Younger patients report similar activity levels to older patients after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty

• Published in: Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery 2016-09, Vol.25 (9), p.1418-1424
• Main Authors: Walters, Jordan D., MD, Barkoh, Kaku, MD, Smith, Richard A., PhD, Azar, Frederick M., MD, Throckmorton, Thomas W., MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: activities; Activities of Daily Living; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Analgesics, Opioid - therapeutic use; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Shoulder - methods; Cohort Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; older patients; Orthopedics; patient-reported; Range of Motion, Articular; Retrospective Studies; Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty; survey; Visual Analog Scale; Young Adult; younger patients
• ISSN: 1058-2746; 1532-6500
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jse.2016.01.011

Background Younger patients who have undergone reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) are believed to have higher activity levels that place higher stresses across the prosthesis, increasing the risk of failure, but there is little information to support or refute this supposition. The purposes of this study were to define the patient-reported activity levels of patients younger than 65 years and older than 65 years who underwent RTSA and to evaluate any differences between the groups. Methods Forty-six patients who underwent primary RTSA answered a questionnaire regarding their activity levels. Data were categorized and tabulated according to pain, range of motion, strength, and activity level (low, medium, and high demand). Statistical analyses were performed using the Fisher exact test, χ2 test, and independent t test. Differences with P