractures.
Grammont humeral design versus onlay curved-stem reverse shoulder arthroplasty: comparison of clinical and radiographic outcomes with minimum 2-year follow-up.
Outcomes of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty for proximal humeral fractures: primary arthroplasty versus secondary arthroplasty after failed proximal humeral locking plate fixation.
Reverse shoulder arthroplasty for proximal humeral fractures: outcomes comparing primary reverse arthroplasty for fracture versus reverse arthroplasty after failed osteosynthesis.
Patient outcomes after revision of anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty to reverse shoulder arthroplasty for rotator cuff failure or component loosening: a matched cohort study.
Reverse shoulder arthroplasty for the treatment of acute complex proximal humeral fractures: influence of greater tuberosity healing on the functional outcomes.
Can a reverse shoulder arthroplasty be used to revise a failed primary reverse shoulder arthroplasty? Revision reverse shoulder arthroplasty for failed reverse prosthesis.
Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty using helical blade to optimize glenoid fixation and bone preservation: preliminary results in thirty five patients with minimum two year follow-up.
A total of 9306 shoulders were included in the analysis with a mean age of 72.1 years and 69.0% of female sex. The overall instability rate was 3.3% (308/9306 shoulders) at a mean follow-up of 3.2 years. When stratified by reoperations required and time to instability, 73.5% of dislocations required revision of components and 59.5% of shoulders with instability occurred within the first 90 days postoperatively (Table I). In total, there were 20 different implant systems encountered. Primary RSA instability rates were significantly lower at 2.5% vs. revision RSA (5.7%) or RSA for failed ORIF PHF rates (5.3%) (P < .001, P = .01, respectively) (Table II). The Grammont design (MG/MH) had a significantly higher instability rate vs. all other designs combined (4.0%, 1.3%; P < .001). Instability rates, especially modern non-Grammont designs, have significantly decreased compared with Zumstein et al
Table IInstability rates overall, stratified by reoperations required and time to instability
Studies included
Shoulders
Instability present
Rate, % (n/n)
Overall
137
9306
308
33 (308/9306)
Stratified by reoperations
127
6620
226
—
Revision of components
—
—
166
73.5 (166/226)
Closed reduction
—
—
41
18.1 (41/226)
Open reduction
—
—
1
0.4 (1/226)
Stratified by time to instability
32
1712
84
—
<90 d
—
—
50
59.5 (50/84)
>90 d
—
—
34
40.5 (34/84)
The majority of shoulders with instability occurred within the first 90 days postoperatively and were treated with revision of components as final treatment.
Table IIRates of instability according to (1) publication date (2010-2016 vs. 2017-2020), (2) revision status (primary vs. revision arthroplasty vs. failed ORIF PHF), and (3) center of rotation
The Grammont design (MG/MH) had a significantly higher instability rate vs. all other designs combined (4.0%, 1.3%; P < .001), instability rates, especially modern non-Grammont designs, have significantly decreased compared to Zumstein et al (JSES, 2011).
The search was performed using the PubMed medical database in July 2019 (Fig. 2). The search terms used were [(perioperative complication) OR (Complication) OR (Humerus fracture) OR (Glenoid Fracture) OR (Fracture) OR (Intraoperative fracture) OR (postoperative fracture) OR (revision) OR (reoperation)] AND [(reverse shoulder arthroplasty) OR (reverse total shoulder) OR (reverse total shoulder arthroplasty)] with filters as follows: date range (1/1/2010 to 5/1/2019), species (human), and language (English). The search resulted in 573 total titles. Inclusion criteria were titles that specified primary or revision RSA. Exclusion criteria were duplicate titles, review articles, editorials, technique articles without reported patient outcomes, cadaveric studies, kinematic/finite element model/computer model analyses, case reports, survey studies, elastography/histologic studies, cost-benefit analyses, and instructional course lecture articles. After application of these criteria, 304 titles remained for abstract review. Articles that reported 2-year follow-up studies with perioperative complication data, postoperative complication data, or clearly reported humerus fracture, glenoid fracture, intraoperative fracture, and postoperative fracture were lincluded. Articles with <25 patients, a minimum average follow-up of <24 months, and evaluated treatment of shoulder periprosthetic infection, blood transfusion rates, venous thromboembolism rates, RSA with concomitant tendon transfer, or RSA for tumor were excluded. This process eliminated 195 more articles, leaving 109 for full-text review. Definition of glenoid/humerus fracture was left to the discretion of each individual study. This final elimination stage resulted in 94 articles for inclusion in the analysis. Two authors (B.G. and S.S.S.) reviewed the articles and collected the data.
Figure 2Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses diagram for humerus/glenoid fracture.
