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Implant-Positioning and Patient Factors Associated with Acromial and Scapular Spine Fractures after Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty: a Study by the ASES Complications of RSA Multicenter Research Group

Moverman, Jawa·The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American Volume·2024·30 citations·Shoulder & Elbow
DOI·PubMed
SummaryAbstract on PubMed →

This multicenter retrospective study asked which patient factors and implant-positioning parameters drive acromial and scapular spine stress fractures after reverse shoulder arthroplasty. It pooled 6,320 RSA patients from 24 surgeons at 15 U.S. institutions, using the Delphi method to define variables. Radiographic measures of final implant position (LSA, DSA, LHO) were compared in propensity-matched fracture and control groups.

Study Snapshot

Design
Multicenter retrospective cohort
Setting: 15 U.S. institutions, 24 surgeons
Funding: None
Objective
Whether final implant position affects acromial and scapular spine stress fracture rates after RSA
Outcome(s)
Development of symptomatic acromial or scapular spine stress fracture, radiographically confirmed
Subjects
6,320 RSA patients (239 fractures)
Inclusion
  • Primary or revision RSA
  • Minimum 3-month follow-up
  • Surgery June 2013 to May 2019
Exclusion
  • Asymptomatic stress response or fracture
  • No confirmatory radiographic evidence
Follow-up
Minimum 3 months (mean 19.4)
Statistics
Multivariable logistic regressionPropensity score matchingChi-square testsWilcoxon tests

Key Findings

  • The overall symptomatic stress fracture rate was 3.8% across 6,320 patients, split into 2.8% acromial (180) and 0.9% scapular spine (59). These are uncommon but real RSA complications worth counseling every patient about.
  • Patient factors dominated the acromial fracture picture. The strongest predictors were inflammatory arthritis (OR 2.29), massive rotator cuff tear (OR 2.05), osteoporosis (OR 2.00), prior shoulder surgery (OR 1.82), cuff tear arthropathy (OR 1.76), female sex (OR 1.74), and older age. Poor bone quality and cuff deficiency are the common thread.
  • Scapular spine fracture had a similar shortlist: female sex (OR 2.45), rotator cuff disease (OR 2.36), osteoporosis (OR 2.18), and inflammatory arthritis (OR 2.04). Bone density and cuff status again drive risk.
  • Revision surgery carried a lower acromial fracture risk than primary surgery (OR 0.38, p = 0.019), likely reflecting different patient populations and indications.
  • Greater humeral lateralization was protective: higher lateral humeral offset lowered fracture risk (OR 0.74). A longer deltoid moment arm reduces the force needed to abduct, so strain on the acromion falls.
  • Excessive glenoid and global lateralization raised risk. A greater postoperative lateralization shoulder angle increased fracture risk (OR 1.76), and each mm of glenoid lateral offset added risk (OR 1.06). Over-lateralizing the whole joint is the pitfall.
  • Distalization showed no association with fracture (DSA OR ~1.0). Where you set humeral height on the vertical axis does not appear to change stress fracture risk.
Board PearlAfter reverse shoulder arthroplasty, poor bone density and cuff deficiency drive acromial and scapular spine stress fractures; humeral lateralization protects while glenoid over-lateralization harms.

Clinical Relevance

When you plan a reverse shoulder arthroplasty, the patient in front of you matters more than the implant you pick. Osteoporosis, inflammatory arthritis, older age, female sex, and rotator cuff deficiency each roughly double the odds of an acromial or scapular spine stress fracture. Identify, optimize, and counsel these patients before surgery, then watch them closely afterward.

The implant lesson is a deltoid moment arm model. Humeral lateralization lengthens the moment arm and lowers abduction force, so it protects the acromion. Glenoid lateralization shifts the center of rotation laterally, shortens the moment arm, and raises deltoid force and strain.

Remember this is a retrospective association, and glenoid lateralization still buys real benefits (better external rotation, less notching), so it is a balance, not an absolute.

