While shoulder elevation can be reliably restored following reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA), patients may experience a loss of internal and external rotation. Several recent studies have investigated scapular notching and have made suggestions regarding glenosphere placement in order to minimize its occurrence. However, very few studies have looked at how changes in glenosphere placement in RTSA affect internal and external rotation. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of glenosphere position on internal and external rotation range of motion at various degrees of scaption following RTSA. We hypothesized that alteration in glenosphere position will affect the amount of impingement-free internal and external rotation. CT scans of the scapula and humerus were obtained from seven cadaver specimens and 3-Dimensional (3D) reconstructions were created. A corresponding 3D RTSA model was created by laser scanning the baseplate, glenosphere, humeral stem and bearing. The RTSA models were then virtually implanted into each specimen. The glenosphere position was determined in relation to the neutral position in 6 different settings: Medialization (5 mm), lateralization (10 mm), superior translation (6mm), inferior translation (6 mm), superior tilt (20°), and inferior tilt (15° and 30°). The humerus in each virtual model was allowed to freely rotate at a fixed scaption angle until encountering bone-bone or bone-implant impingement (180 degrees of limitation). Each model was tested at 0, 20, 40, and 60 degrees of scaption and the impingement-free internal and external rotation range of motion for each scaption angle was recorded.Introduction
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