Clinical and Radiological Outcomes after Total Shoulder Arthroplasty Using Custom-Made Glenoid Components: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty presents itself sometimes as challenging when it comes to addressing massive bone loss, either in primary or revision settings. Custom components recently have made their way into shoulder prosthetics and are meant to help in the case of extensive glenoid bone destruction. Because of strict indication and the fairly recent introduction of these implants, the usage of custom-made glenoid implants is not very common yet. However, the early results are promising. The purpose of this review was to summarize and analyze the available literature. Therefore, a systematic review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search of the databases PubMed, Cochrane, and Livivo was performed to screen for studies reporting on clinical and radiological outcomes of custom glenoid implants. Four studies with a total of 46 shoulders were included in this review. The mean patient age was 68.8 years and the mean time of follow-up was 24.3 months. The weighted means showed an increase in CMS (32.7 points), in ASES (39.8 points), in anteversion (67.4 degrees), and in abduction (51.9 degrees) and a decrease in VAS (5.4 points). Custom-made glenoid implants are therefore a viable option in cases of large combined glenoid bone loss, both in primary and revision shoulder arthroplasty.

The Role of 3D Custom Implants in Upper Extremity Surgery

“…The literature is replete with examples of reverse total shoulder arthroplasties done with custom 3D-printed glenoid components in patients with significant bone loss or deformity. 19,20 Safali et al 21 also recently published a case series of custom 3D-printed radial head prostheses to better replicate the patients' anatomy after radial head fractures.…”