November 01, 2013
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Study: RSA improves short-term function in younger patients with arthritis, rotator cuff deficiency

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Researchers found improved function at short-term follow-up in younger patients with arthritis or rotator cuff deficiency undergoing reverse shoulder arthroplasty, but noted that patient satisfaction was lower than previous reports of satisfaction in older patients.

“[Reverse shoulder arthroplasty] RSA as a reconstructive procedure improved function at the time of short-term follow-up in our young patients with glenohumeral arthritis and rotator cuff deficiency,” Stephanie J. Muh, MD, and colleagues wrote in the study abstract. “Objective outcomes in our patient cohort were similar to those in previously reported studies.”

Muh and colleagues retrospectively analyzed 66 patients who were mean 52.2 years old and had rotator cuff deficiency, a failed primary shoulder arthroplasty, osteoarthritis and a mass rotator cuff disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis or other miscellaneous diagnoses, according to the abstract. Of these patients, 67% had undergone at least one previous surgery and 46% had multiple previous procedures.

At mean 36.5-month follow-up, the average external rotation improved from 10° to 19.6°, and mean active forward arm elevation improved from 54.6° preoperatively to 134° postoperatively, according to the abstract. Patients were very satisfied or satisfied in 81% of cases. The mean VAS score improved from 7.5 points to 3 points and the mean American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score improved from 40 points to 72.4 points. At final follow-up, scapular notching was evident in 43% of cases and there was a 15% complication rate.

Disclosures: Gobezie and Edwards are paid consultants for and receive institutional funding from Tornier. Edwards received funds to travel to meetings from Tornier.