Glenohumeral Arthritis in Young Patients: Scope, Arthroplasty, Interposition, Arthrodesis, and Resurfacing

The management of glenohumeral arthritis in young patients is a challenge given the higher demand for use of the arms, need for longer implant survivorship, and higher postoperative expectations in this patient population. Shoulder arthroplasty is an excellent treatment option for elderly patients with glenohumeral arthritis because this patient population does not have demands as high as those of younger patients with glenohumeral arthritis. Common causes of glenohumeral arthritis in young patients include chondrolysis, inflammatory arthropathies, chronic instability, osteonecrosis, glenoid dysplasia, and early-onset osteoarthritis. Options for the surgical management of glenohumeral arthritis in young patients include arthroscopic débridement with or without capsular release, biceps tenodesis, chondroplasty, and/or subacromial decompression; soft-tissue resurfacing; humeral head resurfacing; anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty; reverse total shoulder arthroplasty; and glenohumeral arthrodesis. Shoulder arthroplasty is the preferred treatment for young patients with glenohumeral arthritis; however, surgeons must counsel patients on treatment options, surgical goals, postoperative functional expectations, and the potential for future surgery to increase the likelihood of good outcomes.