Shoulder replacement in end-stage rotator cuff tear arthropathy: 5- to 11-year follow-up analysis of the bi-polar shoulder prosthesis.

Between 1991 and 1997, 49 patients with rotator cuff arthropathy underwent 52 Bi-Polar shoulder replacements and were followed for 5-11 years (average follow-up 6.7 years). Active forward flexion increased an average of 35.2 degrees (from 45 degrees preoperatively to 80.2 degrees postoperatively). UCLA scores improved from 8.4 (range 4-16) preoperatively to 24.3 (range 15-35) postoperatively. Average age- and sex-adjusted Constant scores were 83.4% and ASES index was 68.5 points at the time of final review. Two shoulders (3.8%) were revised--both secondary to periprosthetic fracture requiring long-stem implants. Probability of survival at 11 years using Kaplan-Meier survival estimates was 93.3% (95% Cl: 84%-100%). Bipolar shoulder arthroplasty is an effective way to treat end-stage rotator cuff arthropathy with clinical results as good or better than those reported in the literature for hemiarthroplasty and total shoulder replacement with reasonable follow-up.