Impact of humeral stem length on calcar resorption in anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty

Background: Use of standard-length anatomic total shoulder (TSA) humeral stems has been associated with high rates of medial calcar bone loss. Calcar bone loss has been attributed to stress shielding, debris-induced osteolysis, and undiagnosed infection. Short stem and canal-sparing humeral components may provide more optimal stress distribution and thus lower rates of calcar bone loss related to stress shielding. The purpose of this study is to determine whether implant length will affect the rate and severity of medial calcar resorption.Methods: A retrospective review was performed on TSA patients treated with three different-length humeral implants (canal-sparing, short, and standard-length designs). Patients were matched 1:1:1 based on both gender and age (+/- 4 years), resulting in 40 patients per cohort. Radiographic changes in medial calcar bone were evaluated and graded on a 4-point scale, from the initial postoperative radiographs to those at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months.Results: The presence of any degree of medial calcar resorption demonstrated an overall rate of 73.3% at one year. At 3 months, calcar resorption was observed in 20% of the canal-sparing cohort, while the short and standard designs demonstrated resorption in 55% and 52.5%, respectively (P = .002). At 12 months, calcar resorption was seen in 65% of the canal-sparing design, while both the short and standard designs had a 77.5% rate of resorption (P = .345). The severity of calcar resorption for the canal-sparing cohort was significantly lower at all time points when compared to the short stem (3 months, P = .004; 6 months, P = .003; 12 months, P = .004) and at 3Conclusion: Patients treated with canal-sparing TSA humeral components have significantly lower rates of early calcar resorption with less severe bone loss when compared to patients treated using short and standard-length designs.(c) 2023 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees. All rights reserved.