Medium term results of reverse total shoulder replacement in patients with rotator cuff arthropathy.

BACKGROUND

The Delta III total shoulder replacement is a reversed, semi-constrained prosthesis and is recommended for the management of rotator cuff arthropathy.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective mid-term review of the Delta shoulder replacements performed during 2000-2005 with a minimum 18-month follow-up. We recorded the pre-operative and post-operative constant scores.

RESULTS

The Constant's score improved from a pre-operative mean of 14.8 (95% CI +8.8 to +19.8) to a post-operative mean of 60.9 (95% CI +50 to +66.2) with a P valve of <0.0001.

CONCLUSION

Delta III prosthesis restores the function in shoulder affected by severe pain and dysfunction due to rotator cuff arthropathy. Inferior scapular notching in the post-operative radiographs was better visualised in abduction views compared with standard anteroposterior radiographs. Long-term follow-up is required to predict the effect of scapular notching.