Humeral stem with low filling ratio reduces stress shielding in primary reverse shoulder arthroplasty

Some patients show severe humeral bone stress shielding even one year after press-fit humeral stem, which can be a risk factor for implant durability. This study compared humeral stress shielding and clinical outcomes between high and low filling ratio (HFR and LFR) stems in primary reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA).

From 2015 to 2020, 104 patients who underwent RSA with a non-cemented standard-length humeral stem were examined. The humeral stems included large press-fit stems (HFR group, 53 patients) or small non-press-fit stems with autogenous cancellous bone grafting (LFR group, 51 patients). The radiologic and clinical outcomes were compared between the groups one year post-operatively.

One patient in the LFR group with early infectious dislocation was excluded from the 1-one year evaluation. No stress shielding was observed in 27/50 (54.0%) and 5/53 (9.4%) of patients in the LFR and HFR groups, while 3/50 (6%) and 19/53 (35.8%) patients showed high-stress shielding, respectively. However, the stem alignment change, subsidence, complications and evidence of loosening did not differ between the groups. The final range-of-motion and functional scores were significantly poorer in the LFR group than those in the HFR group, although the difference was minimal.

Even at one year follow-up, patients receiving LFR stems with autogenous bone grafting had significantly less humeral stress shielding compared to patients with HFR stem with press-fit in primary RSA, without compromising stem stability.