The rates of intraoperative humerus fracture (IHF), intraoperative glenoid fracture (IGF), postoperative humerus fracture (PostHF), postoperative glenoid fracture (PGF), overall and according to (1) diagnosis and (2) prosthesis design were determined by pooled statistics. Prosthesis design was defined according to Routman et al.
Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (version 26). Univariate analysis was performed with the chi-square test, or with Fisher exact test when the expected count for at least 1 cell in the comparison was less than 5. The alpha level for statistical significance was set to 0.05.
Results
The vast majority of the studies were Level IV and III evidence studies.
Hemiarthroplasty versus reverse shoulder arthroplasty: comparative study of functional and radiological outcomes in the treatment of acute proximal humerus fracture.
Clinical outcomes following reverse shoulder arthroplasty-allograft composite for revision of failed arthroplasty associated with proximal humeral bone deficiency: 2- to 15-year follow-up.
Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty for massive irreparable rotator cuff tears in patients younger than 65 years old: results after five to fifteen years.
Reverse shoulder arthroplasty with glenoid bone grafting for anterior glenoid rim fracture associated with glenohumeral dislocation and proximal humerus fracture.
Reverse shoulder arthroplasty for proximal humerus fracture using a dedicated stem: radiological outcomes at a minimum 2 years of follow-up-case series.
"Shaped" humeral head autograft reverse shoulder arthroplasty: treatment for primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis with significant posterior glenoid bone loss (B2, B3, and C type).
Conversions from anatomic shoulder replacements to reverse total shoulder arthroplasty: do the indications for initial surgery influence the clinical outcome after revision surgery?.
Is reverse total shoulder arthroplasty a feasible treatment option for failed shoulder arthroplasty? A retrospective study of 44 cases with special regards to stemless and stemmed primary implants.
Five-year outcome after conversion of a hemiarthroplasty when used for the treatment of a proximal humeral fracture to a reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.
Reverse shoulder arthroplasty with a cementless short metaphyseal humeral implant without a stem: clinical and radiologic outcomes in prospective 2- to 7-year follow-up study.
Reverse shoulder arthroplasty for acute proximal humeral fractures in the geriatric patient: results, health-related quality of life and complication rates.
Early clinical and radiological outcomes of reverse shoulder arthroplasty with an eccentric all-polyethylene glenosphere to treat failed hemiarthroplasty and the sequelae of proximal humeral fractures.
Grammont humeral design versus onlay curved-stem reverse shoulder arthroplasty: comparison of clinical and radiographic outcomes with minimum 2-year follow-up.
Outcomes of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty for proximal humeral fractures: primary arthroplasty versus secondary arthroplasty after failed proximal humeral locking plate fixation.
Reverse shoulder arthroplasty for proximal humeral fractures: outcomes comparing primary reverse arthroplasty for fracture versus reverse arthroplasty after failed osteosynthesis.
Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty using helical blade to optimize glenoid fixation and bone preservation: preliminary results in thirty five patients with minimum two year follow-up.
A total of 5539 shoulders were included in the analysis with a mean age of 71.3 years and 67.4% of female sex at a mean follow-up of 3.5 years. The overall rate was as follows: IHF = 1.8% (91/5539 shoulders), IGF = 0.3% (15/5539), PostHF = 1.2% (69/5539), and PGF = 0.1% (6/5539). In total, there were 20 different implant systems encountered. IGF and IHF rates using modern non-Grammont designs have significantly decreased compared with Zumstein et al (Table IV). Additionally, 62.7% of the postoperative fractures were attributed to traumatic events. When stratified by management, the majority of IHF and IGF were treated conservatively (Table V).
Table IVFracture rates overall and compared to Zumstein et al
Studies included
Shoulders
Fx present
Rate, %
P value
Current study
Vs. Zumstein et al
Intraop. humerus Fx
94
5539
97
1.8
.56
Intraop. glenoid Fx
94
5539
15
0.3
.01∗
Postop. humerus Fx
94
5539
69
1.2
.71
Postop. glenoid Fx
94
5539
6
0.1
—
Zumstein et al
Vs. current study
Intraop. humerus Fx
21
782
16
2.0
.56
Intraop. glenoid Fx
21
782
7
0.9
.01∗
Postop. humerus Fx
21
782
11
1.4
.71
Postop. glenoid Fx
21
782
NR
NR
—
Current study: subtotal of non-Grammont designs
Vs. Zumstein et al
Intraop. humerus Fx
1057
0
0.0
<.001
Intraop. glenoid Fx
1057
1
0.1
.01∗
Postop. humerus Fx
1057
23
2.2
.23
Postop. glenoid Fx
1057
1
0.1
—
Intraop, intraoperatively; Postop., postoperatively; Fx, fracture; NR, not reported; JSES, Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery.
Intraoperative glenoid fracture rates and intraoperative humerus fracture using modern non-Grammont designs have significantly decreased compared with Zumstein et al (JSES, 2011).