What Is Tissue Trauma In Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty?

The common question we get is what kind of tissue trauma occurs in reversal or arthroplasty.

We come in through a deltopectoral approach, so no muscles are cut off. A subscapularis tendon, part of the rotator cuff, is often released and reattached after the operation.

Now, some surgeons don’t reattach it, but I do because there are minimal downsides if you look at the data. There is nothing but an upside to reattaching that tendon. There is minimal soft tissue trauma, this is all done in really atraumatic fashions. We only have to release part of the rotator cuff, but we reattach what we release.

So, minimal soft tissue trauma in modern contemporary reversal replacement, and is done by a specialized surgeon who does a high volume.