Geisinger, Medacta Offer Lifetime Guarantee for Shoulder Replacement

There are no guarantees in medicine. Despite healthcare’s myriad of technological advancements over the last several decades, treatments are not foolproof—patient variability, disease/condition complexity, and inherent biological variability can influence outcomes. 

Assurances are particularly unlikely in orthopedics, where patient anatomies are unique and as varied as individual snowflakes.

In a first for the orthopedic industry—and the practice of medicine itself—however, Geisinger and Medacta Group SA are offering the first lifetime guarantee for reverse shoulder replacement surgery. Geisinger and Medacta will stand behind the full cost of care throughout the patient’s lifetime.

Mark Pallis, D.O., Geisinger regional director of orthopaedic surgery, performed the first guaranteed reverse shoulder surgery at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre (Pa.).

“This is the first reverse shoulder arthroplasty with a lifetime guarantee in the world,” Dr. Pallis said. “We used intra-operative navigation to more accurately place the implants, using sensors to guide pin placement, reaming depth, and screw length and position. The postoperative results were nearly identical to the preoperative plan based on 3D modeling from a CT scan of the shoulder.”

Reverse shoulder replacements are used to treat arthritis as well as a torn or non-functioning rotator cuff. The procedure is called a “reverse” because the shoulder’s ball portion is placed in the socket, and the socket implant is placed in the humerus head spot.

Medacta and Geisinger have previously partnered on guarantees for qualified hip and knee replacement and spinal fusion surgeries as part of Geisinger’s ProvenCare program, which covers inpatient and follow-up patient care, including visits due to complications up to 90 days after the procedure.

“This new guarantee allows us to expand our ProvenCare commitment to include patients who qualify for total shoulder replacement, offering those patients a sense of security when making the decision to have the procedure,” said Michael Suk, M.D., J.D., chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. “Standing behind our joint replacement and spinal surgeries demonstrates Geisinger’s commitment to making better health easier for our patients and communities.”

Medacta provides unique resources to train surgeons—including those at Geisinger—in surgical techniques and in using their specially designed hip, knee, shoulder, and spinal implants for minimally invasive surgeries. Medacta’s technologies are designed to reduce postoperative pain and shorten rehabilitation time.

“The addition of the world’s first guarantee for reverse shoulder arthroplasty completes our offering of patient-focused guarantees for those undergoing hip, knee, or spine procedures at Geisinger,” Medacta International CEO Francesco Siccardi stated. “Through this initiative, we remain dedicated to improving outcomes for patients throughout their lifetimes.”

Medacta designs, produces, and distributes personalized, and sustainable solutions for joint replacement, sports medicine, and spine surgery. Established in 1999, Medacta maintains a strong focus on healthcare sustainability. Through close collaboration with expert surgeons globally, continuous investments in R&D, and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies, Medacta’s innovation prioritizes minimally invasive surgery and personalized solutions for every patient. Through the M.O.R.E. Institute, Medacta supports surgeons with a comprehensive and tailored program to advance medical education. Medacta is headquartered in Castel San Pietro, Switzerland, and operates in more than 60 countries.

Geisinger provides value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the nonprofit system generates $10 billion in annual revenues across 126 care sites—including 10 hospital campuses—and Geisinger Health Plan, with more than half a million members in commercial and government plans. Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 5,000 medical professionals annually and conducts over 1,400 clinical research studies. With 26,000 employees, including 1,700 employed physicians, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers.