**5. Patients and controls**

Patients receiving three different types of shoulder arthroplasties in 2007 were examined from 2007 to 2010:


### **6. Statistics**

The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Version 16.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Group mean values (MV) and standard deviations (SD) were calculated. P values <0.05 were considered significant. The distribution of the data was checked with the

was defined as the mean value of all single measurements (six joint positions) to have one

Patients receiving three different types of shoulder arthroplasties in 2007 were examined

i. Ten consecutive patients underwent third-generation total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) (Aequalis Shoulder; Tournier, Lyon, France) for degenerative osteoarthritis of the humeral head and glenoid with a mean age of 75 years (standard deviation [SD] 4.7 years). There were seven women and three men (mean height 167.0 cm [SD 11.0]; mean weight 81.0 kg [SD 15.9]), with four right shoulders and six left shoulders. In all cases the deltopectoral approach was used with detachment of the subscapularis tendon and release of all three glenohumeral ligaments. At the end of the surgery the subscapularis was reattached to the humeral bone. Primary osteoarthritis was found in eight cases and secondary posttraumatic osteoarthritis in two cases. The dominant side was

ii. Eleven consecutive patients underwent hemiarthroplasty (HEMI) for degenerative changes limited to the humeral head and a stable/ minimally deformed glenoid of type A1 or A2 according to Walch [29]. There were nine women and two men, with five right shoulders and six left shoulders, four on the dominant sides and seven non-dominant sides. In all cases the deltopectoral approach was used as described above. Osteoarthritis was primary in nine cases and post-traumatic in two cases. The mean age was 64 years (SD 13.8), mean height was 167.0 cm (SD 8.1), and the mean weight was

iii. In five patients a reversed prosthesis was implanted for cuff tear arthropathy (REVERSE). All were women, their mean age was 73 years (SD 4.6), mean height was 160 cm (SD 7.3), and mean weight was 73.6 kg (SD 7.4). In all cases the dominant right shoulder was treated. For all patients the anterior lateral approach was used with partial detachment of the anteriorlateral deltoid muscle and refixation in the end of the surgery. The subscapularis tendon and the glenohumeral ligaments at the glenoid were released.Consecutive patients were enrolled in the study which resulted in uneven numbers in the different groups of arthroplasties implanted. The main focus and outcome measure were not on comparing the groups (especially no comparison with the REVERSE group), but to monitor proprioception over time within the groups. iv. A matched control group consisted of five women and five men. Matched controls (n=10; NORM) had a mean age of 64.5 years (SD 7.3). The mean height was 170.3 cm (SD 9.3), and the mean weight was 78.2 kg (SD 11.6). All controls were right-hand dominant, healthy, and had normal shoulders according to medical history, physical examination and radiographs. In this group the test persons were also examined twice,

The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Version 16.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Group mean values (MV) and standard deviations (SD) were calculated. P values <0.05 were considered significant. The distribution of the data was checked with the

quality to compare proprioceptive ability.

**5. Patients and controls** 

involved in eight cases.

79.0 kg (SD 18.8).

over the period of three years.

**6. Statistics** 

from 2007 to 2010:

Shapiro-Wilk test, and the homogeneity of variance was assessed using the Levene test. The angle between the long axis of the humerus and the trunk position was determined. Differences in shoulder joint angles between target and reproducted position were compared between the pre- and postoperative examination with a Wilcoxon-test for the groups TSA, HEMI, and REVERSE. Afterwards as a second outcome measure differences among these groups and the controls were examined by a Mann-Whitney *U* test.
