June 30, 2017

Although shoulder and joint replacement is less common than knee or hip replacement, it is still just as successful in relieving joint pain. If nonsurgical treatments like medications and activity changes are no longer helpful for relieving pain, you may want to consider shoulder joint replacement surgery. Joint replacement surgery is safe and effective procedure to relieve pain and help you resume everyday activities.

In shoulder replacement surgery, the damaged parts of the shoulder are removed and replaces with artificial components, called prosthesis. The treatment options are either replacement of just the head of the humerus bone (ball), or replacement of both the hall and the socket (glenoid).

Several conditions can cause shoulder pain and disability, and lead patients to consider joint replacement surgery. These conditions include:

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Post-traumatic Arthritis
• Rotator Cuff Arthropathy
• Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)
• Severe Fractures
• Failed Previous Shoulder Replacement Surgery

Shoulder replacement surgery is highly technical. It should be performed by a surgical team with experience in this procedure. The procedure to replace your shoulder joint with an artificial device usually takes about 2 hours. After surgery, you will be moved to the recovery room, where you will remain for several hours while your recovery from anesthesia is monitored.

Your medical team will give you several doses of antibiotics to prevent infection. Most patients are able to eat solid food and get out of bed the day after surgery. After surgery, you will feel some pain. This is a natural part of the healing process. Your doctor and nurses will work to reduce your pain, which can help you recover from surgery faster.

Most shoulder surgery patients can resume their normal activities within a few months. Your surgeon will discuss this specifically with you. The success of your surgery will depend largely on how well you follow your surgeon’s instructions at home during the first few weeks after surgery.

Visit you doctor to find out if this surgery would be right for you.