Purpose Patients with inflammatory arthritis frequently develop destructive shoulder arthritis and rotator cuff tearing. Reconstruction with anatomical shoulder replacement produces lesser results than for other etiologies such as osteoarthritis. We postulated that reconstruction with reverse shoulder prostheses would lead to early satisfactory results for these patients. Methods We carried out a retrospective review of 19 shoulders treated with reverse shoulder prostheses at a mean follow-up of 37 months. We rated patients' pain using a visual analog pain scale (VAPS) and noted active range of motion in forward elevation, abduction, and external rotation. American Shoulder and Elbow Society and Simple Shoulder Test SST scores were available for 12 patients preoperatively and 16 postoperatively. We graded final results using the modified Neer scale. Results Preoperatively, the mean VAPS was 6.5, with average flexion of 68, abduction 66, and external rotation 23°. The American Shoulder and Elbow Society score averaged 27 and the SST 1. Postoperatively, the VAPS was 1 and flexion was 138°, abduction 134°, and external rotation 52°. The mean ASES score increased to 76 and the SST to 8. There were 12 excellent, 5 satisfactory, and 2 unsatisfactory results. Complications included 2 scapular spine fractures, 1 acromial fracture, 1 dislocation, and 1 ulnar neuropathy. We found scapular notching in 42% of the shoulders. Six shoulders had grade 1 notching, and 2 shoulders grade 2 notching. There was no evidence of glenoid loosening, but we saw complete bone–cement radiolucency around 2 cemented stems. Conclusions At early follow-up, reverse shoulder arthroplasty for the shoulder damaged by inflammatory arthritis and with a deficient rotator cuff can provide noteworthy improvement for most patients. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic IV.