Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty for treatment of ochronotic arthropathy.

Ochronotic arthropathy is a chronic manifestation of disease in patients with alkaptonuria. Connective tissue and large joint spaces accumulate discolored homogentisic acid aggregates, resulting in joint degeneration of the axial and appendicular skeleton. One case of right shoulder ochronotic osteoarthritis treated with joint replacement is presented. To our knowledge, this is the first reported surgical intervention of ochronotic arthropathy using the reverse total shoulder arthroplasty technique.