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|

Implant-Positioning and Patient Factors Associated with Acromial and Scapular Spine Fractures after Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty: a Study by the ASES Complications of RSA Multicenter Research Group

Moverman, Jawa·The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American Volume·2024·30 citations·Shoulder & Elbow
DOI·PubMed
SummaryAbstract on PubMed →

This multicenter retrospective study asked which patient factors and implant-positioning parameters drive acromial and scapular spine stress fractures after reverse shoulder arthroplasty. It pooled 6,320 RSA patients from 24 surgeons at 15 U.S. institutions, using the Delphi method to define variables. Radiographic measures of final implant position (LSA, DSA, LHO) were compared in propensity-matched fracture and control groups.

Study Snapshot

Design
Multicenter retrospective cohort
Setting: 15 U.S. institutions, 24 surgeons
Funding: None
Objective
Whether final implant position affects acromial and scapular spine stress fracture rates after RSA
Outcome(s)
Development of symptomatic acromial or scapular spine stress fracture, radiographically confirmed
Subjects
6,320 RSA patients (239 fractures)
Inclusion
  • Primary or revision RSA
  • Minimum 3-month follow-up
  • Surgery June 2013 to May 2019
Exclusion
  • Asymptomatic stress response or fracture
  • No confirmatory radiographic evidence
Follow-up
Minimum 3 months (mean 19.4)
Statistics
Multivariable logistic regressionPropensity score matchingChi-square testsWilcoxon tests

Key Findings

  • The overall symptomatic stress fracture rate was 3.8% across 6,320 patients, split into 2.8% acromial (180) and 0.9% scapular spine (59). These are uncommon but real RSA complications worth counseling every patient about.
  • Patient factors dominated the acromial fracture picture. The strongest predictors were inflammatory arthritis (OR 2.29), massive rotator cuff tear (OR 2.05), osteoporosis (OR 2.00), prior shoulder surgery (OR 1.82), cuff tear arthropathy (OR 1.76), female sex (OR 1.74), and older age. Poor bone quality and cuff deficiency are the common thread.
  • Scapular spine fracture had a similar shortlist: female sex (OR 2.45), rotator cuff disease (OR 2.36), osteoporosis (OR 2.18), and inflammatory arthritis (OR 2.04). Bone density and cuff status again drive risk.
  • Revision surgery carried a lower acromial fracture risk than primary surgery (OR 0.38, p = 0.019), likely reflecting different patient populations and indications.
  • Greater humeral lateralization was protective: higher lateral humeral offset lowered fracture risk (OR 0.74). A longer deltoid moment arm reduces the force needed to abduct, so strain on the acromion falls.
  • Excessive glenoid and global lateralization raised risk. A greater postoperative lateralization shoulder angle increased fracture risk (OR 1.76), and each mm of glenoid lateral offset added risk (OR 1.06). Over-lateralizing the whole joint is the pitfall.
  • Distalization showed no association with fracture (DSA OR ~1.0). Where you set humeral height on the vertical axis does not appear to change stress fracture risk.
Board PearlAfter reverse shoulder arthroplasty, poor bone density and cuff deficiency drive acromial and scapular spine stress fractures; humeral lateralization protects while glenoid over-lateralization harms.

Clinical Relevance

When you plan a reverse shoulder arthroplasty, the patient in front of you matters more than the implant you pick. Osteoporosis, inflammatory arthritis, older age, female sex, and rotator cuff deficiency each roughly double the odds of an acromial or scapular spine stress fracture. Identify, optimize, and counsel these patients before surgery, then watch them closely afterward.

The implant lesson is a deltoid moment arm model. Humeral lateralization lengthens the moment arm and lowers abduction force, so it protects the acromion. Glenoid lateralization shifts the center of rotation laterally, shortens the moment arm, and raises deltoid force and strain.

Remember this is a retrospective association, and glenoid lateralization still buys real benefits (better external rotation, less notching), so it is a balance, not an absolute.

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