What are the indications for a Reverse Shoulder Replacement?
What are the indications for a Reverse Shoulder Replacement?
Significant pain and disability is often associated with rotator cuff arthropathy. Individuals often have difficult with simple daily activities such as feeding themselves, getting dressed and combing their hair because of a significant loss of shoulder motion and strength. There is often associated pain, especially at night-time which interferes with normal sleep. Pseudo-paralysis and rotator cuff arthropathy can be seen in older patients with a degenerative massive rotator cuff tear.
Other causes of cuff arthropathy include prior failed rotator cuff repairs, or individuals with prior failed shoulder replacement surgery. A reverse shoulder replacement can also be useful in the cases of severe fractures of the proximal humerus (shoulder joint) in older individuals. In individuals with a massive rotator cuff tear that is not repairable, an initial trial of physical therapy may help restore function to an acceptable levels. If, however, significant functional loss and associated pain persist despite a course of conservative therapy, reverse arthroplasty is often the only surgical option.