Early Versus Delayed Rehabilitation After Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty for Proximal Humerus Fracture

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Orthopedic Disorder, Humerus Fracture, Shoulder Arthroplasty, Reverse Shoulder Replacement

In brief

Proximal humerus fractures can be a debilitating injury in the elderly, impacting the ability to function independently or complete activities of daily living due to pain and restricted shoulder motion. Evidence has shown that reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) is an effective option to improve pain and function for patients with acute displaced proximal humerus fractures. Given that patients undergoing rTSA for proximal humerus fractures typically experience worse functional outcomes, worse patient-reported outcomes, and higher rates of complication compared to those with elective indications for surgical intervention, it is critical to determine a secure path to recovery for these patients after surgery. Early rehabilitation has been proposed to be safe and effective for patients who undergo rTSA for elective indications; however, there is a paucity of research evaluating safety and effectiveness of timing of rehabilitation for rTSA patients in the trauma setting. Currently, there exists a great variability in postoperative rehabilitation protocols across orthopaedic practices. This study's objective is to determine the safety and effectiveness of early postoperative rehabilitation on the outcomes and postoperative complications of patients undergoing rTSA for proximal humerus fractures in order to provide more specific recommendations for this patient population.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06869343

Run by

University of Virginia

People needed

10

Starts

2025-05-19

Expected to finish

2026-12-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-06-09

Who can join

Age: 50 and older, up to 85. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• aged 50-85 undergo reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty by a single surgeon for proximal humerus fractures

You may not qualify if…

• previous rTSA to ipsilateral shoulder
• undergoing elective rTSA
• Prisoners
• unwilling to be randomized
• unwilling or unable to attend follow up visits

Where it is running

• University of Virginia Medical Center — Charlottesville, Virginia, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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