Midterm Follow-Up of Metal-Backed Glenoid Components in Anatomical Total Shoulder Arthroplasties.

Loosening of the glenoid remains one of the most common complications of total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) and is the most cited reason for performing revision arthroplasty. Ingrowth metal-backed glenoid components offer the theoretical advantage of bone growth directly into the prosthesis with a single host-prosthesis interface. In the study reported here, we retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients who had TSAs performed by 2 fellowship-trained shoulder surgeons using glenoid components with porous tantalum anchors. Standard radiographs were analyzed for lucency surrounding the anchors. Before and after surgery, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scores and active forward elevation (AFE) and active external rotation (AER) measurements were recorded. Twelve shoulders (11 patients) were examined. Mean follow-up was 20 months. In all cases, radiographs showed no glenoid lucency. Mean AFE and mean AER both increased significantly (P < .01), as did postoperative ASES scores (P < .01). Porous tantalum ingrowth glenoid components show no radiographic or clinical evidence of loosening at midterm follow-up. Long-term studies are needed to determine if these midterm outcomes are maintained and provide benefit over conventional cemented polyethylene designs.