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Updated: Jul 11, 2026
Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Published on: July 5, 2011
Long-term results of radiotherapy for periarthritis of the shoulder: a retrospective evaluation
Marcus Niewald1, Jochen Fleckenstein, Susanne Naumann
1Dept, of Radiooncology, Saarland University Hospital, Kirrberger Str.1, D-66421, Homburg, Germany. ramnie@uniklinikum-saarland.de
Background:
To evaluate retrospectively the results of radiotherapy for periarthritis of the shoulder
Methods:
In 1983-2004, 141 patients were treated, all had attended at least one follow-up examination. 19% had had pain for several weeks, 66% for months and 14% for years. Shoulder motility was impaired in 137/140 patients. Nearly all patients had taken oral analgesics, 81% had undergone physiotherapy, five patients had been operated on, and six had been irradiated. Radiotherapy was applied using regular anterior-posterior opposing portals and Co-60 gamma rays or 4 MV photons. 89% of the patients received a total dose of 6 Gy (dose/fraction of 1 Gy twice weekly, the others had total doses ranging from 4 to 8 Gy. The patients and the referring doctors were given written questionnaires in order to obtain long-term results. The mean duration of follow-up was 6.9 years [0-20 years].
Results:
During the first follow-up examination at the end of radiotherapy 56% of the patients reported pain relief and improvement of motility. After in median 4.5 months the values were 69 and 89%, after 3.9 years 73% and 73%, respectively. There were virtually no side effects. In the questionnaires, 69% of the patients reported pain relief directly after radiotherapy, 31% up to 12 weeks after radiotherapy. 56% of the patients stated that pain relief had lasted for "years", in further 12% at least for "months".
Conclusion:
Low-dose radiotherapy for periarthropathy of the shoulder was highly effective and yielded long-lasting improvement of pain and motility without side effects.