Abstract
Aims: The complications and functional long time results after glenohumeral arthrodesis are described. Methods: 22 patients (9 men, 13 women) with a median age of 64 (19 – 75) years were operated with a glenohumoral arthrodesis between 1982 and 2000. The indications for surgery were fracture sequelae (11), severe osteoarthritis (4), deltoid dysfunction (3), failed revision arthroplasty (1), chronic posterior dislocation (1), tuberculosis (1) and gunshot wound (1). Standard AO surgical technique with stable plating was used. 6 patients are dead and 1 refused examination. The remaining 15 patients were examined retrospectively after a mean of 7.8 years. The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score and Oxford score were registered and radiographs taken. Results: 8 patients had intermittent or continuous pain with a mean pain score (VAS) of 1.5 (0–8). 1 patient was reoperated after 4 months due to excessive pain and one was operated due to a humeral shaft fracture after 8 months. The implants had been removed in 5 patients and 1 had a lateral clavicle resection after 3 years. No patients had infections, but 1 had reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Radiologically all but two arthrodesis fused, the remaining 2 were painfree. Mean Oxford score was 33 (20 – 49), mean ASES score was 59 (15 – 95). Conclusions: The functional results after glenohumeral arthrodesis are comparable with results reported after shoulder arthroplasty. The he arthrodesis has a wide range of indications and the long time complications related to shoulder prosthesis may be avoided.
Theses abstracts were prepared by Professor Dr. Frantz Langlais. Correspondence should be addressed to him at EFORT Central Office, Freihofstrasse 22, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland.
