Shoulder arthroplasty has become an essential component of the standard surgical repertoire for the treatment of severe primary and secondary glenohumeral arthritis and has been shown to provide reliable long-term pain relief with satisfactory functional results. In most cases, in particular in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the indications for arthroplasty are primarily based on pain, which often includes severe pain at rest. Despite poor bone stock and impaired soft tissue quality in RA which frequently results in massive, irreparable rotator cuff tears, shoulder arthroplasty has been shown to be an effective means of improving shoulder function. Several different types of prostheses are now available for different indications determined by age, functional demand, etiology and structural deficits. For optimal outcome, the most suitable type of prosthesis needs to be selected by an experienced shoulder surgeon who is familiar with the entire spectrum of treatment options.
