Context Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) has shown great success in treating diverse shoulder ailments. Aims Investigates the clinical outcomes of RTSA in managing rotator cuff arthropathy (RCA) compared to non-reconstructable proximal humeral fractures (PHFs) in elderly patients. Settings and design This prospective interventional study. The study involved 40 patients, divided into two groups: 20 with RCA and 20 with nonreconstructable PHFs. Patients and methods All patients underwent RTSA, and evaluations were performed at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively using the Constant-Murley Score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Score, and the Simple Shoulder Test, along with range of motion assessments. Results Results demonstrated significant improvements in functional outcomes for RCA patients at the 1-year follow-up, particularly in Constant-Murley Score (80.15 ± 7.80) compared to PHF patients (75.75 ± 8.08). While American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Score and abduction favored RCA shortly after surgery, no significant differences were observed in Simple Shoulder Test scores or extension and internal rotation between the groups. Notably, RCA patients exhibited enhanced flexion and external rotation at 1 year, highlighting the effectiveness of RTSA in restoring shoulder functionality. Conclusions The findings indicate that RTSA is an effective intervention for both RCA and non-reconstructable PHFs, offering favorable results and improved quality of life for elderly patients.
Morsy et al. (Mon,) studied this question.