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Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: Technique, Decision-Making and Exposure Tips

  • Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty (E Craig and C Chambers, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The goal of this review is to introduce surgical decision-making pearls for reverse shoulder arthroplasty and describe optimization of surgical exposure for reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

Recent Findings

While the technology of reverse shoulder replacement and the associated prosthetic options have expanded, the principles involved in successfully exposing the humerus and glenoid in arthroplasty remain the same.

Summary

Reverse shoulder replacement should be considered in arthroplasty situations with rotator cuff disease, deformity, bone loss, and instability as part of the diagnosis. Optimal exposure in reverse shoulder arthroplasty can be obtained by (1) releasing deltoid adhesions, (2) removal of humeral osteophytes, (3) generous humeral head cuts, (4) thorough humeral and glenoid capsular release and (5) optimal glenoid retractor placement. Neuromuscular paralysis can also aid glenoid exposure.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sports Medicine Service, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1520 San Pablo Street, Suite 2000, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA

    Harshvardhan Chawla & Seth Gamradt

Authors
  1. Harshvardhan Chawla
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  2. Seth Gamradt
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Correspondence to Seth Gamradt.

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Conflict of Interest

Harshvardhan Chawla and Seth Gamradt declare that they have no conflict of interest. Seth Gamradt receives consultancy fees from Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. and Arthrex, Inc. outside of the submitted work.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty

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Chawla, H., Gamradt, S. Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: Technique, Decision-Making and Exposure Tips. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med 13, 180–185 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12178-020-09613-3

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