Results 25 years after hemiarthroplasty for chondrolysis of the shoulder: A report of two cases.

Two patients (aged 34 and 52 years) underwent an open repair of concealed rotator cuff tear with the aid of colour arthrography using gentian violet. Postoperatively, they developed chondrolysis of the shoulder, which was treated with hemiarthroplasty. Twenty-five years after hemiarthroplasty, both patients showed good shoulder function without significant glenoid erosion on radiographs. Satisfactory long-term results are most probably due to maintenance of humeral head centring and glenohumeral conformity. These are the longest follow-up cases of arthroplasty for chondrolysis of the shoulder in the literature. We conclude that hemiarthroplasty can be a reasonable option for patients with this unfortunate disorder.