Anatomic versus reverse total shoulder arthroplasty outcomes after prior contralateral anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty in patients with bilateral primary osteoarthritis with an intact rotator cuff.

Purpose: We aimed to compare outcomes in patients that underwent bilateral anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (aTSA) vs. aTSA/ reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) for rotator cuff-intact glenohumeral osteoarthritis (RCI-GHOA) to further elucidate the role of rTSA in this patient population.
Methods: A single-institution prospectively collected shoulder arthroplasty database was reviewed for patients undergoing bilateral total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) for RCI-GHOA with a primary aTSA and subsequent contralateral aTSA or rTSA. Outcome scores (SPADI, SST, ASES, UCLA, Constant) and active range of motion (abduction, forward elevation [FE], external and internal rotation [ER and IR]) were evaluated. Clinically relevant benchmarks (minimal clinically important difference [MCID], substantial clinical benefit [SCB], and patient acceptable symptomatic state [PASS]) were evaluated against values in prior literature. Incidence of surgical complications and revision rates were examined in qualifying patients as well as those without <two year follow-up.
Results: Of the 55 bilateral TSA patients with an intact rotator cuff, 46 underwent aTSA/aTSA and 9 underwent aTSA/rTSA. At the time of the second TSA, patients undergoing aTSA/rTSA were older (71 ± 4 vs. 67 ± 7, P = .032) and more commonly had inflammatory arthritis (44% vs. 11%, P = .031). Mean time to the second TSA was shorter for aTSA/aTSA (2.3 ± 2.8 vs. 4.4 ± 3.6 years, P < .001). Postoperative outcomes were similar after the first aTSAs between groups with similar proportions achieving the MCID, SCB, and PASS (all P > .05). The 2nd TSAs between groups were similar preoperatively, but aTSA/rTSA had superior outcome scores, overhead motion, and active abduction compared to patients that underwent aTSA/aTSA. There were no differences in active ER and IR scores or complication rates between groups.
Conclusion: Patients with RCI-GHOA have excellent clinical outcomes after either aTSA/aTSA or aTSA/rTSA.
(© 2023. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to SICOT aisbl.)