Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Massive Rotator Cuff Tear: When to Consider Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty

  • Rotator Cuff Repair (M Tao and M Teusink, section editors)
  • Published:
Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this review is to discuss the indications for reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) in the treatment of massive rotator cuff tear (MCT), review the reported outcomes in the literature, and outline our approach and surgical technique for treating these patients.

Recent Findings

While RSA remains a successful and well-accepted treatment for cuff tear arthropathy (CTA), management of MCT in the absence of arthritis is controversial. In this particular setting, patients best suited for RSA are elderly, lower-demand individuals with chronic, irreparable MCT, and pseudoparalysis. Age < 60, better pre-operative function and upper extremity neurologic dysfunction are potential risk factors for poor outcome with RSA in this population. Long-term follow-up studies of RSA for CTA and MCT show good functional outcomes and implant survival > 90% at 10 years.

Summary

Treatment of MCT must be individualized for each patient. When patient selection is optimized, RSA is a reliable means of relieving pain and improving function with excellent success. Further investigation is necessary to better define its indications and assess the role of alternative, joint-salvaging procedures.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance

  1. Fehringer EV, Sun J, VanOeveren LS, Keller BK, Matsen FA III. Full-thickness rotator cuff tear prevalence and correlation with function and co-morbidities in patients sixty-five years and older. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2008;17(6):881–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2008.05.039.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. DeOrio JK, Cofield RH. Results of a second attempt at surgical repair of a failed initial rotator-cuff repair. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1984;66(4):563–7. https://doi.org/10.2106/00004623-198466040-00011.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Gerber C, Fuchs B, Hodler J. The results of repair of massive tears of the rotator cuff. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2000;82(4):505–15. https://doi.org/10.2106/00004623-200004000-00006.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Bedi A, Dines J, Warren RF, Dines DM. Massive tears of the rotator cuff. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2010;92(9):1894–908. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.I.01531.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Lippitt S, Matsen F. Mechanisms of glenohumeral joint stability. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1993;291:20–8.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Lipitt SB, Vanderhooft JE, Harris SL, Sidles JA, Harryman DT II, Matsen FA III. Glenohumeral stability from concavity-compression: a quantitative analysis. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 1993;2(1):27–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1058-2746(09)80134-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Grammont PM, Baulot E. Delta shoulder prosthesis for rotator cuff rupture. Orthopedics. 1993;16(1):65–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Boyle MJ, Youn SM, Frampton CM, Ball CM. Functional outcomes of reverse shoulder arthroplasty compared with hemiarthroplasty for acute proximal humeral fractures. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2013;22(1):32–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2012.03.006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Cuff DJ, Pupello DR. Comparison of hemiarthroplasty and reverse shoulder arthroplasty for the treatment of proximal humeral fractures in elderly patients. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2013;95(22):2050–5. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.L.01637.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Sebastia-Forcada E, Cebrian-Gomez R, Lisaur-Utrilla A, Gil-Guillen V. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty versus hemiarthroplasty for acute proximal humeral fractures. A blinded, randomized, controlled, prospective study. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2014;23(10):1419–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2014.06.035.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Raiss P, Edwards TB, da Silva MR, Bruckner T, Loew M, Walch G. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty for the treatment of nonunions of the surgical neck of the proximal part of the humerus (type-3 fracture sequelae). J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2014;96(24):2070–6. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.N.00405.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Willis M, Min W, Brooks JP, Mulieri P, Walker M, Pupello D, et al. Proximal humeral malunion treated with reverse shoulder arthroplasty. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2012;21(4):507–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2011.01.042.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Mizuno N, Denard PJ, Raiss P, Walch G. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty for primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis in patients with a biconcave glenoid. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2013;95(14):1297–304. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.L.00820.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Kelly JD 2nd, Zhao JX, Hobgood ER, Norris TR. Clinical results of revision shoulder arthroplasty using the reverse prosthesis. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2012;21(11):1516–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2011.11.021.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Levy J, Frankle M, Mighell M, Pupello D. The use of the reverse shoulder prosthesis for the treatment of failed hemiarthroplasty for proximal humeral fracture. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2007;89(2):292–300. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.E.01310.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Walker M, Willis MP, Brooks JP, Pupello D, Mulieri PJ, Frankle MA. The use of the reverse shoulder arthroplasty for treatment of failed total shoulder arthroplasty. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2012;21(4):514–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2011.03.006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. De Wilde L, Boileau P, Van der Bracht H. Does reverse shoulder arthroplasty for tumors of the proximal humerus reduce impairment? Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2011;469(9):2489–95. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-010-1758-x.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Cuff D, Pupello D, Virani N, Levy J, Frankle M. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty for the treatment of rotator cuff deficiency. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2008;90(6):1244–51. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.G.00775.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Frankle M, Siegal S, Pupello D, Saleem A, Mighell M, Vasey M. The reverse shoulder prosthesis for glenohumeral arthritis associated with severe rotator cuff deficiency. A minimum two-year follow-up study of sixty patients. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2005;87(8):1697–705. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.D.02813.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Mulieri P, Dunning P, Klein S, Pupello D, Frankle M. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty for the treatment of irreparable rotator cuff tear without glenohumeral arthritis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2010;92(15):2544–56. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.I.00912.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Wall B, Nove-Josserand L, O'Connor DP, Edwards TB, Walch G. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty: a review of results according to etiology. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2007;89(7):1476–85. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.F.00666.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Neer CS 2nd, Craig EV, Fukuda H. Cuff-tear arthropathy. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1983;65(9):1232–44. https://doi.org/10.2106/00004623-198365090-00003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Hamada K, Fukuda H, Mikasa M, Kobayashi Y. Roentgenographic findings in massive rotator cuff tears. A long-term observation. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1990:92–6.

