Shoulder Replacement
A shoulder replacement is a procedure that tries to eliminate the source of pain and dysfunction by replacing damaged parts of the shoulder joint with artificial components called prostheses. The most common reasons for a shoulder replacement surgery are osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tear arthropathy, avascular necrosis or rheumatoid arthritis. The procedure is meant to relieve your pain, improve your strength, increase your range of motion and enable you to use your shoulder and arm.
More than 70,000 people in the United States have this procedure done every year.
A metal ball is used to replace the humeral ball which is made out of a special type of stainless steel which is attached to a stem that is usually made out of titanium and keep the ball attached to your arm while a polyethylene cup replaces the glenoid socket.
How does your shoulder work?
Similar to the hip joint, your shoulder is a large ball and socket joint. It can rotate through a greater range of motion than any other joint in your body. The shoulder joint is made up of bones, tendons, muscles and ligaments which hold the shoulder in place and allows for its movement. Bones of the shoulder joint include the Clavicle (collar bone), Scapula (large flat triangular bone called shoulder blade) and Humerus (upper arm bone).
Your clavicle connects with the shoulder blade at the acromioclavicular joint, or A.C. joint. The clavicle attaches your shoulder to your rib cage and holds it out and away from your body. The rounded head of the humerus, or upper arm bone, rests against the socket in the shoulder blade. The surfaces of the bones where they touch are covered by a smooth substance called cartilage that protects your bones and enables them to glide and move easily. The muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder provide stability and support. A thin, smooth tissue called the synovial membrane covers all remaining surfaces inside the shoulder joint. In a healthy shoulder, this membrane makes a small amount of fluid that lubricates your cartilage and eliminates almost any friction in your shoulder.
Rotator cuff muscles are a group of four muscles that surround the shoulder joint and their tendons attach to the end of the arm bone. The function of the rotator cuff is to keep the ball and socket joint together and help with its movement. That is why when rotator cuff tendons tear, patients experience pain, instability and loss of function. Trauma from a fall in an elderly patient or injury from a contact sport may lead to rotator cuff tear. Depending of the size and location of the tear and patient’s age, duration of symptoms, overall health, range of motion and desired level of activity, rotator cuff tears can be treated with physical therapy or occasional cortisone injection and when these approached fail, you may need surgery.
How common are shoulder replacement surgeries?
More than 70,000 people in the United States have this procedure done every year.
What are the prostheses made of?
A metal ball is used to replace the humeral ball which is made out of a special type of stainless steel which is attached to a stem that is usually made out of titanium and keep the ball attached to your arm while a polyethylene cup replaces the glenoid socket.
Why is a shoulder replacement done?
Shoulder replacement surgery is an option given to patients who suffer from joint dysfunction. This is usually the result of osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tear arthropathy, avascular necrosis, or rheumatoid arthritis, or (rarely) for those who have sustained a severe fracture from a trauma or fall. Generally, all other modes of treatment are considered first, such as physical therapy and medications. You may be a candidate for shoulder replacement surgery if you have the following symptoms:
- Your shoulder pain is so severe that you struggle with everyday activities such as washing, getting dressed and reaching into a cabinet.
- You have loss of motion in your shoulder.
- You have weakness in your shoulder.
- You have pain that’s so bad that it prevents you from getting a good night’s sleep.
- You’ve tried anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections and physical therapy with no relief.
- You have prior arthroscopic surgery, rotator cuff or fracture repair that failed to relieve your symptoms.
