The shoulder functions after arthroplasties in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were evaluated.
32 shoulders of 24 RA patients (23 females, one male) were evaluated. The mean age at operation was 49.1 y.o., the mean period of morbidity was 14.7 years and the mean follow-up period was 5.5 years. These shoulders had 15 total shoulder arthroplasties, 8 monopolar hemiarthroplasties and 9 bipolar hemiarthroplasties performed on them. The pain was reduced in all cases. There were no significant differences of the range of active flexion in the sitting position among three types of arthroplasties. There were also no significant differences of the range of active flexion between 27 shoulders of the Larsen's grade IV and 5 shoulders of grade V. The ability of active flexion after the operation was affected only by the ability before the operation. There were no significant differences of the range of active external rotation in the first position among three types of arthroplasties and between the Larsen's grade IV and grade V. The shoulder function before an operation in RA shoulders will be one of the most important factors of the operative success.
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