Total Shoulder Replacement

From arthritis to acute injuries and other issues, your shoulder is susceptible to all sorts of problems. When medicine and other nonsurgical treatments do not meet your demands, it may be time to consider Total Shoulder Replacement to address an arthritic joint.

But first, you should know a little about how the shoulder works. The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint, however, the socket it very shallow. The ball of your upper arm fits into a socket in your shoulder blade called a glenoid.

To replace your shoulder, your doctor will address the worn ball and socket. The new articulation will now be metal on plastic relieving your bone on bone arthritis pain. Depending on your particular condition and the quality of your bones, your doctor may decide to use a primary total shoulder or a reverse total shoulder.

This procedure typically requires that you stay in the hospital for 1-3 days to recover. After that, you’ll need to wear a sling to protect your shoulder for four to six weeks. Finally, your doctor will recommend both physical therapy and home exercise as soon as possible, to achieve improved range of motion and function.