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Advancing
shoulder hemiarthroplasty
Glenoid erosion
30x less damage
To cartilage and bone, determined by linearized bone penetration rate, bone volume loss rate and surface roughness with Pyrocarbon hemiarthroplasty compared to cobalt chrome hemiarthroplasty shown with bench top in-vitro wear testing.1
Functional outcomes
88% overall satisfaction
Reported from patients who stated improvements in pain, range of motion, and shoulder function in comparison to pre-operative status.*,2
Revision rates
94% revision-free
Rate at 5 years and 89% at 10 years shown for Pyrocarbon hemiarthroplasty.*,2
Return to activity
92% of patients
Returned to work post-operatively, and 93% resumed sports (65% at the same level of sport, while 35% at a lower level).*,2
*Based on the Boileau et al. study which followed 96 patients (103 shoulders) for a mean of 5.6 years at a single center, with 7 revisions and 89% revision‑free survival at 10 years.2
Innovation to a T.
Total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) is a widely accepted procedure intended to provide increased mobility and stability, and to relieve pain. Shoulder hemiarthroplasty, an alternative to TSA, addresses concerns regarding glenoid component loosening.
Shoulder hemiarthroplasty with metallic humeral heads also presents its own set of limitations, including high revision rates, diminished patient reported outcomes, and potential wear to the cartilage and bone.3,4
Pyrocarbon is an advanced bearing material that has surface properties more similar to bone than traditional orthopaedic metallic bearing surfaces.5,6,7
Pyrocarbon is supported by in-vitro data to show biocompatibility and the potential for less glenoid erosion than cobalt chrome hemiarthroplasty.8
Pyrocarbon exhibited good clinical function and minimal radiographic glenoid erosion at the mid-term mark.9
Stryker’s Tornier Pyrocarbon Humeral Head is the first and only (as of April 2026) FDA-cleared pyrocarbon-bearing material for shoulder hemiarthroplasty and is cleared for use in anatomic shoulder hemiarthroplasty with the Tornier Flex Shoulder system. It adds another option for patients with severe shoulder arthritis, addressing challenges like socket component loosening, which is sometimes seen with total anatomic arthroplasty devices.10
Complete the Tornier Pyrocarbon Humeral Head surgeon training acknowledgement form
FAQs
Pyrocarbon is an advanced bearing material that has surface properties more similar to bone than traditional orthopaedic metallic bearing surfaces.
Tornier Flex Shoulder System
See the Tornier Pyrocarbon Humeral Head Operative technique for a comprehensive list of available sizes.
Resources
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Ready to explore Pyrocarbon for your patients?
Elevate your shoulder arthroplasty outcomes with the Tornier Pyrocarbon Humeral Head. Contact our team for surgical guides, case studies, product demos, or personalized consultations.
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- Klawitter, J. J., Patton, J., More, R., Peter, N., Podnos, E., & Ross, M. (2018). In vitro comparison of wear characteristics of PyroCarbon and metal on bone: Shoulder hemiarthroplasty. Shoulder & Elbow, 0(0), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1177/1758573218796837
- Boileau, P., Cointat, C., Raynier, J.-L., Schippers, P., & Ranieri, R. (2025). Pyrocarbon hemiarthroplasty for the treatment of shoulder osteoarthritis in young, active patients: Survival and risk factors for revision. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2025.06.021
- Getz, Charles L. MD; Kearns, Kenneth A. MD; Padegimas, Eric M. MD; Johnston, Peter S. MD; Lazarus, Mark D. MD; Williams, Gerald R. Jr MD. Survivorship of Hemiarthroplasty With Concentric Glenoid Reaming for Glenohumeral Arthritis in Young, Active Patients With a Biconcave Glenoid. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 25(10):p 715-723, October 2017. I DOI: 10.5435/JAAOS-D-16-00019
- Saltzman MD, Chamberlain AM, Mercer DM, Warme WJ, Bertelsen AL, Matsen FA III. Shoulder hemiarthroplasty with concentric glenoid reaming in patients 55 years old or less. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2011;20(4):609–615. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2010.08.027
- Levine WN, Fischer CR, Nguyen D, Flatow EL, Ahmad CS, Bigliani LU. Long-term follow-up of shoulder hemiarthroplasty for glenohumeral osteoarthritis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2012 Nov 21;94(22):e164.
- Matsen FA 3rd, Carofino BC, Green A, Hasan SS, Hsu JE, Lazarus MD, McElvany MD, Moskal MJ, Parsons IM 4th, Saltzman MD, Warme WJ. Shoulder Hemiarthroplasty with Nonprosthetic Glenoid Arthroplasty: The Ream-and-Run Procedure. JBJS Rev. 2021 Aug 25;9(8).
- Matsen FA 3rd, Whitson A, Jackins SE, Neradilek MB, Warme WJ, Hsu JE. Ream and run and total shoulder: patient and shoulder characteristics in five hundred forty-four concurrent cases. Int Orthop. 2019 Sep;43(9):2105-15.
- Cook SD, Beckenbaugh R, Weinstein AM, Klawitter JJ. Pyrolite carbon implants in the metacarpophalangeal joint of baboons. Orthopedics. 1983 Aug 1;6(8):952-61. doi: 10.3928/0147-7447-19830801-03. PMID: 24823211.
- Kleim BD, Zolotar A, Hinz M, Nadjar R, Siebenlist S, Brunner UH. Pyrocarbon hemiprostheses show little glenoid erosion and good clinical function at 5.5 years of follow-up. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2024;33(1):55-64. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2023.05.027
- McBride AP, Ross M, Hoy G, et al. Mid-term outcomes of pyrolytic carbon humeral resurfacing hemiarthroplasty compared with metal humeral resurfacing and metal stemmed hemiarthroplasty for osteoarthritis in young patients: analysis from the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2022;31(4):755-762.– doi:10.1016/j.jse.2021.08.017
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