Outcomes After Shoulder Replacement Surgery in the Young Patient: How Do They Do and How Long Can We Expect Them to Last?

Glenohumeral arthritis in the young, active patient remains a challenging problem shoulder surgeons face. Anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty has been proven to be a successful operation for patients with end-stage shoulder arthritis; however, concerns over long-term implant survival remain. These concerns are amplified in young patients and largely revolve around the placement of a glenoid component, which is seen as the "weak link" in shoulder arthroplasty. Here we discuss the reported outcomes and survivorship of the different shoulder arthroplasty options in young patients.