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Updated: Jul 12, 2026
Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Published on: July 5, 2011
Long-term results of the stemless TESS prosthesis in anatomic shoulder arthroplasty
Philippe Teissier1, Jean David Werthel2, Yannick Cloquell1
1Clinique Saint Jean Sud de France, 1 Place de l'Europe, 34430, France.
Background:
Shoulder osteoarthritis is common and results in pain and loss of function. The goal of surgery is typically less pain and improved function. The design of anatomic prostheses has improved from the first generation in the 1950s with the Neer I, to modular components. In 2005, the first stemless shoulder prosthesis, the Total Evolutive Shoulder System (TESS; Biomet France, Valence, France), was launched. It was designed to be as minimally invasive as possible to save bone stock. Previous studies showed good short and medium-term results with all anatomic stemless shoulder implants. This paper reports the 10-year follow-up results.
Methods:
This study was a prospective consecutive case series. From 2005 to 2008, 48 cases underwent implantation with an anatomical stemless TESS. Functional outcomes and radiological results were studied, specifically looking for bone modifications and loosening.
Results:
At a mean follow-up of 134 months, functional outcomes improved significantly, from 29 to 72 points on the Constant-Murley scale. Radiolucent lines were frequent in the peripheral rim of the humeral side, in zones 1 and 5. There was no humeral loosening.
Conclusion:
Stemless TESS implantation provided good functional and radiological outcomes at 10-year follow-up. Minimally invasive stemless humeral implants can be used with confidence for anatomic arthroplasties.
Level Of Evidence:
IV; cases series, treatment study.
