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Speaker discusses published reports on reverse shoulder arthroplasty
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BOSTON — Although reverse shoulder arthroplasty has been shown to have surgical and medical complications and higher costs of care, the procedure performed by an experienced surgeon has shown consistent outcome scores and better range of motion than hemiarthroplasty, according to a presentation here.
“The learning curve [for reverse arthroplasty] may be steeper than for hemiarthroplasty and that is why it is important to understand who are we comparing, because it is apples and oranges here when we look at these different studies,” Jon J.P. Warner, MD, said in his presentation at the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Open Symposium.
When looking across several previously published studies, Warner noted reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) had better surgical and clinical results and outcome scores compared with hemiarthroplasty. However, he noted, “Our reports emphasize the techniques to treat malunion with reverse are not the same as for acute RSA for fracture.”
Revision reverse arthroplasty following open reduction and internal fixation for hemiarthroplasty also showed results inferior to acute RSA, Warner noted, and revision RSA has been linked to multiple surgical complications.
However, according to Warner, most published literature on RSA does not provide long-term data or include a large number of participants. He added some surgeons may be more experienced with RSA, which has been shown to have a steeper learning curve than hemiarthroplasty. – by Casey Tingle
Reference:
Warner JJP. Proximal humerus: Reverse. Presented at: American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Open Symposium; Oct. 6, 2016; Boston.
Disclosure: Warner reports that he received support from Wright Medical; is a board or committee member for the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons and the San Diego Shoulder Institute; received other financial or material support from Arthrex Inc., Breg, DJ Orthopaedics and Smith & Nephew; has stock or stock options in Imascap Company and Orthospace; and received IP royalties from and is a consultant for Tornier.