Clinical, functional and radiographic outcomes of inverted-bearing reverse shoulder arthroplasty at minimum two year follow-up.

BACKGROUND

Inverted-Bearing Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty (IB-RSA) is an alternative reverse bearing construct characterized by an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene glenosphere combined with a cobalt-chromium metallic humeral liner. This concept was designed both to minimize bearing wear as well as reduce the potential for scapular notching (SN) seen with more traditional-bearing RSA systems. This study reports on clinical outcomes, functional scores, pain scores, and radiographic incidence of SN in a series of IB-RSA at a minimum of two-year follow-up.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted on patients who underwent an IB-RSA between 2016 and 2019, with a minimum follow-up period of two years. Patients were evaluated clinically for disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score (ASES), EQ-5D Health Questionnaire, Global Rating of Change score (GRC), Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation score (SANE) and range of motion (ROM). Presence and grade of radiographic SN was assessed using the classification of Sirveaux at 6, 12, 24 months and at the last x-ray available.

RESULTS

61 consecutive patients were assessed at a mean postoperative follow-up of 37 months (range, 24-72 months). IB-RSA exhibited high overall outcome scores including DASH (38.3 +/-5), ASES (83 +/- 6), GRC (4 +/-0.6), and SANE (83 +/-11). ROM was assessed in 41 patients with 135 ± 21 of elevation, 23 ± 12 of external rotation, and 5 ± 2 for internal rotation. SN was radiographically present in 23 (38%) patients (twenty grade 1, three grade 2) in the final follow-up, with all cases showing evidence of mechanical notching while no grade 3 or 4 cases were observed. The SN did not progress in most of the patients after the first year (P > .05). The presence of SN did not influence on clinical outcome scores as DASH, ASES, EQ-5D Health Questionnaire, GRC, SANE (P > .05), or active ROM (P > .05).

CONCLUSION

IB-RSA demonstrates high patient-reported and functional outcome scores at a minimum of two years follow-up. We report only low-grade SN with little progression after the first year. There was no correlation between SN and clinical outcomes.