Accuracy of Blueprint software in predicting range of motion 1 year after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty

Blueprint 3-dimensional computed tomography software has a functionality that predicts impingement-free range of motion (ROM) with determination of the limits of ROM at which bone and/or prosthetic impingement occurs. To our knowledge, only 1 previously published study has assessed the ability of Blueprint software to predict actual postoperative ROM after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA). The hypotheses of this study were that (1) mean Blueprint-predicted impingement-free ROM would be statistically similar to the mean actual ROM 1 year after RTSA and (2) there would be a correlation between Blueprint-predicted impingement-free ROM and the actual ROM 1 year after RTSA.

A retrospective review of patients who underwent Blueprint planning prior to undergoing RTSA from March 2017 through May 2021 was performed. At 1-year follow-up, flexion, external rotation at the side, abduction, external rotation in the abducted position, internal rotation in the abducted position, and internal rotation behind the back were measured. The preoperatively predicted flexion, extension, abduction, external rotation, and internal rotation were recorded using Blueprint software. The group 1 analysis examined the predicted vs. actual ROM of all 127 patients regardless of whether intraoperative component modifications were made. The group 2 analysis examined the predicted vs. actual ROM of only the patients who did not undergo intraoperative changes that would affect the preoperative ROM prediction (n = 97). The group 3 analysis examined the predicted vs. actual ROM of group 2 combined with the 30 patients who underwent post hoc Blueprint planning modifications to account for the changes made intraoperatively (combined sample size of 127).

Of the 141 patients, 127 (90%) were available for 1-year follow-up. When the mean values of all 3 groups were examined, the actual ROM and predicted ROM were statistically significantly different (P < .0001) for flexion, external rotation, abduction, abduction-external rotation, and abduction-internal rotation. In group 1, a very weak or poor correlation was found between predicted internal rotation and actual abducted internal rotation (r = 0.19, P = .04). For all other ROM metrics in groups 1, 2, and 3, there were no correlations between predicted and actual ROM (P ≥ .07).

In its current state, preoperative Blueprint 3-dimensional computed tomography planning software is unable to accurately predict ROM 1 year after RTSA.