The Use of Computer Navigation and Patient Specific Instrumentation in Shoulder Arthroplasty: Everyday Practice, Just for Special Cases or Actually Teaching a Surgeon?

BACKGROUND: The use of computer assisted surgery, navigation (NAV) in shoulder arthroplasty is still under discussion, regarding the clinical outcome and prosthesis longevity, especially when combining these factors with cost, time and surgeon’s experience. Beside the NAV, there has been in use patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) as an additional tool for more precise glenoid implant position. Surgical NAV and PSI for glenoid implant positioning in anatomic and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty are in last years under observation and discussion. OBJECTIVE: To critically review and evaluate the current literature regarding the use of computer navigation and PSI in shoulder arthroplasty. METHODS: Critical review of the existing literature. RESULTS: Cost-effectiveness, prosthesis longevity and revision arthroplasty rate have not yet been proven clinically. Moreover, heterogeneity is high in studies that include different positioning systems (NAV, PSI and standard instrumentation). Heterogeneity is due to differences in surgical technique, implants, surgeon’s expertise, radiographic image analysis technique. CONCLUSION: The use of navigation systems and PSI should be clinically proven in the shoulder arthroplasty. Independent experts’ opinion and independent high level studies lack at the moment. There will be still a lot of talk regarding this topic in future.