Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 1994 Mar;6(2):177-82.
doi: 10.1097/00002281-199403000-00010.

Operative treatment of the rheumatoid shoulder

Review

Operative treatment of the rheumatoid shoulder

W F Bennett et al. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 1994 Mar.

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis can affect almost any joint. Shoulder involvement typically occurs late in the disease process and usually after other joints have manifested arthritic change. Any of the four shoulder articulations can be involved: scapulothoracic, acromioclavicular, sternoclavicular, and glenohumeral. In addition to bony involvement, many of the soft tissues of the shoulder joint can be affected. Early operative treatment includes synovectomy with or without bursectomy, which is indicated prior to radiographic evidence of arthritis. Early synovectomy provides for a slowing of the progression of the disease process. Patients who have incapacitating pain with loss of range of motion can benefit from total shoulder replacement. Most patients experience pain relief and some restoration of motion. The restoration of normal range of motion is dependent on anatomic reconstruction of the glenohumeral joint. Factors that can affect the range of motion include rotator cuff tears and the general health status and motivation of the patient. Although there is a 30% to 80% incidence of radiographic lucencies with nonconstrained prostheses, their presence does not indicate the need for revision surgery. Occasionally, there is medialization of the glenohumeral joint with central bony losses of the glenoid. The surgeon should try to bone graft the defect and lateralize the components. If there is massive medialization of the glenoid that is not reconstructable, then a hemiarthroplasty is the procedure of choice.

PubMed Disclaimer

LinkOut - more resources