Future Frontiers in Shoulder Arthroplasty and the Management of Shoulder Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Shoulder arthroplasty has advanced considerably in recent decades, but the most recently published long-term outcomes continue to have unacceptably high failure rates, especially in young patients. However, there are several future frontiers that offer the promise of improved implant longevity and function including advances in surgical approach, such as subscapularis-sparing approaches and computer-assisted surgical planning; advances in humeral component fixation, such as stemless, short-stem, and convertible implants; advances in bearing surfaces, such as pyrocarbon, ceramic, and metal-on-metal; and advances in glenoid component geometry and fixation, such as augmented components, in-growth pegs, and inlay glenoid components.

Keywords: Arthroplasty; Osteoarthritis; Pyrocarbon; Shoulder; Young patient.