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Updated: Jun 8, 2026
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Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Published on: July 5, 2011
Patient reported activities after shoulder replacement: total and hemiarthroplasty
Peter C Zarkadas1, Thomas Quin Throckmorton, Diane L Dahm
1Lions Gate Hospital, Northern Vancouver, BC Canada.
Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery
|October 19, 2010
Summary
Total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) and hemiarthroplasty (HA) patients engage in similar activities. TSA patients report better motion and strength, challenging the notion that HA allows for greater activity levels post-surgery.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Biomedical Engineering
- Rehabilitation Science
Background:
- Patient activity levels post-shoulder arthroplasty are crucial for surgical indication but remain largely unknown.
- Understanding self-reported activities is key to guiding safe post-operative recommendations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define and compare the self-reported activities of patients following total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) versus hemiarthroplasty (HA).
Main Methods:
- Matched cohorts of 75 patients each undergoing TSA or HA were surveyed.
- A mailed questionnaire assessed pain, motion, strength, and participation in 72 different activities.
- Activities were categorized into low, intermediate, and high demand levels.
Main Results:
- Ninety-nine patients completed the survey (52 TSA, 47 HA).
- No significant difference in reported pain or activity levels between TSA and HA groups.
- TSA patients reported significantly better forward flexion, internal rotation, and strength.
Conclusions:
- Patient-reported activities do not support the conventional belief that hemiarthroplasty (HA) allows for greater activity than total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA).
- Total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) patients demonstrated superior range of motion and strength while maintaining comparable activity levels to HA patients.
