Shoulder Joint Replacement Surgery for Shoulder Arthritis

ED LINDER
Read about my Osteoarthritis	Occupation: Promotional sales guru Residences: Greater Denver Colorado Injury: Osteoarthritis of the shoulders Surgery: Total Shoulder Replacement

The shoulder joint acts as a ball and socket joint allowing people the greatest range of motion in this area over any other part of the body. Shoulder arthritis occurs when the cartilage in the joint begins to wear away allowing the protective lining to disappear. On-going and sometimes constant pain, inflammation and swelling are the result of shoulder arthritis. Patients suffering from advanced shoulder arthritis and who have tried more conservative shoulder treatments such as medication, physical therapy and in some cases, arthroscopic surgery—without relief—may be candidates for anatomic shoulder replacement surgery.

Treatment

Surgical Treatment:

Anatomic Total Shoulder Replacement

Anatomic total shoulder replacement surgery is a joint replacement procedure most commonly performed on patients suffering from extreme arthritic conditions. Anatomic total shoulder replacement surgery replaces the damaged bone and cartilage with a plastic or metal implant. A metal ball is used to replace the humeral head, while a polyethylene cup becomes the replacement of the glenoid socket. Once in place, patients will feel alleviation from the intense and ongoing pain they were once used to.

The indication for a total shoulder replacement is pain which will not respond to non-operative treatment. Although arthritis is usually the primary condition that leads to a total shoulder replacement surgery, other abnormalities may also benefit from the procedure such as severe fractures and other degenerative disorders. The primary goal of total shoulder replacement surgery is to alleviate pain while improving motion, strength and function.

Reverse Shoulder Replacement

A relatively new technique is a reverse shoulder replacement which was designed for individuals who are not candidates for a total shoulder replacement because of two underlying conditions—a torn rotator cuff and shoulder arthritis (sometimes caused by the torn cuff). Similar to a total shoulder replacement, the reverse shoulder replacement also uses a metal or plastic ball and socket device, but the ball is placed on the shoulder blade, and the socket is placed on top of the arm bone. The name "reverse shoulder replacement" was given to this procedure because it is the reverse of the body's normal anatomy.

Joint Preservation and Cartilage Restoration Procedures for the Shoulder (CAM Procedure)

An alternative to arthroscopic surgery is joint preservation and cartilage restoration for joint replacement shoulder surgery. In cartilage restoration, the shoulder joint tissue is, in essence, regrown or transplanted from donated tissue. For some patients, arthroscopy only provides temporary relief because of other underlying factors and damage to the cartilage. In cartilage restoration of the shoulder, the injured tissue is replaced with healthy cartilage from either the patient's own body or a donor cadaver. Which biologically restores the joint. The procedure, while less common, has positive results for patients who are candidates.

After Surgery

Therapy may or may not begin immediately upon leaving the hospital after your shoulder replacement surgery. You will be instructed if you can do pendulum exercises on your own and you may see a therapist in the hospital for therapy. This depends on the type of surgery you have. You can use your arm from the elbow down but no active motion of the shoulder until ordered by us. We will review this with you on your first visit after surgery.

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