In a two-year follow-up on sixteen total shoulder arthroplasties done
with the semiconstrained Stanmore prosthesis, we found that patients with
rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis of the glenohumeral joint noted a
greater relief of pain, were more satisfied with their surgery, used fewer
analgesics, and had a greater increase in range of motion than patients
with traumatic arthritis. Patients with irreparable rotator-cuff injury
demonstrated the poorest range of motion postoperatively. Younger patients
gained significantly more motion than older patients. All patients
continued to have difficulty with lifting heavy loads. Complications
consisted of one patient with a chronically dislocating prosthesis, one
patient with a deep wound infection, and one with a postoperative wound
dehiscence. The average follow-up was 31.4 months, ranging from twenty-four
to fifty-three months.