A high volume shoulder surgery practice analyzed Medicare stats to see who was getting shoulder surgery, what kind, and why. Over 31,000 procedures were performed. rTSA made up 37%, TSA were 42% and 21% were hemiarthroplastys. Not sure what the latter consists of so now I am only going to talk about rTSA and TSA ( reverse total shsoulder arthroplasty and total shoulder arthroplasty). 91% of TSA and 45% of rTSA were done for osteoarthritis.
in their opinion the increase in rTSA is evident. One possible reason is that it is perceived as cutting edge technology. Apparently post operatively there are fewer problems with instability, cuff failure and glenoid failure. Also they consider the rTSA a more forgiving procedure technically, and in the case of post humeral fracture, rTSA may "offer major advantages over internal fixation or anatomic arthroplasty in the management of proximal humeral fractures."
I have the impression, perhaps not true, that they feel rTSA is being done excessively. Nonetheless, all of their reasons for why it is increasing in popularity , especially the last, reinforce my opinion that it was right for me.
I'm glad i did it and glad it is behind me.
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