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Updated: Jul 13, 2025
Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Published on: July 5, 2011
Deltoid Muscle Tension Alterations Post Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty: An Investigation Using Shear Wave Elastography
Annabel Fenwick1,2, Thomas Reichel3, Lars Eden4
1Department of Trauma, Hand, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Oberduerrbacher Str. 6, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany.
Introduction:
This study aimed to evaluate the utility of shear wave elastography (SWE) in assessing changes in deltoid muscle properties following reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA).
Methods:
Our cohort consisted of 18 patients who underwent RSA due to various conditions, including osteoarthritis, cuff arthropathy, and irreducible proximal humeral fractures. Pre- and postoperative muscle elasticity and stiffness were measured using SWE and were compared with functional outcomes and radiological parameters.
Results:
Our results showed significant changes in deltoid muscle elasticity after RSA, particularly in the anterior and middle portions. However, these alterations were not correlated with postoperative functional outcomes or specific radiological parameters. The study also underscored the potential of SWE for future applications, including the preoperative assessment of deltoid function, postoperative monitoring, and intraoperative use for optimal component positioning during RSA.
Conclusion:
Further research, involving larger, more homogeneous patient cohorts is needed to confirm these findings and to explore the potential influence of these changes on the biomechanical design of implants and prosthesis positioning in RSA.
