Bipolar shoulder arthroplasty in patients with osteoarthritis: Short-term clinical results and evaluation of birotational head motion

To determine the clinical outcome and evaluate the biomechanical properties (persisting birotational head motion) of the bipolar shoulder system in patients with primary osteoarthritis, a prospective study of 48 shoulders in 43 patients was undertaken. Patients were monitored for a mean of 3.1 years (range 2 to 6 years). Pain relief was achieved in 92% of cases. Forty-one (96%) patients were satisfield with the result of the surgery, and satisfactory results were obtained in 92% of shoulders (with The University of California at Los Angeles rating system). Prosthetic birotational motion (head-shell and shell-glenoid motion) persisted in all shoulders. Bipolar shoulder arthroplasty is a low-friction device with persisting birotational head motion that offers excellent pain relief, eliminates glenoid component loosening concerns, and represents an adequate alternative to shoulder arthroplasty. Early results have been promising.