Effects of the humeral tray component positioning for onlay reverse shoulder arthroplasty design: a biomechanical analysis

Publication Date

2014

Journal Title

J Shoulder Elbow Surg

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Recent shoulder prostheses have introduced a concept of a universal humeral stem component platform that has an onlay humeral tray for the reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA). No studies have reported how humeral tray positioning can affect the biomechanics of RTSA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Newcastle Shoulder Model was used to investigate the biomechanical effect of humeral tray positioning in the Biomet Comprehensive Total Shoulder System (Biomet, Warsaw, IN, USA) RTSA. Five humeral tray configuration positions were tested: no offset, and 5 mm offset in the anterior, posterior, medial, and lateral positions. Superior and inferior impingement were evaluated for abduction, scapular plane elevation, forward flexion, and external/internal rotation with the elbow at the side (adduction) and at 90 degrees of shoulder abduction. Muscle lengths and moment arms (elevating and rotational) were calculated for the deltoid, the infraspinatus, the teres minor, and the subscapularis. RESULTS: Inferior impingement was not affected by the humeral tray position. There was less superior impingement during abduction, scapular plane elevation, and rotation with the shoulder when the tray was placed laterally or posteriorly. The subscapularis rotational moment arm was increased with a posterior offset, whereas infraspinatus and teres minor rotational moment arms were increased with an anterior offset. Very little change was observed for the deltoid elevating moment arm or for its muscle length. CONCLUSION: Positioning the humeral tray with posterior offset offers a biomechanical advantage for patients needing RTSA by decreasing superior impingement and increasing the internal rotational moment arm of the subscapularis, without creating inferior impingement.

Volume Number

24

Issue Number

4

Pages

569-577

Document Type

Article

EPub Date

2014/12/03

Status

Faculty, Northwell Researcher

Facility

School of Medicine; Northwell Health

Primary Department

Orthopedic Surgery

PMID

25457779

DOI

10.1016/j.jse.2014.09.022

For the public and Northwell Health campuses

Share

COinS