Bone preserving technique for reverse arthroplasty: The preferred management option for osteoarthritis with glenoid bone loss in patients 70 and older

Elderly patients with shoulder arthritis and glenoid bone loss represent a challenging patient population. Surgical treatment options include hemiarthroplasty, anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) with bone grafting or augmentation, and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RSA). The RSA has multiple advantages compared to anatomic TSA, particularly in an older patient population with glenoid bone loss. RSA with an augmented glenoid baseplate is ideal for the treatment of patients who have glenoid bone loss. The augmented base plate has many advantages including bone preservation, longer central and peripheral screws, ability to dial the augment to match the region of bone deficiency, and lateralization to improve tensioning on the deltoid and rotator cuff. Additionally, a bone preserving RSA is possible with an augmented glenoid baseplate in patients with no glenoid bone loss.