Between 1988 and 1994, we performed hemi (HA) and total shoulder arthroplasties (TSA) on ten shoulders.
We evaluated the results of these TSA and HA procedures for nine cases of rheumatoid arthritis and one fracture of the humeral neck.
The results of these ten cases were successful or acceptable in a short-term follow up study (1 year-6 years 8 months, mean 3yrs and 4 months).
At follow-up, all shoulders were free from pain.
The average range of active flexion, active abduction and active external rotation improved in HA.
But the range of motion did not improve in TSA. Of the four shoulders, two had complications with an anterior dislocation and a posterior dislocation.
And three of the patients (75 percent) had radiolucent lines at the glenoid-cement junction. However none of these were symptomatic and there was no loosening of the glenoid component.
In one case with a rotator cuff tear, the articular surface of the glenoid showed a gradual destructive change in HA, but the patient had no pain and gained a good ROM.
Though HA and TSA are effective for pain relief, HA is better than TSA for improving the patients ROM and ADL.
