[Destructive non-tumoral osteoarthropathies of the shoulder]

Destructive arthropathy of the shoulder is reviewed and the indications of total prothesis are briefly considered. It seems that the long term functional tolerance of destructive arthropathy of the shoulder is better than would be expected considering the radiological damage which is often substantial. The indications of shoulder prosthesis are dominated by rheumatoid polyarthritis and are infrequent in the other forms of these arthropathies.