Shoulder Arthroplasty: Historical Considerations

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• The first shoulder metal prosthesis was implanted over 120 years ago.
• Shoulder arthroplasty has a long history, with significant developments in the 20th century.

Purpose of the Study:

• To trace the evolution of shoulder arthroplasty.
• To review the historical literature of shoulder prosthesis development throughout the 20th century.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature review was conducted.
• Key foundational papers on shoulder arthroplasty were selected for analysis.

Main Results:

• Shoulder arthroplasty was largely overlooked in the early 20th century.
• The 1950s saw the introduction of various implants, spearheaded by Charles Neer.
• The reverse shoulder concept emerged in the 1970s, facing initial setbacks before Grammont's design.

Conclusions:

• Despite numerous early failures, shoulder prostheses are now widely adopted.
• The field has advanced significantly, with numerous companies offering shoulder arthroplasty products.