Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery
-
J Shoulder Elbow Surg · Jan 2005
ReviewProximal humeral anatomy in shoulder arthroplasty: Implications for prosthetic design and surgical technique.
Resurfacing arthroplasty of the glenohumeral joint has been established for several decades as a means to restore comfort and function of the shoulder for many afflictions that derange the normal anatomy. Rigorous study of shoulder anatomy in terms relevant to prosthetic geometry, however, did not begin until the 1990s. It has become apparent that normal anatomy is highly variable from individual to individual and that it is aligned somewhat differently than the early modular prosthetic devices. ⋯ Component design and surgical technique are inextricably intertwined. Most surgeons with experience using modern systems feel a greater sense of predictability in achieving their surgical goals when using these systems as compared with earlier ones. How these developments impact implant longevity will only be known with time and further follow-up.