Shoulder Replacement

Shoulder Replacement Surgery is a less commonly performed surgery as compared to knee and hip replacement but it is equally successful in relieving pain caused in the shoulder joint. The shoulder joint is made up of three bones, i.e. collarbone (clavicle), upper arm bone (humerus), and the shoulder blade (scapula). It is a ball-and-socket joint in which the ball or the head of the upper arm bone fits into a shallow socket in the shoulder blade. The socket is known as a glenoid.

Some muscles and tendons provide necessary support and stability by surrounding the shoulder. The shoulder replacement surgery involves removing and replacing the damaged parts of the shoulder with artificial components known as prostheses. The primary focus in the surgery is to replace either the head of the humerus bone (ball) or the replacement of both the ball and the socket (glenoid).

When to consider Shoulder Replacement Surgery?

Several conditions result in pain and disability of the shoulder and therefore, patients have to consider the surgery. Some of the conditions are as follows:

Degenerative Joint Disease (Osteoarthritis)

People with age above 50 years are generally affected by diseases like arthritis which causes wear and tear of bones. The cartilage that acts as cushions to the shoulder softens and wears away. As a result, bones start rubbing against each other and after a few years, the shoulder joint is very painful and becomes stiff.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

The synovial membrane that surrounds the joint becomes inflamed and thickened leading to chronic inflammation. This results in the damaging of the cartilage and causes cartilage loss, pain, and stiffness. The disease is one of the common forms of inflammatory arthritis disorders.

Rotator Cuff Tear Arthropathy

The condition might develop in patients who are already suffering from rotator cuff tear. As a result, changes take place in the shoulder joint due to rotator cuff tear which can further destroy the joint cartilage and cause diseases like arthritis.

Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)

A painful condition, Avascular Necrosis occurs when there is the potential disruption to the blood supply to the bone. This also leads to arthritis and destruction of the shoulder joint as bone cells die without adequate blood supply. The various risk factors include steroid use, in the long run, severe fracture in the shoulder, excessive intake of alcohol and sickle cell disease, etc.

Candidate for Shoulder Replacement Surgery

Persons suffering from severe shoulder pain that interferes with routine activities such as toileting, washing, dressing up, etc. Those suffering from moderate to severe pain while sleeping can avoid the patient taking a good night’s sleep, loss of motion or weakness in the shoulder, etc.

Moreover, those who are not able to get relief from anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy are also eligible for shoulder replacement surgery.