Clinical and radiographic assessment of a non-constrained total shoulder

This paper presents the early post-operative results of a nonconstrained total shoulder joint prosthesis of the UCLA design in ten patients. Substantial relief of pain was achieved in eight patients. Half the patients showed and increased range of shoulder movement and ony one prosthesis was unstable requiring reoperation. Radiolucent zones at the cement-bone interface of the glenoid developed in several patients. The significance of these with regard to joint mobility, resultant forces and incipient loosening of the polyethylene component are discussed. No clinical signs of loosening occurred in the observation period.