Patient Activity Levels After Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

Abstract

Patients undergoing RTSA had an 85% rate of return to 1 or more sporting activities at an average of 5.3 months after surgery. Age greater than 70 years was a significant predictor of decreased return to activities. The present study offers valuable information to help manage patient and surgeon expectations.

Return to sports after shoulder arthroplasty

“…The majority of patients are able to return to their preoperative level of activity following TSA, RTSA, and shoulder HA. The rates of return to sports following TSA (75%-100%)[ 45 - 46 ] are slightly higher than those reported for HA (67% to 76%)[ 45 - 46 ] and RTSA (75%-85%)[ 24 , 39 ], although this may reflect differences in patient population or surgical indication. Noncontact, low demand activities are permitted by most surgeons postoperatively and generally have higher return rates than contact sports or high-demand activities.…”

“…In 2003, the reverse prosthesis, or RTSA, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for patients with cuff tear arthropathy[ 31 ]. Despite the technical challenges it initially presented to surgeons[ 32 ], the results of RTSA have been encouraging[ 31 , 33 ], and the indications for RTSA have expanded to include proximal humerus fractures and TSA revisions[ 24 ]. The success of the reverse total shoulder prosthesis has been shown to contribute to the large increase in the number of shoulder replacement procedures performed in the United States over the past decade[ 2 , 34 , 35 ].…”

“…Garcia et al[ 24 ] reported on 76 RTSA patients at an average follow-up of 31.6 mo. All of the patients included in their series participated in sports preoperatively, and the authors found that 85.5% of patients returned to at least one sport following RTSA.…”

“…Return to sports after HA is considered “safer” than total or reverse shoulder arthroplasty due to its a low risk of component failure or loosening[ 47 ]. However, the rates of return to sports following HA (67% to 76%)[ 45 , 46 ] reported in the literature appears slightly lower than those reported for TSA (75%-100%)[ 13 - 15 ] and RTSA (75%-85%)[ 24 , 39 ]. In addition, many studies have shown poor results in long-term follow-up of HA, with one finding that only 25% of HA patients were satisfied with their outcome seventeen years after the operation[ 44 ].…”

“…Information about activity levels and the rate of return to sports following shoulder arthroplasty would help both patients and surgeons more accurately manage expectations[ 24 ]. This clinical review examines how return to sport following shoulder arthroplasty has been studied and reported in the literature[ 12 ].…”