Hemiarthroplasty of the shoulder. Clinical experience in 18 cases treated by the Neer monoblock prosthesis

The authors report the results of 18 hemiarthroplasties of the shoulder performed between 1990 and 1994 using the Neer II monoblock prosthesis, emphasizing the technical and surgical problems encountered. The patients treated numbered 13 for traumatic pathology (acute fractures: 7; sequelae of fracture of the proximal epiphysis of the humerus: 6), and 5 for degenerative lesions (arthrosis: 3; rheumatoid arthritis: 2). An evaluation of the results was based on the Constant method and isokinetic testing. Results based on follow-up obtained after 2 to 6 years were satisfactory in 83% of the cases.