Complications After Anatomic Shoulder Arthroplasty: Revisiting Leading Causes of Failure

For practicing shoulder arthroplasty surgeons, it is advisable to consider a breadth of data sources concerning complications and outcomes. Although published series from high-volume centers are the primary source of data, these results may not be generalizable to a wide range of practice settings. National or health system-specific registry and medical device databases are useful adjuncts to assess the changing complication profile of shoulder arthroplasty, as well as to understand the complications specific to certain implants or implant types. To reduce the risk of postoperative complications, surgeons must have a clear understanding of the most common modes of failure.