The Ream and Run Procedure: A Summary of 2024 Publications

Greetings everyone! I wanted to share a review of the most recent literature regarding Ream and Run Hemi-arthroplasty. Some of these articles might be appealing to those considering an alternative to traditional total shoulder (TSA) replacement. Please take a moment to read the articles below published in 2024:

Suttmiller AMB, Snyder BA, Carofino BC. Comparison of short- and midterm outcomes in patients following ream-and-run and anatomic total shoulder arthroplasties. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2025 Mar;34(3):794-802. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2024.06.011. Epub 2024 Aug 3. PMID: 39103085.

In 2024, Dr. Carofino and his team published Comparison of short- and midterm outcomes in patients following ream-and-run and anatomic total shoulder arthroplasties. This paper compared minimum of two-year outcomes for Ream and Run and anatomic shoulder arthroplasties. Dr. Carofino found that for the first three months after surgery, Ream and Run patients tended to have higher pain ratings and lower mobility. For six-month follow-ups and beyond, the pain and mobility comparison between the two procedures was very similar. Dr. Carofino’s findings supported the belief that the Ream and Run procedure is a good alternative for young active patients.

Sharareh B, Whitson AJ, Matsen FA 3rd, Hsu JE. Minimum 10-year follow-up of anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty and ream-and-run arthroplasty for primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2024 Jun;33(6):1276-1284. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2023.08.028. Epub 2023 Sep 29. PMID: 37777045.

Another paper compared 10-year outcomes for Ream and Run patients versus anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty patients. This paper found that the Ream and Run patients had better final pain and mobility scores, although both procedures are very good options.

Ranieri R, Cointat C, Lacouture-Suarez JD, Boileau P. B2 and B3 glenoid osteoarthirtis: outcomes of corrective and concentric (C2) reaming of the glenoid combined with pyrocarbon hemiarthroplasty. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2025 Mar;34(3):726-738. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2024.06.028. Epub 2024 Aug 13. PMID: 39147269.

The next paper studied how the Ream and Run procedure can improve long-term stress on the glenoid, the socket of the shoulder joint. CT scans were obtained preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, and two years postoperatively to measure the alignment of the ball and socket of the shoulder joint. Because of the “reaming” of the socket unique to the Ream and Run procedure, shoulder alignment improved significantly. The better alignment and placement of the ball inside the socket from the Ream and Run procedure leads to excellent functional results and high prosthesis survival.

Levins JG, Dasari SP, Quinlan NJ, Whitson AJ, Matsen FA 3rd, Hsu JE. Anatomic shoulder arthroplasty: the correlation between patient resilience, mental health, and outcome. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2024 Jun;33(6S):S9-S15. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2024.03.008. Epub 2024 Mar 26. PMID: 38548096.

The last paper published in 2024 regarding the Ream and Run procedure studied the correlation between patient mental health and shoulder replacement results. For both Ream and Run procedures and anatomic total shoulder replacements, better resilience scale and mental health scores correlated to better long-term results. Ream and Run patients tended to have better resilience scores than the anatomic replacements, but there was no difference between mental health scores between the two. Regardless, for both procedures, better mental health and resilience scores correlate with better outcomes.

-It's work to stay as current as possible with evidence based practice, but providers routed in evidence provide the best care. I hope to continue to add to the literature regarding Ream and Run Arthoplasty.

-For more information and to find out if this procedure is right for you, please seek an appointment with Dr. Bradley Carofino, MD in Virginia Beach, Virginia and Chesapeake, Virginia in partnership with Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists.

Author

Brad Carofino, MD Dr. Brad Carofino is a board-certified (American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery), fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in shoulder & upper extremity surgery. Dr. Carofino is an expert in shoulder replacement surgery, minimally invasive arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, and complex reconstructive procedures of the upper extremity.

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