Factors contributing to glenoid baseplate micromotion in reverse shoulder arthroplasty: a biomechanical study

Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) is typically performed in patients with cuff tear arthropathy. A common type of RSA baseplate has a central peg and 4 peripheral screws inserting into the glenoid surface. Baseplate failure is a significant postoperative complication that reduces prosthetic longevity and usually requires revision surgery. This study evaluated the contribution of mechanical factors on initial baseplate fixation.

This study simulated glenoid baseplate loading in a RSA. A half-fractional factorial design was used to test 5 factors: bone density (160 or 400 kg/m³), screw length (18 or 36 mm), number of screws (2 or 4), screw angle (neutral or diverging), and central peg length (13.5 or 23.5 mm). Trials were cyclically loaded at a 60° angle with 500 N for 1000 cycles. Micromotion at 4 peripheral screw positions was analyzed using a multifactorial analysis of variance (P < .05).

We found an increase in micromotion with 3 scenarios: (1) lower bone density at all screw positions; (2) shorter central peg length at the inferior, superior and anterior screws; and (3) shorter screw length at the inferior and anterior screws. There were interactions between bone density and screw length at the inferior and anterior screws and between bone density and central peg length at the inferior, superior, and anterior screws.

Greater bone density, a longer central peg, and longer screws provide improved initial glenoid fixation in an RSA, whereas the number of screws, and the angle of screw insertion do not. These findings may help minimize baseplate failure and revision operations.