The inverse prosthesis as a revision prosthesis in failures of shoulder hemiarthroplasty.

The authors describe their series of seven cases of complications and failures of shoulder hemiarthroplasty that were submitted to revision surgery involving an inverse prosthesis. This prosthesis has for some time now been indicated in elderly patients with arthropathy caused by rupture of the cuff. In our cases this prosthesis was implanted in patients who had undergone shoulder hemiarthroplasty for fracture and for arthrosis. The Constant score was used for pre- and postoperative evaluation. Results at mid-term, from 2 to 4 years, indicate evident improvement in Constant score that rose from a mean of 23.14 preoperatively to a mean of 49.14 postoperatively. Despite the limited follow-up the authors suggest the use of the inverse prosthesis as an effective alternative solution in shoulder arthroplasty revision surgery.