[RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT OF REVERSE TOTAL SHOULDER ARTHROPLASTY]

To investigate the development and clinical application of the reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.

The relative publications on reverse total shoulder arthroplasties were extensively reviewed and analyzed.

Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty has extensive indications, especially for pseudoparalysis caused by irrepairable rotator cuff tears with forward or upper shift of the humeral head and intact function of deltoid. The clinical research results indicate that the short-term results are satisfactory, but there are some special complications, such as scapular nothching, instability and limities of internal and external rotation. While performing this kind of operation, the selection of the approach, the determination of the prosthetic rotation center should be considered well, and the bone graft should be paid attention to when the bony defect of the glenoid and proximal humerus exists.

The using time of the reverse total shoulder arthroplasty is short, so the long-term results should be observed. The development of computer assisted technique is hopeful to be improve the results of the reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.