Avoiding the Walk of Shame in Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty

Subscribe today to listen to this content Get Access

For shoulder surgeons, glenoid bone loss (GBL) in primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) is the orthopedic equivalent of stepping up to the plate and realizing the infield is underwater. Sure, the game can still be played—but you’re going to need a better strategy.

A new JBJS Open Access review (July–September 2025) from the Mayo Clinic and Indiana University — courtesy of Erick Marigi, M.D., Kristin E. Yu, M.D., Amanda Vasquez-Loret, M.S., Michael D. Baird, M.D., Christopher M. Hart, M.D., John W. Sperling, M.D., and Joaquin Sanchez-Sotelo, M.D., Ph.D. — lays out the current tactical arsenal for managing GBL in primary RSA. And make no mistake: if you get it wrong, your patient could be dealing with instability, impingement, dislocation, or a loosening implant that shows up on X-ray like a surgeon’s walk of shame. Here’s the review: “Management of Glenoid Bone Loss in Primary Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Critical Analysis Review”