Reverse shoulder replacement surgery success in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis has been associated with poor outcomes when it comes to traditional shoulder replacement surgery. A research team recently looked at if people with rheumatoid arthritis who have a different type of operation – reverse shoulder replacement – fare any better, and report their findings in International Orthopaedics.

They found examples of 91 primary reverse shoulder replacements in people with inflammatory arthritis. The average age at the time of surgery was 70 years old.

Key findings

• The two- and five-year implant revision-free survival was 99%
• Patients enjoyed significant pain relief with a 92% satisfaction rate
• Shoulder elevation and external rotation improved from 65 and 21 degrees before surgery to 138 and 45 degrees after surgery
• There were two cases of glenoid loosening (one of the most common causes of failed total shoulder arthroplasty)

The study means that people with inflammatory arthritis who are considering shoulder replacement operations should speak to their surgeon about if reverse shoulder replacement could be more appropriate than traditional surgery.

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