Indications, complications, and results of shoulder arthroplasty

To provide estimates of patient outcomes following shoulder arthroplasty using Neer-II type humeral prosthesis and to examine variation in outcomes due to patient and prosthesis characteristics.

North American and Western European published articles were identified through a computerized literature search and bibliography review. Studies were included if they enrolled 15 or more patients, discriminated between hemi-arthroplasty (HEMI) and total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) and measured pain relief, gain in range of motion (ROM), radiographic follow-up (> 2 years), short- and long-term complications, and revision surgery.

A total of 40 studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. The total number of patients enrolled was 3584. The mean follow-up was 59 months. The mean patient age was 62 years, 65% of patients were women and 73% underwent TSA. All reports showed relevant pain relief, increase in ROM, and high satisfaction rates for HEMI and TSA in both osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The overall rate of revision was 8%. Significant differences between HEMI and TSA for both diagnoses were found for all outcome parameters.

Shoulder arthroplasty is a safe and effective procedure for OA and RA patients. The diagnosis, shoulder pathology, and prosthesis specifics were significant predictors of outcomes. We therefore emphasize that conclusions on the outcome of shoulder arthroplasty can only be made if differentiated between these patient and prosthesis specifics. Limitations in the reporting style of these articles severely constrain the ability to explore variation in outcomes due to study, patient, or prosthesis characteristics and restrict their generalisability.