  24. Field LD, Dines DM, Zabinski SJ, Warren RF. Hemiarthroplasty of the shoulder for rotator cuff arthropathy. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 1997;6(1):18–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1058-2746(97)90066-5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Nwakama AC, Cofield RH, Kavanagh BF, Loehr JF. Semiconstrained total shoulder arthroplasty for glenohumeral arthritis and massive rotator cuff tearing. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2000;9(4):302–7. https://doi.org/10.1067/mse.2000.106467.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Post M, Jablon M. Constrained total shoulder arthroplasty: long-term follow-up observations. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1983;173:109–16.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Sanchez-Sotelo J, Cofield RH, Rowland CM. Shoulder hemiarthroplasty for glenohumeral arthritis associated with severe rotator cuff deficiency. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2001;83(12):1814–22. https://doi.org/10.2106/00004623-200112000-00008.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Zuckerman JD, Scott AJ, Gallagher MA. Hemiarthroplasty for cuff tear arthropathy. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2000;9(3):169–72. https://doi.org/10.1067/mse.2000.105138.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Al-Hadithy N, Domos P, Sewell MD, Pandit R. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty in 41 patients with cuff tear arthropathy with a mean follow-up period of 5 years. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2014;23(11):1662–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2014.03.001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Boileau P, Watkinson D, Hatzidakis AM, Hovorka I. Neer Award 2005: the Grammont reverse shoulder prosthesis: results in cuff tear arthritis, fracture sequelae, and revision arthroplasty. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2006;15(5):527–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2006.01.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Nolan BM, Ankerson E, Wiater JM. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty improves function in cuff tear arthropathy. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2011;469(9):2476–82. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-010-1683-z.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Boileau P, Brassart N, Watkinson DJ, Carles M, Hatzidakis AM, Krishnan SG. Arthroscopic repair of full-thickness tears of the supraspinatus: does the tendon really heal? J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2005;87(6):1229–40. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.D.02035.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Chung SW, Kim JY, Kim MH, Kim SH, Oh JH. Arthroscopic repair of massive rotator cuff tears: outcome and analysis of factors associated with healing failure or poor postoperative function. Am J Sports Med. 2013;41(7):1674–83. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546513485719.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Goutallier D, Postel JM, Gleyze P, Leguilloux P, Van Driessche S. Influence of cuff muscle fatty degeneration on anatomic and functional outcomes after simple suture of full-thickness tears. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2003;12(6):550–4. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1058-2746(03)00211-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Meyer DC, Wieser K, Farshad M, Gerber C. Retraction of supraspinatus muscle and tendon as predictors of success of rotator cuff repair. Am J Sports Med. 2012;40(10):2242–7. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546512457587.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Rhee YG, Cho NS, Yoo JH. Clinical outcome and repair integrity after rotator cuff repair in patients older than 70 years versus patients younger than 70 years. Arthroscopy. 2014;30(5):546–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arthro.2014.02.006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Wu XL, Briggs L, Murrell GA. Intraoperative determinants of rotator cuff repair integrity: an analysis of 500 consecutive repairs. Am J Sports Med. 2012;40(12):2771–6. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546512462677.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Meyer DC, Farshad M, Amacker NA, Gerber C, Wieser K. Quantitative analysis of muscle and tendon retraction in chronic rotator cuff tears. Am J Sports Med. 2012;40(3):606–10. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546511429778.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Mall NA, Tanaka MJ, Choi LS, Paletta GA Jr. Factors affecting rotator cuff healing. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2014;96(9):778–88. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.M.00583.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Gupta AK, Hug K, Berkoff DJ, Boggess BR, Gavigan M, Malley PC, et al. Dermal tissue allograft for the repair of massive irreparable rotator cuff tears. Am J Sports Med. 2012;40(1):141–7. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546511422795.