Surgical system may extend life of shoulder implant

Dr Angus Wallace has introduced a newly designed implant and surgical instrumentation system dubbed Versatile, Anatomic and Inverse Optimised Stable (VAIOS) for shoulder replacement surgeries.

The system reportedly makes it possible for surgeons to choose between conventional or more advanced ‘inverse’ shoulder replacement surgeries in the operating theatre.

A conventional shoulder implant mimics anatomy by putting a socket on the shoulder blade and a ball on the arm. An inverse shoulder replacement is needed in cases where a rotator cuff tendon is damaged to the point that it cannot hold a ball on its socket. Patients with this find their shoulder will hunch up when they try to lift their arm.

An inverse shoulder implant will place a socket where the ball is normally located. A ball is then placed on the shoulder blade so the socket can move against it. Dr Wallace explained that articulation will mean the humerus, the arm bone, cannot ride up because it is stopped by the ball.