The Infected Shoulder Arthroplasty

The management of the infected shoulder arthroplasty represents a very challenging problem for the orthopedic surgeon. A careful history, examination, and appropriate radiographic and laboratory studies will help the physician to classify the infection. There is a wide spectrum of treatment options available to treat patients with an infected shoulder prosthesis, ranging from suppression, debridement, arthrodesis, and reimplantation. Understanding the indications for a specific procedure as well as the expected outcome will help guide decision making.

Keywords: infection, shoulder, arthroplasty