Clinical outcomes are unchanged after a mean of 12 years after reverse shoulder arthroplasty: a long-term re-evaluation

Abstract

BackgroundThe medium-term results of reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) that has been performed by a single surgeon have been previously reported. The purpose of this study was to investigate the minimum 10-year clinical and radiographic outcomes of these patients. MethodsIn this prospective cohort study, 27 patients were evaluated after RSA for massive rotator cuff tear (MRCT) with or without eccentric osteoarthritis (OA) or concentric OA with the Constant-Murley Score (CMS), range of motion (ROM), and a radiologic assessment. ResultsAt a mean 12-year follow-up, the CMS and ROM were significantly improved when compared with the baseline values (all p<0.001). Once stratified by diagnosis, no difference in the ROM or total CMS was found between patients with MRCT with/without eccentric OA and those with concentric OA. The ROM nor CMS decreased when compared to the mid-term values of the previous study, for both the overall population and the diagnosis-stratified groups. Scapular notching was reported in 66.7% of cases that was similar to the data reported at mid-term follow-up. The calcification rate was 59.3% at the long-term evaluation, and there were no differences between the same case-series population (51.9%; p=0.785) and the whole population at mid-term follow-up (47%; p=0.358). ConclusionsRSA led to excellent clinical and functional outcomes for patients up to 17 years postoperatively, and there was no decrease in the CMS over time. No loosening of implants was noted, and the rate of scapular notching was 66%, mostly grade 1 or 2.