What is Shoulder Replacement?
Shoulder replacement is a surgical procedure where the damaged parts of your shoulder are removed and replaced with artificial parts known as prostheses.
The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint made up of three bones; the humerus (upper arm bone), scapula (shoulder blade), and clavicle (collarbone). The ball at the top of the upper arm bone fits neatly into a socket, called the glenoid, which is part of the shoulder blade. The surfaces of the bones where they touch are surrounded with articular cartilage, a smooth substance that protects the bones and allows them to move smoothly against each other. If your cartilage is damaged by wear and tear, injury, or arthritis, it can make your shoulder joint stiff and painful necessitating shoulder replacement.
What are the Types of Shoulder Replacement?
Shoulder replacement surgery restores the ball and sometimes the socket with an artificial part or prosthesis. There are different types of shoulder replacement, including:
- Total Shoulder Replacement (Traditional Shoulder Arthroplasty): This procedure involves replacing both the damaged ball-and-socket surfaces of the shoulder with similarly shaped prosthetics.
- Partial Shoulder Replacement (Stemmed Hemiarthroplasty): This procedure involves partially replacing the damaged shoulder’s parts where only the humeral head is detached and replaced with a prosthetic ball instead of replacing both the socket and ball with prosthetics.
- Reverse Shoulder Replacement (Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty): This procedure involves reversing the position of the shoulder joint’s ball and socket. The ball at the top of the upper arm bone is replaced with a socket-shaped prosthetic, while the shoulder’s natural socket is fitted with a prosthetic ball.
- Shoulder Resurfacing (Resurfacing Hemiarthroplasty): This surgery involves fitting the damaged humeral head with a rounded smooth cap to enable better joint movement.
What are the Indications for Shoulder Replacement?
Some of the indications that prompt shoulder replacement surgery include:
- Torn rotator cuff
- Serious shoulder injury or fractures
- Persistent pain that interferes with everyday activities
- Moderate to severe pain while resting
- Loss of motion and/or weakness
- Avascular necrosis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Failed previous replacement surgery
- Posttraumatic arthritis
- Failure to considerably improve with conservative treatments, such as physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, or cortisone injections
Am I a Candidate for Shoulder Replacement Surgery?
Whether or not you are a suitable candidate for shoulder replacement surgery would depend upon the evaluation and assessment of the indications, symptoms, and medical history; your response to conservative treatment; and your answer to the shoulder replacement questionnaire mentioned below:
1. In general, your pain can be described as: * Please Answer for this Question
2. Does your shoulder pain affect your sleep? * Please Answer for this Question
3. Are you able to perform your basic household functions? * Please Answer for this Question
4. Do you feel your shoulder is unstable or may give way?* Please Answer for this Question
5. While working, how long does it take before you experience severe shoulder pain? * Please Answer for this Question
6. Could you brush or comb with the affected shoulder? * Please Answer for this Question
7. After sleeping for a long time, describe the pain you experience on trying to get up post waking up? * Please Answer for this Question
8. Have you been able to wash and dry yourself under both arms? * Please Answer for this Question
9. While driving, entering and exiting a car or using other forms of transport, your shoulder pain is described as: * Please Answer for this Question
10. Could you hang your clothes up in a wardrobe? * Please Answer for this Question
11. Could you carry a tray containing a plate of food across a room? * Please Answer for this Question
12. How much has pain in your shoulder interfered with your work, hobbies, or recreational activities? * Please Answer for this Question
13. Could you do the household shopping on your own? * Please Answer for this Question
14. Have you had any trouble dressing because of your shoulder? * Please Answer for this Question