Arthritis and Synovitis of the Shoulder

Abstract

By 2030, an estimated 67 million Americans ages 18 years or older are projected to have doctor-diagnosed arthritis. Osteoarthritis (OA) affects many joints throughout the body. Although not as common as other locations such as the hip and knee, shoulder OA can be equally troubling for patients. The loss of shoulder function and therefore associated limitations of upper extremity motion can lead to depression, anxiety, activity limitations, and job performance problems. Shoulder OA and the specific causes can be grouped into primary and secondary categories. Primary or idiopathic OA has no specific identifiable cause. Secondary OA results from an identifiable cause or predisposing factor, which include but are not limited to, shoulder trauma, dislocations, or chronic rotator cuff tear. Epidemiologic data has demonstrated that glenohumeral arthrosis typically manifests after the sixth decade of life and women are more likely to have primary glenohumeral OA than men. Younger patients, however, are also occasionally afflicted, and these patients represent a unique management challenge as many of these patients wish to maintain demanding lifestyles.