Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online 2026
Revision-free reverse shoulder arthroplasty patients report greater difficulty with some activities of daily living compared to anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty patients at mid-term follow-up
Few studies have directly compared limitations in activities of daily living (ADLs) between reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) and anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (aTSA). This study evaluates ADL function at mid-term follow-up in patients with revision-free RSA and aTSA.
Methods
This retrospective cohort study included 250 patients who underwent primary aTSA (n = 177) or RSA (n = 73) with a minimum follow-up of 7 years (mean 10 ± 2 years). Patients who had revision surgery were excluded. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to assess the odds of RSA patients reporting better ADL function compared to aTSA patients.
Results
Postoperatively, a greater proportion of aTSA patients reported normal ADLs compared to RSA patients. On multivariable analysis, controlling for baseline differences, RSA patients reported lower ADL function for personal hygiene/toilet needs (Odds ratio [OR] 0.21 [95% CI: 0.07–0.65]; p = 0.006), washing/combing hair (OR 0.36 [0.13–1.02]; p = 0.049), putting on a button-up shirt (OR 0.08 [0.02–0.25]; p < 0.001), and putting on pants (OR 0.12 [0.03–0.39]; p < 0.001).
Discussion
After adjusting for differences in baseline factors, RSA patients reported greater difficulty with specific ADL tasks—including toileting, personal hygiene, grooming, and dressing—compared to aTSA patients.
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