Retrospective study of scapular notches in reverse shoulder arthroplasties

We conducted a retrospective study of 36 patients with reverse shoulder prostheses to assess whether placement of the glenoid component affected development of scapular notches. Minimum follow-up was 2 years. Glenosphere position and its relation to scapular notching was analyzed radiographically. The glenosphere overhung the inferior glenoid rim in 19 cases (52.8%) and was flush with the rim in the other 17 cases (47.2%). A scapular notch developed in 13 (36.1%) of the 36 cases. The notch developed in 8 (42.1%) of the 19 cases in which the glenosphere overhung the inferior rim, and in 5 (29.4%) of the 17 cases in which the glenosphere was flush with the rim. There were no significant differences (P = .601) between the 2 groups (overhanging vs flush glenoid component) with respect to development of scapular notching. Preoperative and postoperative Constant-Murley Shoulder Outcome scores were 19.42 and 49.21 for the group with scapular notches, and 25.09 and 51.96 for the group without notches. From a clinical viewpoint, there were no significant differences in scapular notch development and functional Constant-Murley Shoulder Outcome scores between glenospheres overhanging the glenoid rim and glenospheres flush with the glenoid rim.