Review of Pyrocarbon Shoulder Hemiarthroplasty: Advances in Shoulder Arthroplasty

Surgical treatment of patients with glenohumeral arthritis who are young and active remains a challenge. One of the options in patients with rotator cuff intact glenohumeral arthritis in high-activity demand patients or patients with proximal humerus avascular necrosis is shoulder hemiarthroplasty. Historically, metal has been the standard material used for these procedures. Pyrocarbon hemiarthroplasty heads are an alternate bearing surface compared to metal with favorable wear properties. Pyrocarbon has a high wear resistance, low friction and favorable modulus when compared to cortical bone. Early clinical results of pyrocarbon hemiarthroplasty have shown favorable clinical outcomes. This review will highlight the indications, biomechanical properties, early clinical outcomes, implants available, and future directions of pyrocarbon shoulder arthroplasty.