Randomized Prospective Study Comparing Reversed Shoulder Prosthesis Through the Superior Anterior Approach and the Deltopectoral Approach

Inverted prostheses have proven to be effective in the treatment of all those pathologies that involve a deterioration of the rotator cuff (secondary arthropathy, acute fractures, sequelae of fractures, tumor surgery and revision surgery). Despite this, numerous complications have been described after the use of inverted prostheses, such as glenoid erosion, infections, dislocation, or aseptic loosening. The most frequent complication related to the use of inverted prostheses is glenoid erosion that can occur in up to 96% of cases. This complication appears early in the evolution, usually before 2 years after surgery. Its clinical significance is not yet clear, but it seems that it may be a cause of long-term prosthetic loosening. To avoid the development of glenoid erosion, the best option is to place the glenoid component low, so that if the glenoid component is flush with the lower margin of the glena, the chances of developing glenoid erosion are significantly reduced. Two types of approaches have been used to implant these prostheses, the deltopectoral and the superior anterior approach. Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages, so that deltopectoral seems to improve surgical exposure and therefore favors the best placement of the glenoid component, but sacrifices the subscapularis tendon, increasing the risk of dislocation of the components. On the contrary, the superior anterior approach respects the subscapularis tendon, reducing the risk of dislocation of the components but gives worse surgical exposure.