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Mihata T, Lee TQ, Watanabe C, Fukunishi K, Ohue M, Tsujimura T, et al. Clinical results of arthroscopic superior capsule reconstruction for irreparable rotator cuff tears. Arthroscopy. 2013;29(3):459–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arthro.2012.10.022.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Mihata T, McGarry MH, Pirolo JM, Kinoshita M, Lee TQ. Superior capsule reconstruction to restore superior stability in irreparable rotator cuff tears: a biomechanical study. Am J Sports Med. 2012;40(10):2248–55. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546512456195.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Harreld KL, Puskas BL, Frankle M. Massive rotator cuff tears without arthropathy: when to consider reverse shoulder arthroplasty. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2011;93(10):973–84.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Ek ET, Neukom L, Catanzaro S, Gerber C. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty for massive irreparable rotator cuff tears in patients younger than 65 years old: results after five to fifteen years. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2013;22(9):1199–208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2012.11.016.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Muh SJ, Streit JJ, Wanner JP, Lenarz CJ, Shishani Y, Rowland DY, et al. Early follow-up of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty in patients sixty years of age or younger. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2013;95(20):1877–83. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.L.10005.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. • Samuelsen BT, Wagner ER, Houdek MT, Elhassan BT, Sanchez-Sotelo J, Cofield R, et al. Primary reverse shoulder arthroplasty in patients aged 65 years or younger. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2017;26(1):e13–e17. This study reported outcomes after RSA in younger patients with CTA or severe glenohumeral arthritis and deemed it to be a viable option in this population. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2016.05.026.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Sershon RA, Van Thiel GS, Lin EC, McGill KC, Cole BJ, Verma NN, et al. Clinical outcomes of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty in patients aged younger than 60 years. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2014;23(3):395–400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2013.07.047.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. • Hartzler RU, Steen BM, Hussey MM, Cusick MC, Cottrell BJ, Clark RE, et al. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty for massive rotator cuff tear: risk factors for poor functional improvement. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2015;24(11):1698–1706. Study evaluated patients undergoing RSA for massive cuff tear without osteoarthritis and identified pre-operative risk factors for worse outcomes. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2015.04.015.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Mallon WJ, Misamore G, Snead DS, Denton P. The impact of preoperative smoking habits on the results of rotator cuff repair. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2004;13(2):129–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2003.11.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Tashjian RZ, Hollins AM, Kim HM, Teefey SA, Middleton WD, Steger-May K, et al. Factors affecting healing rates after arthroscopic double-row rotator cuff repair. Am J Sports Med. 2010;38(12):2435–42. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546510382835.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Denard PJ, Ladermann A, Jiwani AZ, Burkhart SS. Functional outcome after arthroscopic repair of massive rotator cuff tears in individuals with pseudoparalysis. Arthroscopy. 2012;28(9):1214–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arthro.2012.02.026.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. • Shamsudin A, Lam PH, Peters K, Rubenis I, Hackett L, Murrell GA. Revision versus primary arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: a 2-year analysis of outcomes in 360 patients. Am J Sports Med. 2015;43(3):557–564. Study investigated the outcome differences between primary and revision rotator cuff repair surgery. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546514560729.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Sadoghi P, Vavken P, Leithner A, Hochreiter J, Weber G, Pietschmann MF, et al. Impact of previous rotator cuff repair on the outcome of reverse shoulder arthroplasty. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2011;20(7):1138–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2011.01.013.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Gladstone JN, Bishop JY, Lo IK, Flatow EL. Fatty infiltration and atrophy of the rotator cuff do not improve after rotator cuff repair and correlate with poor functional outcome. Am J Sports Med. 2007;35(5):719–28. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546506297539.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Shen PH, Lien SB, Shen HC, Lee CH, Wu SS, Lin LC. Long-term functional outcomes after repair of rotator cuff tears correlated with atrophy of the supraspinatus muscles on magnetic resonance images. