Shoulder arthritis in the young adult: arthroscopy to arthroplasty.

Young adult patients with shoulder arthritis present challenging treatment decisions for the orthopaedic surgeon. Patients treated with shoulder arthroplasty have the youngest average age of all patients who undergo joint arthroplasty. However, in the young, active patient or in those without advanced disease, joint arthroplasty may not be appropriate. Arthroscopic treatment or interposition arthroplasty may provide symptomatic relief without radically compromising future procedures.