Arthodesis of the Shoulder Wheeless

Description: Indications:
- shoulder paralysis:
- may include paralytic dislocation or combined rotator cuff / deltoid paralysis (in which case shoulder arthroplasty would be contra-indicated);
- as a requirement for shoulder fusion, the muscles of forearm and hand need to be functional as do the serratus anterior and trapezius;
- the later muscles need to be strong inorder to control scapulothoracic motion after the fusion;
- degenerative or rheumatoid arthritis;
Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics