Shoulder arthritis

Hemiarthroplasty involves replacing only the humeral head, leaving the native glenoid intact. It is typically indicated in younger patients with good glenoid cartilage, or in fracture cases where the glenoid is unaffected. It may also be used in cases of avascular necrosis or as a temporary solution. While it provides good pain relief, functional outcomes are generally inferior to total shoulder replacement, especially if glenoid arthritis progresses over time. Longevity depends on careful patient selection and rotator cuff integrity. Conversion to total or reverse arthroplasty may be needed in the future if symptoms recur.