Shoulder arthroplasty (SA) has improved significantly over the last twenty years. It offers the effective treatment for patients with severe shoulder dysfunctions. The indicationsfor this procedure have recently expanded tremendously. However, the most common are glenohumeral osteoarthritis, inflammatory shoulder arthropathies, rotator cuff-tear arthropathy, complex fractures of the proximal humerus and osteonecrosis of a humeral head. There is range of the procedures, such as resurfacing of humeral head, anatomictotal shoulder arthroplasty, hemiarthroplasty and reverse shoulder arthroplasty. All of them could significantly improve patients quality of life. The outcomes of the shoulder arthroplasty are very satisfying in terms of pain relief and considerable improvements in shoulder function as well as in motion. However, this procedure is not so popular as knee or hip arthroplasties. The reasons for this phenomenon are not clear. The complication rate is considerably low. The most common are periprosthetic fractures, infections, implant loosening and instability. The reasonable solution is a conversion to reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. The survivorship of the prosthesis is up to 12 years, which is acceptable by patients. Long term result are still not clear. Surgeons performing SA opt for deltopectoral approach which provides good exposure of the joint also for revisions. The aim: To summarize knowledge about SA based on current literature.
Keywords: complications-; results-; reverse arthroplasty-; rotator cuff-tear-; shoulder arthroplasty-.