Stemless shoulder prostheses are favored when there is good metaphyseal fixation because of what benefit?

• A. Preservation of bone stock
• B. Increased bone loss
• C. Need for cemented fixation
• D. Higher risk of loosening

Answer: (A)

Stemless shoulder implants rely on stable fixation in the metaphysis rather than the diaphysis. When the metaphyseal bone is of good quality, you can achieve secure anchorage without occupying the humeral canal with a long stem. This preserves proximal humeral bone stock, which is valuable because it leaves more native bone for potential future revisions and reduces the amount of bone removed during implantation. In short, preserving bone stock is the main benefit of good metaphyseal fixation with stemless designs. The other options describe outcomes that would not be advantageous or intrinsic to this approach.