Of seventy-seven total shoulder-replacement arthroplasties with a Neer
prosthesis, I evaluated seventy-three replacements in sixty-five patients
at two to six and one-half years after the operation. The operations were
performed for the treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and
old fractures or fracture-dislocations with traumatic arthritis.
Postoperatively there was little or no pain even with vigorous activities
in most shoulders, and active abduction improved by an average of 44
degrees, to an average of 120 degrees. The amount of abduction that was
regained was related to the original diagnosis and to the amount of rotator
cuff disease. Complications developed in thirteen shoulders, and five
reoperations were necessary. Eight glenoid components showed radiographic
evidence of loosening. Fifty-two of the remaining sixty-five shoulders had
some radiolucency at the glenoid bone-cement junction.