Patient-specific instrument guidance of glenoid component implantation reduces inclination variability in total and reverse shoulder arthroplasty

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to assess the influence of 3-dimensional (3D) preoperative planning and patient-specific instrument (PSI) guidance of glenoid component positioning on its inclination in total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) and reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA).Materials and methodsThirty-six shoulder arthroplasties (12 TSAs, 24 RSAs) were analyzed, of which 18 procedures (6 TSAs, 12 RSAs) were executed using preoperative 3D planning and patient-specific guides to position the central guide pin for glenoid component implantation. In 9 cases, the glenoid anatomy was severely distorted through wear or previous surgery. The inclination of the glenoid component was measured by 2 observers, using the angle between the glenoid baseplate and the floor of the supraspinatus fossa (angle β) on postoperative radiographs.ResultsFor TSA, the average angle β was 74 ± 9 in the PSI group and 86 ± 12 in the non-PSI group; for RSA, the average angle β was 83 ± 7 in the PSI group and 90 ± 17 in the non-PSI group. Extreme angles β, which represent extreme values of glenoid component inclination, are more likely to occur in the non-PSI group than in the PSI group (P < .001 for TSA; P = .02 for RSA).ConclusionsThe3D preoperative surgical planning and PSI guidance reduce variability in glenoid component inclination and avoid extreme inclination errors for TSA and RSA.