Instability After Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty: Evaluation, Diagnosis, Management

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) utilization has increased significantly over the last two decades.
• This expansion is due to broader surgical indications and advancements in implant design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the rising rates of shoulder instability revision procedures following RSA.
• To review current literature on the causes and management of prosthetic instability after RSA.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive review of clinical and radiographic findings related to prosthetic instability after RSA.
• Analysis of patient, technical, and neurological risk factors contributing to dislocation.

Main Results:

• Prosthetic instability is a frequent and complex complication of RSA.
• Reported dislocation rates vary widely due to diverse risk factors.
• Accurate diagnosis of the underlying cause (e.g., loss of compression, impingement, loosening) is crucial.

Conclusions:

• Effective management of RSA instability requires precise identification of the etiological factors.
• Optimizing revision surgery outcomes depends on a thorough understanding of the specific cause of instability.