Review of novel shoulder arthroplasty planning technologies and potential conflicts of interest

Preoperative planning software is intended to improve surgical planning and patient outcomes in shoulder arthroplasty. Three-dimensional computed topography (CT) scans allow for a more accurate depiction of glenoid erosion than traditional 2-dimensional CT scans. Patient-specific instrumentation and computer-assisted navigation are newer technologies that were invented to improve implant positioning. The literature on these newer technologies is often published by authors with conflict of interest. In this article, we review perioperative planning software, 3-dimensional CT scans, patient-specific instrumentation, and computer-assisted navigation with a primary goal to evaluate if these novel technologies are improving implant positioning, patient specific outcomes, and cost effectiveness while evaluating conflict of interest in the published literature.