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Clinical Trial Summary

Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) is a well-established treatment for rotator cuff arthropathy. However, the effectiveness of RSA has not been compared to non-surgical treatment in a randomised controlled trial. Shoulder exercises may be an effective treatment for reducing pain and improving function in glenohumeral osteoarthritis. The primary aim of this trial is to examine if RSA followed by standard postsurgical rehabilitation is superior to a 12-week exercise programme in patients with rotator cuff arthropathy eligible for unilateral RSA. The investigators hypothesise that surgical intervention followed by standard rehabilitation, results in clinically relevant (14-point, on a scale from 0-100) improvement compared to the exercise intervention.


Clinical Trial Description

Rotator cuff arthropathy describes the clinical scenario of massive rotator cuff ruptures associated with glenohumeral joint degeneration and superior migration of the humeral head. Clinical presentation includes joint effusion, pain, and loss of mobility. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) is a well-established treatment for rotator cuff arthropathy. Several studies have suggested the need for trials comparing shoulder arthroplasty to non-surgical treatments. The ProAct trial is a Nordic multicenter randomized controlled trial. Patients with rotator cuff arthropathy, eligible for a RSA will be randomised to either RSA followed by usual care or exercise only. The exercise intervention consists of 12 weeks of exercise with one weekly physiotherapist-supervised exercise session. The primary outcome will be the total the Western Ontario Osteoarthritis of the Shoulder index score at 12 months follow-up. Outcome assessment will be performed at baseline, and at 3 and 12 months and 2-, 5- and 10 years after start of surgical/non-surgical treatment. Patients fulfilling the eligibility criteria but declining to participate in the randomised trial will be offered the option of participating in an observational cohort using the same primary end point and patient reported outcomes, but following usual clinical practice. ;


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT04864158
Study type Interventional
Source University of Aarhus
Contact Josefine B. Larsen, MSc
Phone +4526237771
Email josefinebl@clin.au.dk
Status Recruiting
Phase N/A
Start date May 28, 2021
Completion date November 2038

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Completed NCT00764504 - Reverse Shoulder Prosthesis Study Phase 3
Recruiting NCT05847062 - Clinical Trial to Analyze Lateralized Models and Medializations of Inverted Arthroplasty. N/A
Active, not recruiting NCT04809077 - Focus on the Humeral Component Following Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty N/A
Completed NCT04405947 - Influenze of Approach in Reversed Shoulder Prosthesis N/A