Radiological changes, infections and neurological complications after reverse shoulder arthroplasty related to different design types and their rates: Part II

Abstract

Early reported complication rates with the Grammont-type reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) were very high, up to 24%. □ A ‘problem’ is defined as an intraoperative or postoperative event that is not likely to affect the patient’s final outcome, such as intraoperative cement extravasation and radiographic changes. A ‘complication’ is defined as an intraoperative or postoperative event that is likely to affect the patient’s final outcome, including infection, neurologic injury and intrathoracic central glenoid screw placement. □ Radiographic changes around the glenoid or humeral components of the RSA are very frequently observed and described in the literature. □ High complication rates related to the Grammont RSA design led to development of non-Grammont designs which led to a dramatic fall in the majority of complications. □ The percentage of radiological changes after RSA is not negligible and remains unsolved, despite a decrease in its occurrence in the last decade. However, such changes should be now considered as simple problems because they rarely have a negative influence on the patient’s final outcome, and their prevalence has dramatically decreased. □ With further changes in indications and designs for RSA, it is crucial to accurately track the rates and types of complications to justify its new designs and increased indications.