Clinical and radiographic outcomes of reverse shoulder arthroplasty using a hybrid baseplate fixation mechanism

Despite the success of reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA), complication rates remain high (13% to 25%), due to instability, infection, and glenoid component loosening, which can lead to revision. The aim of the present study was to report the early clinical outcomes of RSA using a new hybrid baseplate design, in comparison with the literature on other common RSA baseplates.

The authors retrospectively analyzed the records of 142 patients (142 shoulders) who underwent primary RSA using a hybrid baseplate design by the senior surgeons between May 2014 and December 2018. Preoperative and postoperative assessments included the Constant score (CS) and range of motion, including active forward elevation, external rotation, and internal rotation.

Of the initial cohort of 142 patients, 13 were lost to follow-up (8.6%), 2 died (1.3%), and 8 required reoperations with implant removal (5.3%). The remaining 119 patients comprised 71 women (60%) and 48 men (40%), aged 73.6 ± 7.3 years at index surgery, 43 of whom required bony increased offset (36%). At a minimum follow-up of 2 years, the CS improved by 37.3 ± 16.1, active forward elevation increased by 51.2° ± 38.1°, external rotation increased by 16.4° ± 25.0°, and internal rotation increased by 1.5 ± 3.2.

At a minimum follow-up of 2 years after RSA using a new hybrid baseplate system, the CS and range of motion were satisfactory and comparable to those in recent systematic reviews. The findings of this study suggest that this hybrid baseplate system provides satisfactory outcomes in the short term, although longer follow-up studies are needed to validate its long-term efficacy.