Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty is a surgical option for patients over 60 years of age with locked shoulder dislocation.

BACKGROUND

in locked dislocation of the shoulder, instead of reducing back to the glenoid, the humeral head remains incarcerated on the glenoid in a locked fashion. This clinical situation is fairly uncommon. It is essential to conduct an individual evaluation of each patient to determine the appropriate treatment.

OBJECTIVE

the aim of this study was to evaluate the functional outcomes of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) in the treatment of locked shoulder dislocation.

METHODS

patients with locked shoulder dislocation who underwent reverse shoulder prosthesis surgery and were admitted to our center between 2007 and 2023 were reviewed. The primary outcome was the Constant score. Secondary outcomes included the adjusted Constant, UCLA and DASH scores. Additionally, any signs of radiologic loosening were also documented.

RESULTS

the series consisted of 10 patients, six men and four women, with a mean age of 68.0 years. The average time from the traumatic injury to surgery was 7.5 months. All patients showed improved Constant, Adapted Constant, UCLA, and DASH scores compared to their preoperative values. When comparing the outcomes of chronic posterior and anterior dislocations, no differences in functional outcomes or shoulder motion were observed after rTSA implantation. There were no complications during or after surgery.

CONCLUSION

The results of the present study have shown that patients with locked shoulder dislocation can achieve reliable short-term functional results when treated with rTSA. This proceduredecreases pain, improves functionality and enhances patient satisfaction.

LEVEL EVIDENCE: IV.