title: Speed of recovery after shoulder arthroplasty: a comparison of reverse and anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Whereas patient expectations after anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) and reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) relate to sustained improvements in pain, function, and motion, the time necessary to reach these goals is unclear. Our purpose was to investigate the speed of recovery and to compare the effectiveness of primary TSA and RSA.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed (preoperative, 3 month, 6 month, 1-year, and 2-year scores) pain scores, functional scores, and motion for 122 patients treated with primary RSA and 166 patients treated with primary TSA with a minimum of 1 year of follow-up. Comparisons were made to determine the effectiveness of treatment, time required to reach a plateau in improvement, and percentage of overall improvement at 3 and 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant improvements were observed for both TSA and RSA at all intervals (P < .001), except with internal rotation for RSA. Pain relief was rapid after both TSA and RSA. TSA patients reached a consistent plateau for pain and function by 6 months and for shoulder elevation by 1 year. RSA patients demonstrated variability with multiple false plateau points. By 6 months, TSA patients had achieved 90% to 100% of functional improvement, whereas RSA patients reached 72% to 91%. The effectiveness of TSA was greater than that of RSA for all measures with the exception of elevation and abduction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whereas patients treated with primary TSA and RSA can expect rapid improvements in pain, those treated with TSA can anticipate a more consistent and effective recovery of pain, function, and shoulder rotation. Patients receiving RSA can expect a variable length of recovery with greater improvements in forward elevation and abduction.
authors: Holy Cross Orthopaedic Institute, Holy Cross Hospital, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA. Electronic address: Jonlevy123@yahoo.com.
authors: Jonathan C
authors: JC
authors: Levy
authors: Holy Cross Orthopaedic Institute, Holy Cross Hospital, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
authors: Nathan G
authors: NG
authors: Everding
authors: Holy Cross Orthopaedic Institute, Holy Cross Hospital, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
authors: Carlos C
authors: CC
authors: Gil
authors: Holy Cross Orthopaedic Institute, Holy Cross Hospital, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
authors: Scott
authors: S
authors: Stephens
authors: Holy Cross Orthopaedic Institute, Holy Cross Hospital, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
authors: M Russell
authors: MR
authors: Giveans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Anatomic shoulder arthroplasty; efficacy; plateau; reverse shoulder arthroplasty; speed of recovery