This case differs from a typical shoulder arthroplasty, or shoulder joint replacement. The ball-in-socket joint is reversed, the glenoid fossa becomes the ball, and the humeral head becomes the socket. A reverse arthroplasty is performed when a patient has severe arthritis and a large irreparable rotator cuff tear. Throughout the duration of this surgery, a mobile surgical table is removed and returned to support the arm.

I created a color illustration of step 6, because reaming the glenoid surface of the scapula is important for the proper installation of the baseplate and, later, the sphere implant. Thank you to Dr. McFarland for allowing me to observe this procedure.