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Scientific Articles:
Jacques Guery, Luc Favard, FrançOis Sirveaux, Didier Oudet, Daniel Mole, and Gilles Walch
Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty. Survivorship Analysis of Eighty Replacements Followed for Five to Ten Years
J Bone Joint Surg Am 2006; 88: 1742-1747 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]
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[Read Letter to the Editor] A Clarification to "Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty" by Dr. Favard et al.
Luc Favard, M.D., Jacques Guery, M.D., Francois Sirveaux, M.D., Daniel Mole, M.D, Didier Oudet, M.D., Gilles Walch, M.D.   (30 January 2007)

A Clarification to "Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty" by Dr. Favard et al. 30 January 2007
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Luc Favard, M.D.
CHU TOURS Service d'Orthopedie et Traumatologie 1 CHU Trousseau 37044 Tours CEDEX, FRANCE,
Jacques Guery, M.D., Francois Sirveaux, M.D., Daniel Mole, M.D, Didier Oudet, M.D., Gilles Walch, M.D.

Send letter to journal:
Re: A Clarification to "Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty" by Dr. Favard et al.

favard{at}med.univ-tours.fr Luc Favard, M.D., et al.

To The Editor:

In our article "Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty"(1) we concluded in the Abstract that "Our findings indicate that the reverse total prosthesis should be reserved for the treatment of very disabling shoulder arthopathy with a massive rotator cuff rupture, and it should be used exclusively in patients over seventy years old with low functional demands." However, in the Discussion section we stated, "Also, the functional result is likely to deteriorate progressively after six years, and thus we recommend extreme caution in establishing the indications for this prosthesis, especially in younger patients". Since these two statements are possibly in conflict with each other we wish to clarify this point further.

While we prefer to use the Reverse Total Shoulder prosthesis in older sedentary individuals when no other good option is available, if a younger patient is willing to accept the risk, and doesn't want the disability associated with a glenohumeral fusion, then the Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty is an acceptable option, but the patient should be carefully advised about not abusing the prosthesis.

The authors did not receive any outside funding or grants in support of their research for or preparation of this work. One or more of the authors or a member of his or her immediate family received, in any one year, payments or other benefits in excess of $10,000 or a commitment or agreement to provide such benefits from a commercial entity (royalties from Tornier Company). Also, a commercial entity (royalties from Tornier Company) paid or directed in any one year, or agreed to pay or direct, benefits in excess of $10,000 to a research fund, foundation, division, center, clinical practice, or other charitable or nonprofit organization with which the authors, or a member of their immediate families, are affiliated or associated.

Reference:

1. Guery J, Favard L, Sirveaux F, Oudet D, Mole D, Walch G. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. Survivorship analysis of eighty replacements followed for five to ten years. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2006;88:1742-1747.