Nonconstrained total shoulder arthroplasty in patients with polyarticular rheumatoid arthritis.

A retrospective review of 114 patients with polyarticular rheumatoid arthritis who had 140 total shoulder arthroplasties revealed that 93% of the patients had excellent pain relief; however, improvement in active forward elevation averaged 34 degrees. Nearly one-half of the patients had significant rotator cuff pathology. Three-fourths of the patients had a press-fit type of humeral component, and 5% of these have had variable amounts of subsidence. None have been sufficiently painful to require a revision. Eighty-two percent of the glenoid components developed radiolucent lines during the follow-up period. One percent of these were definitely loose and 9% were probably loose. To date, none have been revised. Complications occurred in 7% of the shoulders, but no deep or superficial wound infections were noted.