Shoulder Replacement Surgery

Total shoulder replacement is a surgical intervention procedure applied against cartilage destruction in the shoulder joint. The procedure involves removing the damaged joint cartilage surface and placing an artificial mobile surface instead. Patients complain about shoulder pain and limited range of motion. They also complain about stiffness and crackling noises during movement.

The pain increases over time and after activity. The treatment is planned according to the patient’s complaints and conditions. Painkillers, physical therapy and exercise can be beneficial during the first stage. Cortisone injections are sometimes suggested before the replacement.

The injections often become insufficient in relieving the pain and the replacement surgery becomes inevitable. Surgical treatment is applied in advanced stages. Surgery involves the removal of damaged joint and replacing it with an artificial one (prosthesis). The main purpose of shoulder replacement surgery is to restore the functionality (strength and range of motion) while removing the pain. The most important factor in achieving this end is the state of patient’s shoulder (muscles and ligaments) before the surgery. It will be easy for the patient to regain the functionality if they are in a relatively good condition. This is the most important difference between a shoulder replacement and a hip/knee replacement.

Recently, a new procedure called “reverse prosthesis” (reverse shoulder replacement) is applied in cases where there are severe (beyond-repair) tears in the rotator cuff and a broken-down joint cartilage. This technique, which is usually applied on patients at later ages, allows a great increase in the shoulder functionality.