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2008;17(Suppl 1):1S–7S. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2007.04.014.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Yoo JC, Ahn JH, Koh KH, Lim KS. Rotator cuff integrity after arthroscopic repair for large tears with less-than-optimal footprint coverage. Arthroscopy. 2009;25(10):1093–100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arthro.2009.07.010.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Dwyer T, Razmjou H, Henry P, Gosselin-Fournier S, Holtby R. Association between pre-operative magnetic resonance imaging and reparability of large and massive rotator cuff tears. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2015;23(2):415–22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-013-2745-z.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. • Werner BC, Wong AC, Mahony GT, Craig EV, Dines DM, Warren RF, et al. Causes of poor postoperative improvement after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2016;25(8):e217–e222. This study investigated pre-operative risk factors for worse outcomes after RSA. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2016.01.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Boileau P, Gonzalez JF, Chuinard C, Bicknell R, Walch G. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty after failed rotator cuff surgery. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2009;18(4):600–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2009.03.011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. Harman M, Frankle M, Vasey M, Banks S. Initial glenoid component fixation in ‘reverse’ total shoulder arthroplasty: a biomechanical evaluation. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2005;14(1):162S–7S. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2004.09.030.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. Naveed MA, Kitson J, Bunker TD. The Delta III reverse shoulder replacement for cuff tear arthropathy: a single-centre study of 50 consecutive procedures. J Bone Joint Surg (Br). 2011;93(1):57–61. https://doi.org/10.1302/0301-620X.93B1.24218.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. • Petrillo S, Longo UG, Papalia R, Denaro V. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty for massive irreparable rotator cuff tears and cuff tear arthropathy: a systematic review. Musculoskelet Surg. 2017;101(2):105–112. Study analyzed outcomes and complications of RSA for MCT and CTA in a large number of patients pooled from multiple studies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12306-017-0474-z.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Groh GI, Groh GM. Complications rates, reoperation rates, and the learning curve in reverse shoulder arthroplasty. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2014;23(3):388–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2013.06.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  64. • Black EM, Roberts SM, Siegel E, Yannopoulos P, Higgins LD, Warner JJ. Failure after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty: what is the success of component revision? J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2015;24(12):1908–1914. This study evaluated outcomes after revision RSA for failure. While pain relief and functional improvement can be achieved, complication and re-operation rates are high. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2015.05.029.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  65. Boileau P, Melis B, Duperron D, Moineau G, Rumian AP, Han Y. Revision surgery of reverse shoulder arthroplasty. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2013;22(10):1359–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2013.02.004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  66. Guery J, Favard L, Sirveaux F, Oudet D, Mole D, Walch G. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. Survivorship analysis of eighty replacements followed for five to ten years. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006;88(8):1742–7. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.E.00851.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Sirveaux F, Favard L, Oudet D, Huquet D, Walch G, Mole D. Grammont inverted total shoulder arthroplasty in the treatment of glenohumeral osteoarthritis with massive rupture of the cuff. Results of a multicentre study of 80 shoulders. J Bone Joint Surg (Br). 2004;86(3):388–95. https://doi.org/10.1302/0301-620X.86B3.14024.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. • Bacle G, Nove-Josserand L, Gaurad P, Walch G. Long-term outomes of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty: a follow-up of a previous study. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2017;99(6):454–461. Study reports outcomes and implant survival of RSA after a minimum of 10 years. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.16.00223.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. • Cuff DJ, Pupello DR, Santoni BG, Clark RE, Frankle MA. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty for the treatment of rotator cuff deficiency: a concise follow-up, at a minimum of 10 years, of previous reports. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2018. Study reports outcomes and implant survival of RSA after a minimum of 10 years.

