Comparative Analysis of Anatomic Shoulder Arthroplasty, Hemiarthroplasty, and Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty in Patients Over 70: A Retrospective Single Unit Single Surgeon Study

Despite numerous studies, the literature presents conflicting evidence regarding the comparative effectiveness of anatomic shoulder arthroplasty (aTSA) versus reverse shoulder arthroplasty in primary humeral osteoarthritis among patients aged over 70 years.

There is anecdotal evidence that doing a shoulder replacement in the above 70-year-old patient could potentially lead to early failure and revision due to rotator cuff tears. There is currently a UK run RCT looking into randomising patient above 60 in reverse or anatomic shoulder replacement. Current literature provides inconclusive evidence, and our local practice does not suggest early failure and revision of anatomic shoulder replacement in the over 70s. The aim of the study is to investigate this and provide solid evidence.

This retrospective analysis will utilize a decade of data from a single surgeon's practice, supplemented by information retrieved from the UK National Joint Registry in. Patients that had a shoulder replacement-anatomic, reverse, or hemi-arthroplasty-aged over 70 at the time of surgery will be included. Data will be cross-referenced with local databases for pre- and postoperative Oxford Shoulder Scores (OSS), primary diagnoses, and complications. The study population includes patients with recorded Oxford Shoulder Scores at a minimum of one year and a maximum of seven years postoperatively. IBM SPSS V.25 will be used for statistical analysis.