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Updated: Dec 11, 2025
Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Published on: July 5, 2011
Periprosthetic Infection After Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty: a Review
Erik S Contreras1, Travis L Frantz1, Julie Y Bishop1
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.
Purpose Of Review:
Periprosthetic infection is a relatively rare but potentially devastating complication after shoulder arthroplasty. The purpose of this article is to review the incidence, diagnosis, prevention, and management of periprosthetic infections after reverse shoulder arthroplasty, with a focus on literature published within the last 5 years.
Recent Findings:
The 2018 International Consensus Meeting on Musculoskeletal Infection provides us with a framework for the diagnosis and management of periprosthetic infections after shoulder arthroplasty. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty has a higher reported rate of infection compared with anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty. Our current diagnostic tests do not appear to be as sensitive when compared with the hip and knee literature. Similar success has been reported with single and two-stage revision protocols, although prospective comparative data are lacking. The significance of unexpected positive cultures during revision arthroplasty remains unclear. We report current diagnostic and therapeutic options for periprosthetic infection after reverse shoulder arthroplasty. Much of the current literature does not distinguish between anatomic and reverse shoulder arthroplasty. Further high-level studies are warranted to refine these definitions and guide management.
Insights
Periprosthetic infection after reverse shoulder arthroplasty is a serious complication. Diagnosis and management strategies are evolving, with ongoing research needed to refine best practices.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Infectious Disease
Background:
- Periprosthetic infection is a severe complication following shoulder arthroplasty.
- Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) may have a higher infection rate than anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the incidence, diagnosis, prevention, and management of periprosthetic infections after RSA.
- Focus on literature published within the last five years.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of periprosthetic infections after shoulder arthroplasty.
- Analysis of diagnostic and management strategies based on recent publications.
Main Results:
- The 2018 International Consensus Meeting provides a diagnostic and management framework.
- Diagnostic tests may be less sensitive for shoulder infections compared to hip/knee.
- Both single and two-stage revision protocols show similar success, but data are limited.
Conclusions:
- Current diagnostic tools need improvement for shoulder periprosthetic infections.
- Further high-level studies are required to guide management and refine definitions.
- Distinguishing between anatomic and reverse shoulder arthroplasty in research is crucial.
