Shoulder Replacement Surgery
Shoulder replacement surgery is used to treat severe arthritis and degenerative joint disease in the shoulder joint. Arthritis and degenerative joint disease can cause chronic pain and limit range of motion. Shoulder replacement is performed on patients who have an extensive amount of articular cartilage damage. During this surgical procedure damaged parts of the shoulder are replaced with prosthetic parts.
Types of Shoulder Replacement Surgery
Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery – A surgical procedure that replaces both worn out or diseased joint surfaces of the shoulder. The humeral head (ball) and the Glenoid (socket) joint are replaced with metal and plastic components. Also known as a Total Shoulder Arthroplasty.
Shoulder Hemiarthroplasty – partial shoulder replacement surgery. In this surgical procedure the humeral head is removed and replaced with a prosthetic ball. A shoulder hemiarthroplasty will reduce the pain of bone rubbing against bone. This surgery is used to provide relief to patients with avascular necrosis or severe fractures of the humeral head
Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery – This is a complex surgical procedure. In a reverse total shoulder replacement the ball and sockets parts of the shoulder joint switch sides. This type of surgery is used in situations where the rotator cuff is torn or malfunctioning and there is severe arthritis of the shoulder joint.
After Surgery
Patients who have a shoulder replacement procedure may spend 1 to 3 nights in a hospital after surgery. Physical therapy will initially involve help with the performance of daily activities. Strengthening and stretching exercises will be performed for the following 3 to 6 months.
Shoulder Replacement Alternatives
An orthopedic doctor will usually have a patient try a number of non-operative treatments to reduce pain and restore mobility. Most patients are able to effectively relieve pain after several weeks or months of treatment. Common non-operative treatments for a degenerative shoulder joint can include: Physical Therapy, Stretching, Injections, Heat and Cold Packs.
Orthopedic Shoulder Specialist
If you have pain or a lack of flexibility in your shoulder, it’s generally better to have your condition diagnosed and evaluated as early as possible to avoid further injury and in an effort to avoid or delay surgery. The Board Certified Shoulder Doctors at Brooklyn Orthopedics can guide you to the best treatment options based your current condition. If shoulder surgery is required to restore functionality and relieve pain, our doctors use the latest and most advanced surgical techniques available.