Conjoint Tendon Resection During Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

October 20, 2025 updated by: University of Missouri-Columbia

The Impact of Conjoint Tendon Resection on Functional Internal Rotation of the Shoulder Following Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Prospective, Randomized Clinical Trial

Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) can reliably restore active forward elevation, abduction, and external rotation, which are often lost in patients with massive rotator cuff tears. However, functional internal rotation (i.e., functional movements of the hand behind the body) is often unsatisfactorily restored and/or lost after RTSA. This study aims to compare the standard surgical approach for RTSA to RTSA with conjoint tendon resection with the targeted metric being postoperative functional internal rotation.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Terminated

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This study will be a prospective, randomized-controlled clinical trial comparing standard of care RTSA to RTSA with conjoint tendon resection in 64 patients undergoing RTSA by a single surgeon. Participants and assessors will not be blinded to intervention. The primary outcome is postoperative functional internal rotation. Secondary outcome measures include VAS, ASES, SANE, PROMIS, and VR-12 scores, as well as forward elevation and external rotation at the side, and complications at any time point. Our null hypothesis is that patients who undergo conjoint tendon resection during RTSA will have significantly increased functional internal rotation and clinically significant improved above-mentioned scores compared to non-resected tendon patients.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
26

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Missouri
      • Columbia, Missouri, United States, 65201
        • Missouri Orthopaedic Institute

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion criteria

- All patients undergoing primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA)

Exclusion criteria

  • Revision RTSA
  • RTSA for acute proximal humerus fracture or fracture sequela

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
No Intervention: Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
For RTSA using a deltopectoral approach, the Perform glenoid and humeral components of Tornier Stryker Reverse Shoulder system will be used for all cases. The sizes and offsets of the components will be chosen based on each patient's local anatomy which will vary among patients. The subscapularis tendon will be repaired using three transosseous nonabsorbable sutures whenever there is a reparable subscapularis tendon. After definitive implantation of the prosthesis is completed, in the 'no interventional' group, the wound will be closed in layers, and the shoulder will be immobilized in an abduction sling.
Experimental: Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty with Conjoint Tendon Resection
RTSA in the experimental group will be identical, except for that after definitive implantation of the prosthesis is completed, in the 'experimental' group, the conjoint tendon will be released completely via a transverse incision made at a level 2 cm distal to the coracoid process for the patients assigned the conjoint resection group. Electrocautery will be used for the resection, and the underlying muscular portion of the conjoint tendon will be preserved. As mentioned above, the control group will not receive this conjoint tendon resection. Similarly, in the experimental group, the wound will be closed in layers, and the shoulder will be immobilized in an abduction sling.
Procedure: Conjoint Tendon Resection
For conjoint tendon resection in the experimental group, the conjoint tendon will be released completely via a transverse incision made at a level 2 cm distal to the coracoid process for the patients assigned the conjoint resection group. Electrocautery will be used for the resection, and the underlying muscular portion of the conjoint tendon will be preserved.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Functional Internal Shoulder Rotation
Time Frame: Functional Internal Shoulder Rotation will be measured at the 6 Month FU

. Functional internal rotation will be measured based on the highest anatomical level that the patient's thumb can reach:

  • Side
  • Ipsilateral buttock
  • Lower lumbar
  • Mid-lumbar
  • Upper lumbar
  • Thoracolumbar junction
  • T10 and above
Functional Internal Shoulder Rotation will be measured at the 6 Month FU

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Pain Score Over Time Points
Time Frame: All participants were be surveilled per standard of care at our hospital for the targeted patient group. Patients will return for follow-up at two weeks, six weeks, three months, six months, one year, and two years.
The visual analog scale (VAS) is a validated, subjective measure for acute and chronic pain. Scores are recorded by making a handwritten mark on a 10-cm line that represents a continuum between "no pain" and "worst pain."
All participants were be surveilled per standard of care at our hospital for the targeted patient group. Patients will return for follow-up at two weeks, six weeks, three months, six months, one year, and two years.
Change in American Shoulder and Elbow (ASES) Score Over Time Points
Time Frame: All participants were be surveilled per standard of care at our hospital for the targeted patient group. Patients will return for follow-up at two weeks, six weeks, three months, six months, one year, and two years.
The ASES is a 100-point scale that consists of two dimensions: pain and activities of daily living. There is one pain scale worth 50 points and ten activities of daily living worth 50 points. Patients can complete the questionnaire in less than five minutes (Leggin, 2006).
All participants were be surveilled per standard of care at our hospital for the targeted patient group. Patients will return for follow-up at two weeks, six weeks, three months, six months, one year, and two years.
Change in Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) Score Over Time Points
Time Frame: All participants were be surveilled per standard of care at our hospital for the targeted patient group. Patients will return for follow-up at two weeks, six weeks, three months, six months, one year, and two years.
The SANE is a single-question outcome measure that asks patients to rate their function, as it pertains to the area being treated, on a scale of 0 to 100. The SANE score has excellent acceptance in some orthopedic surgery research, where it has been shown responsiveness similar to more comprehensive legacy measures.
All participants were be surveilled per standard of care at our hospital for the targeted patient group. Patients will return for follow-up at two weeks, six weeks, three months, six months, one year, and two years.
Change in Patient Reported Outcome Information System (PROMIS) Score Over Time Points
Time Frame: All participants were be surveilled per standard of care at our hospital for the targeted patient group. Patients will return for follow-up at two weeks, six weeks, three months, six months, one year, and two years.
PROMIS measures generate T-scores. T-scores are standard scores with a mean of 50 and standard deviation of 10 in a reference population (usually U.S. general population).
All participants were be surveilled per standard of care at our hospital for the targeted patient group. Patients will return for follow-up at two weeks, six weeks, three months, six months, one year, and two years.
Change in Veterans Rand 12 Health (VR-12) Score Over Time Points
Time Frame: All participants were be surveilled per standard of care at our hospital for the targeted patient group. Patients will return for follow-up at two weeks, six weeks, three months, six months, one year, and two years.
The Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey (VR-12) is a self-reported global health measure used to assess a patient's overall perspective of their health
All participants were be surveilled per standard of care at our hospital for the targeted patient group. Patients will return for follow-up at two weeks, six weeks, three months, six months, one year, and two years.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Missouri-Columbia

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
April 5, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
May 16, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
May 16, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
February 12, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 21, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
March 3, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
October 30, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 20, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
October 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2094589

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Data collection for individual participant data will primarily be electronically based and not available to members outside of the research team. A breach of confidentiality and/or privacy is a risk of this study. To prevent this, all collected data will be stored electronically in password-protected files to protect patient identity and information. All information will be collected and reviewed by the research team only. Data will be maintained on a password-protected computer that will be accessible only to the study team. No patient identifiers will be maintained in the database. Every attempt will be made to minimize missing data. Multiple contact details will be taken at recruitment, and a system of reminders plus phone contact if applicable will be made to ensure patients make follow-up appointments.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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