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Total Shoulder Arthroplasty vs. Reverse TSA

Orthopedic Specialists Blog Total Shoulder Arthroplasty vs. Reverse TSA

When to Consider Shoulder Replacement?

Many shoulder conditions can be treated with conservative measures such as physical therapy, injections, biologics, or arthroscopic surgery. The top reasons your doctor might consider replacing your shoulder joint include severe cases of osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tear arthropathy, avascular necrosis, or rheumatoid arthritis. Shoulder replacement is meant to relieve pain and maximize the use and strength of your shoulder and arm. 

Anatomical vs. Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty

Conventional shoulder replacement surgery is also known as total shoulder arthroplasty or TSA. When the prosthesis (replacement joint) mimics the body's natural ball-and-socket configuration, surgeons call this an anatomic shoulder placement.

A reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) reverses the normal anatomic relationship between the humerus head and the glenoid socket: A ball is placed onto the socket and a cup or socket is placed on top of the humerus in place of the ball.   

TSA vs. RTSA - Which is Better?

The decision to perform an anatomic shoulder replacement versus a reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) depends on the health of the rotator cuff. Reversing the orientation of the ball and socket joint is most helpful to patients who have an irreparable rotator cuff without significant arthritis.

Both TSA and RTSA can benefit from patient-specific instrumentation to place the prosthetic socket component accurately. A preoperative CT scan of the shoulder is used to create a 3D computer model and used for surgical planning. Computer planning allows the surgeon to prepare and select appropriate implants in advance. The 3D computer model is also used to create a custom jig for the patient's shoulder that allows accurate placement of the socket component without difficulty.

To learn more about computer planning of shoulder replacement, watch this video by Dr. Scott Brotherton: https://youtu.be/j2PspWsO4Ow

To schedule an evaluation of your shoulder, call 727 496-2391.

Author
Marie Eide Marie Eide is the social media and content strategist at Orthopedic Specialists. She has been writing in the healthcare space for 15 years. All content is reviewed by our physicians.

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