What is Shoulder Replacement?
Shoulder replacement is a surgical procedure in which all or part of the glenohumeral joint is replaced by a prosthetic implant. Such joint replacement surgery generally is conducted to relieve arthritis pain or fix severe physical joint damage.
You may have questions regarding shoulder replacement surgery. These may include some of the following questions. When should someone consider shoulder replacement surgery? What types of surgical options are there? What kind of complications could arise from having the surgery? How long does recovery last and what is involved in recovery?
There are a variety of ailments that could cause someone to consider shoulder replacement surgery. Osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease is one. It is age-related and is caused by normal wear and tear of the shoulder. Rheumatoid arthritis is also a reason for people to consider this type of surgery. In this disease the synovial membrane becomes inflamed and thickens which can cause damage to the cartilage, pain and stiffness. Another cause is post-traumatic arthritis. This follows a serious shoulder injury. It causes pain and limits mobility. Rotator cuff tear atrophy is caused when a cuff tear is present for a long time. It may cause damage to the joint cartilage. A vascular necrosis is yet another cause for considering shoulder replacement surgery. It is caused when blood flow to the bone is disrupted causing destruction of the shoulder bone. Severe fractures are yet another cause. Finally, failed previous shoulder replacement surgery is a cause for considering shoulder replacement surgery.
The decision to have the surgery should be one made between a patient and his orthopedic surgeon. Generally if he suffers from sever shoulder pain, moderate to severe pain while resting, loss of motion or weakness in the shoulder or failure to improve with other treatments, shoulder replacement surgery may be the natural option.
There are several different options for shoulder replacement surgery. Total shoulder replacement is one of them. It involves replacing the arthritic joint with a metal ball attached to a stem and a plastic socket. Stemmed hemiarthroplasty is a procedure in which the surgeon only replaces the ball. In this procedure, the head of the humerus is replaced with a metal ball and a stem similar to the component used in a total shoulder replacement. Resurfacing hemiarthroplasty involves replacing just the joint surface of the humeral head with a prosthesis. The prosthesis is cap-like without a stem. Reverse total shoulder replacement is yet another type of shoulder replacement. In this surgery the socket and metal ball are switched. The metal ball is attached to the shoulder bone and a plastic socket is attached to the upper arm bone.
Infection is one possible complication that can occur after the surgery. It may occur in the wound or around the prosthesis. It can happen soon after the surgery or years later. Minor infections are treated and usually heal quickly. Infections around the prosthesis may require more surgery and possibly removing the prosthesis.
Recovery involves pain management, rehabilitation, wound care and activity. After surgery there will be some pain. The surgeon will provide medication to make the patient feel as comfortable as possible. Rehabilitation involves physical therapy. This will help the patient regain mobility. Wound care involves being careful not to soak the wound in water until it has sealed and dried. It also includes bandaging the wound. A patient should get activity at home to regain strength in the arm.
Shoulder replacement surgery is common place in today’s society. There are several reasons to consider shoulder replacement surgery. The decision to have it should be made between a patient and his orthopedic surgeon. There are several different types of shoulder replacement surgery. Infection is the most common complication from shoulder replacement surgery. Recovery varies from person to person and involves a variety of doctor directives that a patient must adhere to in order to heal properly.
You may have questions regarding shoulder replacement surgery. These may include some of the following questions. When should someone consider shoulder replacement surgery? What types of surgical options are there? What kind of complications could arise from having the surgery? How long does recovery last and what is involved in recovery?
There are a variety of ailments that could cause someone to consider shoulder replacement surgery. Osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease is one. It is age-related and is caused by normal wear and tear of the shoulder. Rheumatoid arthritis is also a reason for people to consider this type of surgery. In this disease the synovial membrane becomes inflamed and thickens which can cause damage to the cartilage, pain and stiffness. Another cause is post-traumatic arthritis. This follows a serious shoulder injury. It causes pain and limits mobility. Rotator cuff tear atrophy is caused when a cuff tear is present for a long time. It may cause damage to the joint cartilage. A vascular necrosis is yet another cause for considering shoulder replacement surgery. It is caused when blood flow to the bone is disrupted causing destruction of the shoulder bone. Severe fractures are yet another cause. Finally, failed previous shoulder replacement surgery is a cause for considering shoulder replacement surgery.
The decision to have the surgery should be one made between a patient and his orthopedic surgeon. Generally if he suffers from sever shoulder pain, moderate to severe pain while resting, loss of motion or weakness in the shoulder or failure to improve with other treatments, shoulder replacement surgery may be the natural option.
There are several different options for shoulder replacement surgery. Total shoulder replacement is one of them. It involves replacing the arthritic joint with a metal ball attached to a stem and a plastic socket. Stemmed hemiarthroplasty is a procedure in which the surgeon only replaces the ball. In this procedure, the head of the humerus is replaced with a metal ball and a stem similar to the component used in a total shoulder replacement. Resurfacing hemiarthroplasty involves replacing just the joint surface of the humeral head with a prosthesis. The prosthesis is cap-like without a stem. Reverse total shoulder replacement is yet another type of shoulder replacement. In this surgery the socket and metal ball are switched. The metal ball is attached to the shoulder bone and a plastic socket is attached to the upper arm bone.
Infection is one possible complication that can occur after the surgery. It may occur in the wound or around the prosthesis. It can happen soon after the surgery or years later. Minor infections are treated and usually heal quickly. Infections around the prosthesis may require more surgery and possibly removing the prosthesis.
Recovery involves pain management, rehabilitation, wound care and activity. After surgery there will be some pain. The surgeon will provide medication to make the patient feel as comfortable as possible. Rehabilitation involves physical therapy. This will help the patient regain mobility. Wound care involves being careful not to soak the wound in water until it has sealed and dried. It also includes bandaging the wound. A patient should get activity at home to regain strength in the arm.
Shoulder replacement surgery is common place in today’s society. There are several reasons to consider shoulder replacement surgery. The decision to have it should be made between a patient and his orthopedic surgeon. There are several different types of shoulder replacement surgery. Infection is the most common complication from shoulder replacement surgery. Recovery varies from person to person and involves a variety of doctor directives that a patient must adhere to in order to heal properly.