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Updated: Dec 9, 2025
Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Published on: July 5, 2011
Catastrophic Failure of Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty from a Broken Screw: A Case Report
Miguel A Ramirez1,2, Yining Lu2, Andrew Schaver2
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, OSF Orthopedics, Peoria, Illinois.
Case:
A 63-year-old woman presented with pain and limited range of motion 2 years after undergoing reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA). She underwent revision RSA for catastrophic implant failure caused by central screw breakage, subsequent polyethylene wear, and glenosphere loosening, and achieved excellent outcomes.
Conclusion:
This is a unique case of a salvage procedure with satisfactory outcomes for a rare complication of RSA. It demonstrates the importance of clinical vigilance notwithstanding the absence of radiographic abnormalities in long-term monitoring of patient implant failure.
