Shoulder arthroplasty. Part 1: Prosthesis terminology and classification

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering
• Radiology

Background:

• Shoulder arthroplasty is the third most common joint replacement in the UK.
• Increasing clinical follow-up burdens lead to more patients managed by general practitioners.
• Radiological reports indicating implant failure often prompt specialist referrals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review shoulder arthroplasty implant features.
• To discuss the indications for using different shoulder arthroplasty implants.
• To provide foundational knowledge for a subsequent review on implant failure modes.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on implant design and surgical indications.
• Analysis of current practices in shoulder arthroplasty.
• Synthesis of information on various available implant systems.

Main Results:

• Detailed description of diverse shoulder arthroplasty implant types.
• Explanation of specific indications for each implant category.
• Emphasis on the importance of appropriate implant selection for optimal outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Understanding implant features and indications is crucial for effective shoulder arthroplasty.
• Appropriate implant selection can influence patient outcomes and potentially reduce failure rates.
• This review serves as a basis for understanding shoulder arthroplasty failure mechanisms discussed in the subsequent article.