[Indications for shoulder prosthetics in degenerative and inflammatory diseases]

Shoulder arthroplasty has since it's more widespread introduction in the early seventies found a general acceptance as an excellent tool for treating late stage arthritis of the shoulder joint. The indications will vary from primary osteoarthritic disease to inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, or psoriatric arthritis. It is also used as a primary tool in multifragmented shoulder fractures, which can not be restored anatomically, or are felt at risk for avascular necrosis. The surgeon setting out for this procedure has to decide whether a total arthroplasty is required in cases with glenoid destruction, or at risk of developing secondary degenerative changes in the glenoid early on. A hemiarthroplasty will only replace the humeral side of the joint, but while well accepted in the fracture patient, the arthritic patients tend to fare better with a total joint replacement for pain relief.