Neuropathic Shoulder Destroyed in 3 Years — Robotic-Assisted Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
A patient with a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome presents with rapid, devastating shoulder destruction — going from a normal-appearing shoulder on CT to complete joint collapse in just three years. Likely neuropathic arthropathy with a possible contribution from steroid-induced avascular necrosis.
In this video, I walk through the full case:
- Preoperative X-rays and CT imaging
- CT-based robotic surgical planning
- How we use a full wedge augmented glenoid to compensate for severe inferior bone loss
- Custom reaming at variable depths to preserve bone stock
- Software-predicted range of motion
- Intraoperative footage
- Final postoperative X-ray
This is a case where, without robotic-assisted planning, bone grafting or a custom implant would have been the only options. The CT-based planning allowed us to precisely position our implants, minimize bone removal, and use an augmented glenoid to match the deformity — all with a high degree of accuracy and predictability.
Whether you're a surgeon exploring robotic-assisted shoulder arthroplasty or a patient trying to understand what's possible with today's technology, this case shows how rapidly neuropathic joints can progress and how advanced planning can change the outcome.
