Abstract
Background
Use of a baseplate with a smaller diameter in reverse shoulder arthroplasty has been recommended, especially in patients with a small glenoid or insufficient bony stock due to severe glenoid wear. However, effect of a smaller baseplate on stability of the glenoid component has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a smaller baseplate (25 mm) is beneficial to the initial primary stability of the glenoid component compared to that with a baseplate of a commonly used size (29 mm) by finite element analysis.
Methods
Computed tomography (CT) scans of fourteen scapulae were acquired from cadavers with no apparent deformity or degenerative change. Glenoid diameter corresponding to the diameter of the inferior circle of glenoid was measured using a caliper and classified into the small and large glenoid groups based on 25mm diameter. CT slices were used to construct 3-dimensional models with Mimics (Materialise, Leuven, Belgium). A corresponding 3D Tornier Aequalis® Reversed Shoulder prosthesis model was generated by laser scanning (Rexcan 3D Laser Scanner, Solutionix, Seoul, Korea). Glenoid components with 25mm and 28mm diameter of the baseplate were implanted into the scapular of small and large glenoid group, respectively. Finite element models were constructed using Hypermesh 11.0 (Altair Engineering, Troy, MI, USA) and a reverse engineering program (Rapidform 3D Systems, Inc., Rock Hill, SC, USA). Abaqus 6.10 (Dassault Systemes, Waltham, MA) was used to simulate 30o, 60o, and 90o glenohumeral abduction in the scapular plane. Single axial loads of 686N (1 BW) at angles of 30o, 60o, and 90o abduction were applied to the center of the glenosphere parallel to the long axis of the humeral stem. Relative micromotion at the middle and inferior thirds bone–glenoid component interface, and distribution of bone stress under the glenoid component and around the screws were analyzed. Wilcoxon's rank-sum test was used for statistical comparison and p < 0.05 was considered as a minimum level of statistical significance.
Results
In small glenoid group, micromotion at the middle and inferior thirds of the glenoid-glenosphere interface at angles of 30o and 60o abduction were significantly greater in the 29mm baseplate than in the 25mm baseplate. There was no significant difference in micromotion at angle of 90o abduction between 25mm and 29mm baseplate. In large glenoid group, there was no statistically significant difference in micromotion between 25mm and 29mm baseplate at all angles of abduction. In small glenoid group, maximum bone stress was measured at the point of cortical engagement of the inferior screw and was statistically greater in the 29mm baseplate than in the 25mm baseplate. In large glenoid group, there was no statistically significant difference of maximum bone stress around the inferior screw between 25mm and 29mm baseplates.
Conclusions
Use of a baseplate with a smaller diameter (25 mm) in reverse shoulder arthroplasty is suitable for improving the primary stability of the glenoid component, especially in small glenoid.
