What is shoulder replacement?
Shoulder replacement is a surgical procedure that replaces your diseased or damaged shoulder joint with prosthetic parts. Though not as common as knee replacement surgery, shoulder replacement helps many people get relief from their chronic shoulder pain.
ROC Orthopedics strives to provide the highest quality of orthopedic care to help patients get relief from their pain and restore joint function. The orthopedic surgeons perform many surgical procedures, including shoulder replacement.
Am I a candidate for shoulder replacement?
Your orthopedic surgeon at ROC Orthopedics determines if you’re a candidate for shoulder replacement after a consultation. Many conditions cause chronic shoulder pain and disability that may benefit from a shoulder replacement.
You should consider scheduling a consultation if you suffer from:
- Shoulder arthritis
- Rotator cuff tear arthropathy (arthritis and joint changes from a rotator cuff tear)
- Avascular necrosis
- Severe shoulder fracture
- Previous shoulder replacement failure
Though shoulder replacement surgery benefits these conditions, the surgeons may only recommend the procedure when non-surgical treatments no longer provide significant relief from your pain.
What are the types of shoulder replacement surgeries?
Shoulder replacement surgery is a complex procedure, and there are different types of replacement options. The types of shoulder replacement include:
Total shoulder replacement
During a total shoulder replacement, your orthopedic surgeon replaces your arthritic ball joint with a metal ball attached to a stem and the socket joint with a plastic socket joint.
Stemmed hemiarthroplasty
Your orthopedic surgeon only replaces the ball joint with the stemmed metal ball prosthetic during a stemmed hemiarthroplasty. Your surgeon may perform this procedure if your joint damage affects only the humerus joint in your shoulder.
Resurfacing hemiarthroplasty
During a resurfacing hemiarthroplasty, your surgeon only replaces the joint surface of your humerus ball joint with a prosthetic cap.
The surgeons may recommend this bone-preserving shoulder replacement procedure for young or active patients needing shoulder replacement surgery.
Reverse total shoulder replacement
During a reverse total shoulder replacement, your surgeon places the prosthetic ball joint at the site of your socket joint and the prosthetic socket joint at the site of your ball joint.
Your surgeon may recommend a reverse total shoulder replacement if you have rotator cuff arthropathy, severe rotator cuff tears, or a history of failed shoulder replacement.
Shoulder replacement surgery may help you get back to your active lifestyle. Call ROC Orthopedics or book an appointment online today to discuss surgical options.
