You’ve withstood the aching or the clicking or the pinching for as long as possible. Every time you lift your arm or shrug, you’re suffering. It’s time for a shoulder replacement. But what exactly does this look like and what can you expect?
When it comes to getting a shoulder replacement, there are a few options that your orthopaedic surgeon will consider based on several factors. Dr. Dewey Jones, IV, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in hips, knees, and shoulders at Southlake Orthopaedics, explains that the main shoulder replacement surgeries are total shoulder and reverse total shoulder replacements.
Total Shoulder Replacement
Total shoulder replacement, also known as total shoulder arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure that involves replacing damaged portions of the shoulder joint with artificial implants. This procedure is recommended for people suffering from a variety of conditions, such as degenerative joint disease like osteoarthritis or severe fractures of the upper arm bone. The surgery helps to restore the function and mobility of the shoulder joint, while also reducing pain. Dr. Jones usually performs these in younger people who additionally have a good set of muscles around their rotator cuff to ensure a successful surgery.
Reverse Total Replacement
In the last 20 years worldwide, and in the last ten years in the United States, a newer, innovative shoulder surgery has entered the surgical scene known as reverse total replacement surgery, which has become another great option for individuals seeking a shoulder replacement. This procedure involves the reversal of the anatomy of the ball and socket joint using artificial implants. According to Dr. Jones, this alters the placement of the ball on the shoulder blade and the cup on the top of the humerus bone, which allows surgeons to offer a shoulder replacement for patients who have had previous surgeries on their shoulder that didn’t work out for them, such as those who didn’t heal from their initial shoulder surgery or who have retorn their shoulder. “Reversing of the shoulder parts allows us to use a different group of muscles to power the new shoulder, and it works very well, offers great pain relief, and provides great use of function. In some regards, it is easier to recover from a reverse shoulder replacement than it would be from a more traditional anatomic replacement,” says Dr. Jones.
A reverse shoulder replacement is better suited to older patients with lower demands on their shoulders. Dr. Jones also employs this type of replacement for individuals who have fractured or broken their shoulder- this solution improves their outcomes for healing faster and long-term results.
Other Options for Shoulder Injury Relief
There are some additional procedures that patients can elect to have beyond a total or reverse total replacement surgery: stemmed hemiarthroplasty and resurfacing hemiarthroplasty surgeries. “For certain patients of a younger age that have a higher demand of their shoulders, instead of replacing their shoulder, if they have just one isolated area—for instance—their cartilage has just worn out in a certain area, a surgeon might opt to just put a cap on it or resurface it.” According to Dr. Jones, this can be done by either placing a cap over the ball of the humerus or by using a stem. “I like to use a lot of metaphors and analogies with my patients so that they understand, and in this case, the one with the cap on your humerus is like getting a crown on a tooth, and the other one with the stem is like getting a post in a root canal.” These kinds of limited procedures are generally offered to patients who have had a sports injury, such as an individual who has chipped a piece of cartilage off but is still young and fairly active.
Seeking Complete Orthopaedic Care for Compassionate, Experienced Professionals
Dr. Jones stresses that the types of shoulder replacement that a person needs depend on their demands, their expectations, and their age. For most shoulder replacement surgeries, the procedure is outpatient, meaning the patient can go home that very same day of the surgery. Dr. Jones says patients can expect great pain relief and an improved range of motion. Patients will wear a sling to limit movement of the shoulder for about three to four weeks, but at about four to six weeks, patients will be back to doing basic chores and activities around the house. Some patients will have physical therapy recommendations for their rehabilitation as well. As for advice to all potential shoulder surgery patients, Dr. Jones stresses, “It’s important to be evaluated by someone who does a reasonable volume of these procedures because there are so many choices out there today. You want to find someone who has a special interest or specialization in these types of procedures and who will evaluate you based on the context of your own specific goals and demands. It’s good to find a surgeon with a big bag of tricks because you might need one of those highly specialized shoulder surgeries such as the resurfacing hemiarthroplasty surgery or the reverse total replacement surgery.”
If you need shoulder replacement surgery and want to get back to living a life without pain, contact us today! The specialists at Southlake Orthopaedics are used to working on the delicate muscles, bones, ligaments, and tendons of the shoulder and are ready, willing, and able to help address any shoulder issue you may be dealing with.
