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If conservative non-surgical shoulder treatments have not eliminated your shoulder pain or failed to improve your limited mobility issues, your doctor may recommend shoulder replacement surgery, also known as shoulder arthroplasty.
In this procedure, the damaged bone and cartilage in the shoulder joint are removed and replaced with highly biocompatible metal and plastic components, known as a shoulder prosthesis, to form an artificial shoulder joint.
There are two configurations of shoulder replacement surgeries: anatomic and reverse.
Anatomic shoulder replacement is typically used for arthritic shoulders which have a functioning rotator cuff.
In this procedure the humeral head is replaced by a metal ball and metal stem implant combination match their own anatomy and size.
The arthritic glenoid cavity is also replaced with a plastic implant and is fixed in place with bone cement.
A reverse shoulder replacement is commonly performed in patients who have arthritis as well as a torn or non-functioning rotator cuff.
It is called a reverse because the ball portion of the shoulder is placed where the socket (glenoid cavity) once was, and the socket implant is placed where the humeral head once was.
Medical preparation
Before undergoing your shoulder replacement surgery, your doctor will provide you with a list of preoperative appointments. You will also undergo a complete physical examination to assess your general condition and ensure that there are no factors that could interfere with your shoulder replacement surgery.
Home preparation
Planning for your return home after shoulder replacement surgery is crucial for your recovery. It can be beneficial to have someone stay with you at home following Shoulder Replacement surgery. For a few weeks after shoulder replacement surgery, you will need assistance with daily tasks such as getting dressed, taking a bath, and cooking. If no one is available, your medical team can evaluate alternative options.
The shoulder replacement surgery will take about 1.5 hours. It will be preceded by the pre-surgical preparation and followed by monitoring in the recovery room.
You will spend more time in the pre-operative area and recovery than you will in the operating room, due to the time needed for your preparation for surgery, administration of anesthesia, and monitoring as you recover from the anesthetic.
Special care is taken to relieve pain after the shoulder replacement surgery. Do not hesitate to call for help, even in the middle of the night. Regular checks will be made by the nurses.
Surgery can carry potential complications, both during and after the procedure. these may include infection, blood clotting, pneumonia, implant loosening, nerve damage, bone fractures, and implant breakage. any of these issues might necessitate further surgical intervention. although joint replacement can often reduce pain and improve mobility, some individuals might still experience pain and discomfort. your doctor might permanently limit certain activities to safeguard your new knee implant(s).
Talk to your doctor about your condition and whether the presented procedure is appropriate for you, considering these or other potential risks.
The information contained here is intended for reference only and does not represent or constitute medical advice or a recommendation. Each patient must be examined and advised individually by a physician, and this information does not replace the need for such examination and/or advice in whole or in part. Results are not necessarily typical, indicative, or representative of all patients. Results may vary due to health status, weight, activity, and other variables. Not all patients are candidates for this product and/or procedure. The appropriate postoperative activities and pain management will differ from patient to patient. Talk to your doctor about your condition and about whether the presented procedure is appropriate for you, considering the risks associated. All content is protected by copyright, trademarks and/or other intellectual property rights of Medacta and cannot be used without the written consent of Medacta. In good faith, Medacta asserts that this material does not infringe or misappropriate any intellectual property rights of any third party.
References
2- Shoulder Joint Replacement. AAOS, 2021. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/treatment/shoulder-joint-replacement accessed on 01/06/2023