  70. Favard L, Levigne C, Nerot C, Gerber C, De Wilde L, Mole D. Reverse prostheses in arthropathies with cuff tear: are survivorship and function maintained over time? Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2011;469(9):2469–75. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-011-1833-y.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  71. • Makhni EC, Swart E, Steinhaus ME, Mather RC 3rd, Levine WN, Bach BR Jr, et al. Cost-effectiveness of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty versus arthroscopic rotator cuff repair for symptomatic large and massive rotator cuff tears. Arthroscopy. 2016;32(9):1771–1780. Study examined cost considerations for RSA and RCR in the treatment of large and massive cuff tears. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arthro.2016.01.063.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. • Henry P, Wasserstein D, Park S, Dwyer T, Chahal J, Slobogean G, et al. Arthroscopic repair for chronic massive rotator cuff tears: a systematic review. Arthroscopy. 2015;31(12):2472–2480. This review evaluated outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair for massive cuff tear in a large number of patients pooled from multiple studies. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arthro.2015.06.038.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  73. Holtby R, Razmjou H. Relationship between clinical and surgical findings and reparability of large and massive rotator cuff tears: a longitudinal study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2014;15(1):180. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-15-180.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  74. • Namdari S, Donegan RP, Chamberlain AM, Galatz LM, Yamaguchi K, Keener JD. Factors affecting outcome after structural failure of repaired rotator cuff tears. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2014;96(2):99–105. This study demonstrated successful outcomes in 54% of patients after RCR despite failure of structural healing of the repair. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.M.00551.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  75. Kim HM, Caldwell JM, Buza JA, Fink LA, Ahmad CS, Bigliani LU, et al. Factors affecting satisfaction and shoulder function in patients with a recurrent rotator cuff tear. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2014;96(2):106–12. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.L.01649.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

    Thomas R. Sellers

  2. South Texas Bone and Joint Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Adham Abdelfattah

  3. Shoulder and Elbow Service, Florida Orthopaedic Institute, 13020 N Telecom Pkwy, Tampa, FL, 33637, USA

    Mark A. Frankle

Authors
  1. Thomas R. Sellers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Adham Abdelfattah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mark A. Frankle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mark A. Frankle.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

Mark Frankle reports personal fees from DJO Surgical and Cayenne Medical, outside of the submitted work. In addition, he reports patent 6,790,234, issued to DJO Surgical. The other authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Rotator Cuff Repair

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sellers, T.R., Abdelfattah, A. & Frankle, M.A. Massive Rotator Cuff Tear: When to Consider Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med 11, 131–140 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12178-018-9467-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12178-018-9467-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation