Total shoulder arthroplasty.

Seventy Neer Series II total shoulder arthroplasties were performed in 65 patients. The average age was 69 years. The average follow-up period was 40 months. Rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis was the diagnosis in 34 and 29 shoulders, respectively. Rotator cuff tears were identified in 18 patients. There were no infections, neurological injuries, or vascular injuries, or vascular injuries. Two glenoid fractures and two humeral shaft fractures were sustained intraoperatively. Uniformly, excellent pain relief was obtained regardless of the disease process. The resultant average increase in range of motion (ROM) was 60 degrees of active forward elevation and 18 degree of external rotation. Radiolucent lines were present in 17 humeral components; however, none was symptomatic or had progressed in thickness. Five glenoid components demonstrated progression of radiolucency, and two required revision. Both of these were in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Although pain relief was uniformly good among all patient groups, a statistically significant degree of improvement in ROM was found in individuals with osteoarthritis. The etiology of the disease process and the status of the rotator cuff may determine the eventual outcome in individuals treated with total shoulder arthroplasty.