Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 24, 2026
Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Published on: July 5, 2011
Inter and intra-system size variability of reverse shoulder arthroplasty polyethylene inserts
Matthew G Teeter1, Matthew T Dawson2, George S Athwal3
1Department of Surgery, Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Lawson Health Research Institute, Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Revision shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) components from different manufacturers show similar size compatibility. This suggests interchangeability of same-sized RSA implants during revision surgery, potentially simplifying procedures.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic surgery
- Biomedical engineering
- Implant design
Background:
- Increasing incidence of reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) leads to a growing need for revision procedures.
- Revision surgeries may require combining components from different manufacturers when implants are well-fixed.
- Interchangeability of RSA components could streamline revision surgery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the size compatibility between glenoid and humeral implants from different RSA systems.
- To determine if same-sized polyethylene inserts from various RSA systems exhibit comparable articular surface geometries.
- To compare intersystem compatibility with intrasystem manufacturing variability.
Main Methods:
- Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scanning of 48 polyethylene inserts from eight RSA systems.
- Surface geometry reconstruction and co-registration of different implant geometries.
- Measurement of three-dimensional (3D) variability between articular surfaces (intersystem) and within the same system (intrasystem).
Main Results:
- Mean maximum deviation between same-size, different-system inserts was 60 ± 16 μm.
- Intersystem deviations were not significantly different (P = 0.61).
- Intrasystem manufacturing variability averaged 49 ± 17 μm, comparable to intersystem deviations.
Conclusions:
- Geometric differences between same-sized inserts from different RSA systems are on the scale of intrasystem manufacturing variability.
- This suggests potential interchangeability of same-sized components from different RSA systems in revision settings.
- Surgeons may theoretically interchange components from tested RSA systems during revision procedures.
