Anterior humeral window for revision shoulder arthroplasty

The revision of a failed total shoulder arthroplasty remains a complex problem. Removal of the humeral component is often necessary, and when well-fixed, can be a daunting task for even the most experienced shoulder surgeon. The creation of cortical windows was initially described in revision total hip arthroplasty to facilitate the removal of cement and the prosthesis. However, little has been written about the use of humeral windows with regard to revision shoulder arthroplasty. The purpose of this article is to describe a surgical technique that uses anterior humeral windows to facilitate the controlled removal of a well-fixed humeral prosthesis.