Outcomes after revision surgery for glenoid baseplate failure in reverse shoulder arthroplasty

Background The purpose of this study was to report clinical outcomes in patients who underwent revision surgery for glenoid baseplate failure after index reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA).Methods A retrospective review was performed to identify patients from 2010 to 2020 at a single institution who sustained glenoid baseplate failure after RSA and underwent revision surgery. Exclusion criteria included periprosthetic joint infection or lack of minimum 1 year clinical and radiographic follow-up. Included patients were contacted for clinical outcomes (American Shoulder Elbow Surgeons (ASES), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) and Patient Satisfaction scores).Results A total of 24 patients were identified, and 22 out of 24 (92%) patients were available for clinical follow-up at a mean period of 3.4 years after final revision surgery. The mean age was 70 years, and 15 out of 22 (68%) patients were female. A total of 17 patients were revised to RSA, and five patients were revised to hemiarthroplasty. For the 22 included patients, the mean follow-up ASES score was 64.6, VAS pain was 2.4 and SANE was 58%, which were all significantly improved versus pre-revision. In total, 64% of patients were satisfied or completely satisfied.Discussion Revision surgery after glenoid baseplate failure in RSA yields unpredictable clinical outcomes. Revision to RSA or hemiarthroplasty both resulted in modest functional results with persistent mild pain.