Abstract

Chronic glenohumeral dislocation is a rare entity and several treatment options have been proposed. The aim of this study is to report the long-term follow-up of the reversed shoulder arthroplasty in patients with chronic glenohumeral dislocation. A retrospective analysis of all patients between January 2002 and December 2012 that were treated with a reversed shoulder arthroplasty for chronic anterior glenohumeral dislocations was performed. Pre-operative CT evaluation of the bone loss and fatty degeneration of the rotator cuff muscles was performed. Pre- and postoperative Constant-Murley score was evaluated. 6 patients (4 males and 2 females) with anterior glenohumeral dislocations were evaluated. Average age was 73 years (between 65-86 years). The average time of dislocation was 18 weeks (between 4 and 52 weeks). Average time of follow-up was 39 months (between 12 and 90 months). The CM improved from 33 (between 17 and 45) preop to 76 postop (between 55 and 89). No postoperative complications were observed. Reversed shoulder arthroplasty gives good results in case of chronic glenohumeral dislocation.