title: Nonconstrained total shoulder arthroplasty in patients with polyarticular rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Valley Orthopaedic Associates, Renton, WA 98055.
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Thornhill
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Gebhart
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Sledge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007595:Joint Prosthesis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012785:Shoulder Joint