Lateralization of the glenosphere in reverse shoulder arthroplasty decreases arm lengthening and demonstrates comparable risk of nerve injury compared with anatomic arthroplasty: a prospective cohort study.

HYPOTHESIS: Grammont-style reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) has an increased risk of nerve injury compared with anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) due to arm lengthening. We hypothesized that an RSA with a lateralized glenosphere and 135° neck-shaft angle would reduce humeral lengthening and decrease the risk of nerve injury to the level of a TSA.

METHODS: The study prospectively enrolled 50 consecutive patients undergoing RSA (n = 30) or TSA (n = 20) as determined by a power analysis based on previous research for our institution. Intraoperative neuromonitoring was used to detect nerve alerts during 4 distinct stages of the procedure. Preoperative and postoperative arm lengths were measured on scaled radiographs. Patients were examined immediately postoperatively and at follow-up visits for neurologic complications.

RESULTS: Mean motor and sensory nerve alerts per case were similar for TSA and RSA (motor: TSA, 1.5 ± 2; RSA, 1.5 ± 2; P = .96; sensory: TSA, 0.6 ± 0.9; RSA, 0.2 ± 0.6; P = .06). The mean change in arm length was 3 ± 7 mm in the TSA cohort vs. 14 ± 7 mm in the RSA cohort (P = .0001). Temporary neurologic changes postoperatively were noted in 1 TSA and 1 RSA patient, amounting to a 4% incidence of nerve injury.

CONCLUSIONS: An RSA design with a lateralized glenosphere and a lower neck-shaft angle decreases arm lengthening compared with the Grammont design. The reduction in lengthening appears to eliminate the historically increased risk of neurologic injury associated with RSA relative to TSA.