Abstract
Arthroplasty of the shoulder is a common procedure. Although there are many studies of the results of individual arthroplasty concepts, there is little published on the results of all shoulder replacements (with no exclusions) from a single centre.
We analysed 120 elective shoulder replacements in 106 patients performed over a 5 year period in our unit. 77 were female and average age was 70 years. 85 procedures were for osteoarthritis, 10 cuff arthropathy, 8 post-traumatic arthritis. 65 patients underwent a resurfacing hemiarthroplasty, 25 stemmed hemiarthroplasty and 30 had total shoulder replacements (5 reverse polarity). Mean follow up was 1.6 years.
There was a move away from resurfacing hemiarthroplasty towards stemmed total shoulder replacement over the study period.
The overall incidence of complications was 25.8%, 19.2% occurring within 12 months of surgery: 4 replacements dislocated, there were 5 periprosthetic fractures, 2 patients developed deep infection (treated by debridement), 2 patients aseptic loosening, 11 developed subacromial/biceps pain and 2 had glenoid erosions. The overall revision rate was 5.8%, the re-operation rate 10%.
The complication and re-operation rate in our unit is comparable with individual arthroplasty studies and may be useful as a reference for audits in centres across the UK.
