Shoulder surgery showdown: to repair or not to repair the subscapularis?

NCT ID NCT03727490

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study looked at whether repairing the subscapularis tendon during reverse shoulder replacement surgery leads to better short-term outcomes. A total of 102 adults having primary reverse shoulder arthroplasty took part. Half had the tendon repaired, half did not. The goal was to see if the repair made a difference in how patients felt and functioned after surgery.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

subscapularis tendon repair (surgical procedure)

What this could lead to

If repairing the tendon proves beneficial, it could become a standard part of reverse shoulder replacement to improve recovery.

What could go wrong

This is a small, completed trial focused only on short-term outcomes. The results may not apply to all patients or show long-term benefits.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

arthropathy

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Washington University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

    St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States