[Arthrodesis of the shoulder joint]

If strict indications are adhered to, shoulder arthrodesis is a valuable method in the operative treatment of restoring function to a chronically painful joint in a physically hard-working patient. Functional failure, especially because of rotation loss occurs often and is frequently the cause of unsatisfactory results. The main problem is the position of the arthrodesis. After numerous contradictory proposals, the most favorable approach is an abduction of 20-25 degrees and flexion of 30 degrees with an internal rotation of 45 degrees. Of all of the previous methods of fixation, today compression arthrodesis with one or two AO plates is preferred.