Osteoarthritis of the shoulder is a common condition in the aging population, and it can have profound effects on patients' quality of life. The anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty is a well-described treatment modality resulting generally excellent outcomes. The objective of this review is to discuss the technical aspects of primary anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty, and to provide a framework to follow to achieve a successful surgical result. The topics covered include preoperative planning, surgical considerations, and approaches, humeral preparation, glenoid bone loss and the emerging concept of using the reverse total shoulder arthroplasty for the type B2 glenoid.
Keywords: Glenohumeral arthritis; Glenoid bone loss; Lesser tuberosity osteotomy; Midsubstance tenotomy; Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty; Subscapularis peel; Subscapularis-preserving; Total shoulder arthroplasty; Type B2 glenoid.