Subscapularis Management in Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: Current Evidence Comparing Peel, Osteotomy, and Tenotomy

The optimal approach to management of the subscapularis in total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) is controversial. Options include the subscapularis tenotomy, lesser tuberosity osteotomy (LTO), and peel. This review provides a summary of subscapularis anatomy and function, outcomes associated with subscapularis management options in TSA, and postoperative subscapularis deficiency. Based on the available literature, LTO appears to result in improved function and subscapularis integrity relative to tenotomy, while peel and LTO have generally led to equivalent outcomes. The highest level of evidence to date is derived from a randomized controlled trial that demonstrated that outcomes following peel and LTO were not significantly different. There is currently a paucity of high-quality evidence as most studies have consisted of small retrospective series with varying outcome measures. Furthermore, the optimal approach to establishing the diagnosis of subscapularis deficiency following TSA is unclear.