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Updated: Aug 8, 2025
Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Published on: July 5, 2011
Prior Acromioplasty Provides Similar Outcomes and Rate of Postoperative Complications Including Acromial Fracture
Olivia Blaber1, Christopher J Hadley2, Michael J Gutman1
1Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson, University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Purpose:
To compare outcomes of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) in patients with prior arthroscopic acromioplasty versus a control group of patients with no history of acromioplasty.
Methods:
We performed a retrospective matched-cohort study of patients from a single institution who underwent RTSA with a history of acromioplasty from 2009 to 2017 with a minimum 2-year follow-up period. Patients' clinical outcomes were evaluated using the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons shoulder score and Simple Shoulder Test, visual analog scale, and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation surveys. Postoperative radiographs and patient charts were reviewed to determine whether patients sustained a postoperative acromial fracture. Charts were reviewed to determine range of motion and postoperative complications. Patients were matched on a 1:1 basis to a cohort of patients who underwent RTSA without a history of acromioplasty, and comparisons were performed using t and χ2 tests.
Results:
Forty-five patients who underwent RTSA with a history of acromioplasty met the inclusion criteria and completed the outcome surveys. There were no significant differences between cases and controls in post-RTSA American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, visual analog scale, Simple Shoulder Test, or Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation outcome scores. There was no difference in the postoperative acromial fracture rate between cases and controls (P = .577). Overall, more complications occurred in the study group (n = 6, 13.3%) compared with the control group (n = 4, 8.9%); however, this difference was not statistically significant (P = .737).
Conclusions:
After RTSA, patients who have undergone a prior acromioplasty have similar functional outcomes without a significant difference in the rate of postoperative complications compared with patients with no history of acromioplasty. Furthermore, previous acromioplasty does not increase the risk of acromial fracture after RTSA.
Level Of Evidence:
Level III, retrospective comparative study.
