The Benefits of Anatomic Total Shoulder Arthroplasty Systems vs. Traditional Systems

Anatomic TSA systems, defined as total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) designs which replicate the patient’s native anatomy while preserving bone, offer enhanced outcomes and fast recovery for those suffering from glenohumeral osteoarthritis.
 
Chronic shoulder pain caused by osteoarthritis or trauma can be debilitating and prevent people from living active lifestyles. A TSA is often recommended for patients when non-surgical therapies, such as physical therapy and corticosteroid injections, fail. TSA is a common, effective treatment that reduces pain. However, outcomes vary depending on the device used. Anatomic TSA systems, like the OVOMotion with Inlay Glenoid, are reshaping the standard of primary TSA. Designed to maintain the native joint line and restore motion without restrictions, OVOMotion helps patients return to an active lifestyle and improve quality of life.¹
 
Patients presenting with chronic shoulder pain are often forced to forgo the activities they love, such as golf, swimming, and tennis. Everyday activities, such as unloading the dishwasher or doing laundry, become painful and often impossible tasks, while lifting moderate to heavy objects are likely not possible. Once a patient has been recommended for TSA, their surgeon will assess the extent of the damage and determine the best course of treatment.
 
Traditional TSA systems replace the damaged humeral head (ball of the joint) with a metal ball with a stem that protrudes down the arm, and the glenoid (joint socket) with an implant that sits on top of the bone. Anatomic TSA systems, on the other hand, are designed to recreate the native anatomy of the shoulder joint. The implants match the diameter of the damaged area, as well as the precise curvatures on the shoulder’s surface. This allows the anatomic TSA system to go beyond repair to preserve the native anatomy of the shoulder and restore range of motion, offering a reliable primary solution across glenoid stages.¹ Anatomic TSA systems are no longer recommended for only younger, fitter patients. They are recommended for the full spectrum of patients with glenohumeral arthritis, even those facing posterior subluxation and bone erosion.

Benefits of Anatomic TSA Systems vs. Traditional TSA Systems

The OVOMotion with Inlay Glenoid Anatomic TSA system helps patients recover quickly and return to an active lifestyle with fewer restrictions.² Patients receiving anatomic TSA systems report excellent pain relief and range of motion.³
 
Other patient benefits include:
 

• Implants that are more resistant to loosening.¹
• Preserved bone and minimized blood loss.²
• Restored native joint line, reducing the risk of overstuffing.⁴
• Patients reporting pain relief, improved range of motion, and rapid recovery.²
• Patients indicating a rapid return to activity following procedure for both work and exercise.²
• Preserved revision options.²
• Shortened recovery times; many uncomplicated TSA patients can go home same day.²

Benefits to Surgeons

Because of joint preserving, minimally invasive anatomic TSA innovations, surgeons can now more easily perform this procedure in the Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) setting.¹ This not only reduces the overall cost of the procedure, but anatomic TSA systems can also enhance operational efficiencies by requiring use of minimal trays and less changing of instruments, resulting in shorter procedure time.^1,5 In addition to improved patient outcomes, surgeons benefit by the convenience of scheduling and performing surgeries at ASCs. Patient age, overall health, and severity of injury are considerations for determining whether the anatomic TSA is performed in a hospital or ASC.
 
Simply put, anatomic TSA systems, like the OVOMotion with Inlay Glenoid from Anika, provide a minimally invasive alternative to traditional TSA systems making them an ideal option for primary TSA. They enable the preservation of much of the patient’s surrounding bone and joint structures and use humeral implants to improve range of motion and recreate the native anatomy of the joint.¹ Traditional TSA systems often do not restore full range of motion and patients’ post-surgical activities may be restricted.
 
Today’s patients are working and staying active much later in life. When non-surgical techniques fail, they want minimally invasive solutions that don’t require months of recovery and that allow for pain relief and increased range of motion. They want to return to their active lifestyles quickly. Anatomic TSA is the primary solution to ensure quality outcomes and quality of life, while also supporting surgeons by allowing them to perform complex procedures in a more convenient, supportive environment.
 
References:
¹ Preclinical data on file. Results may not correlate to clinical performance.
² Yalcin, S., Scarcella, M., Everhart, J., Samuel, L., & Miniaci, A. (2021). Clinical and radiographic outcomes of total shoulder arthroplasty with a nonspherical humeral head and inlay glenoid in elite weight lifters: A prospective case series. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 9(7), 232596712110210.
³ Cvetanovich, G. L., Naylor, A. J., O’Brien, M. C., Waterman, B. R., Garcia, G. H., & Nicholson, G. P. (2020). Anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty with an inlay glenoid component: Clinical outcomes and return to activity. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 29(6), 1188–1196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2019.10.003
⁴ Egger, A. C., Peterson, J., Jones, M. H., & Miniaci, A. (2019). Total shoulder arthroplasty with nonspherical humeral head and inlay glenoid replacement: Clinical results comparing concentric and nonconcentric glenoid stages in primary shoulder arthritis. JSES Open Access, 3(3), 145–153.
⁵ Uribe JW, Zvijac JE, Porter DA, Saxena A, Vargas LA. Inlay total shoulder arthroplasty for primary glenohumeral arthritis. J Shoulder Elbow Surg International. 2021 5(6):1014-1020.