Good News! 
We now have approval for the Belfast Trust to take part in RAPSODI which is an NIHR funded study for shoulder replacement patients to find the best type of joint replacement to treat those with painful shoulder osteoarthritis. The study will randomise patients to either a reverse or anatomical shoulder replacement.
With increasing age, shoulder osteoarthritis is common and causes severe pain and stiffness making everyday activities difficult. A shoulder replacement is an effective solution, reducing pain and allowing the shoulder to function better.
There are two types of shoulder replacement:
- Anatomic Total Shoulder Replacement which relies on the tendons (Rotator Cuff) around the shoulder to be intact and healthy.
- Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement, which is usually used when the rotator cuff becomes weaker or torn.
The research will be undertaken in NHS shoulder arthroplasty units in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Patients will be screened for eligibility (suitable for shoulder arthroplasty and intact rotator cuff) and invited for recruitment prior to surgery. Patients will be randomised prior to surgery and will be blinded to which type of replacement they received.
Find out more here: https://www.york.ac.uk/…/ytutrialsandst…/trials/rapsodi/