Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty after failed rotator cuff surgery

BackgroundThe purpose is to report the results of reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) after previous failed rotator cuff surgery.Materials and methodsA retrospective multicenter study of 42 RSA in 40 patients (mean age, 71 years) with a mean follow-up of 50 months. Thirty shoulders presented with a pseudoparalytic shoulder and 12 with a painful shoulder with maintained active anterior elevation (AAE ≥ 90°).ResultsFive complications (12%) occurred and 2 patients (5%) underwent re-operation. In pseudoparalytic shoulders, AAE increased from 56° to 123° and 7% were disappointed or dissatisfied. In painful shoulders, AAE decreased from 146° to 122° and 27% were disappointed or dissatisfied.DiscussionRSA can improve function in patients with cuff deficient shoulders after failure of previous cuff surgery. However, results are inferior to primary RSA. RSA when the patient maintains greater than 90° of preoperative AAE risks loss of AAE and lower patient satisfaction.