Flatow and Harrison narrate the full developmental history of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty — from 1970s constrained systems through Grammont's Delta III — cataloguing the design failures, biomechanical insights, and fixation strategies that shaped the modern implant. The paper answers why current reverse shoulders look and function the way they do.
When counseling patients about reverse shoulder arthroplasty — or choosing between implant systems — understanding that every modern design is a direct descendant of Grammont's medialized center of rotation helps you explain why the geometry looks "backwards" and why scapular notching, implant longevity beyond 8 years, and center-of-rotation offset remain the live debates in the field rather than settled questions.
Flatow and Harrison narrate the full developmental history of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty — from 1970s constrained systems through Grammont's Delta III — cataloguing the design failures, biomechanical insights, and fixation strategies that shaped the modern implant. The paper answers why current reverse shoulders look and function the way they do.
When counseling patients about reverse shoulder arthroplasty — or choosing between implant systems — understanding that every modern design is a direct descendant of Grammont's medialized center of rotation helps you explain why the geometry looks "backwards" and why scapular notching, implant longevity beyond 8 years, and center-of-rotation offset remain the live debates in the field rather than settled questions.