Shoulder Replacement Surgery

Advanced Treatment for Chronic Shoulder Pain

Shoulder replacement surgery can be an effective way of relieving chronic pain in the shoulder joint. This surgery is an option in cases where shoulder pain and loss of motion interfere with daily activities and the patient has failed to improve with medication, cortisone injections, or physical therapy.

Anatomy of the Shoulder

The shoulder is a complex ball and socket joint with a greater range of motion than any other joint in the body. It is made up of three bones: the upper arm bone (humerus), the shoulder blade (scapula) and the collar bone (clavicle). The ball of the upper arm bone fits into a socket in the shoulder blade called the glenoid.

In shoulder replacement surgery, the damaged parts of the shoulder are replaced with a man-made prosthesis. Depending on the severity of symptoms and the type and amount of damage, it may be possible to replace just the humerus, but the glenoid must frequently be replaced as well. The prosthetic humerus is attached to the upper arm bone through a “stem” anchored into the bone, while the new glenoid is attached to the shoulder blade. During shoulder replacement surgery, arthritic ball and socket joint surfaces of the shoulder are removed and replaced with man-made prostheses.

Reverse Shoulder Replacement

Traditional shoulder replacement uses a prosthesis that functions like the human shoulder, with the ball at the end of the arm bone and the socket on the shoulder blade. The reverse shoulder replacement reverses the ball and socket so that the ball is attached to the shoulder blade, and the socket is attached to the top of the arm bone. This shoulder replacement is designed for patients who don’t have a functioning rotator cuff.

Other Shoulder Procedures

In addition to shoulder replacements, our program offers a full range of shoulder procedures for conditions affecting the bones, ligaments, tendons, and synovial membrane. Wherever possible, our surgeons perform minimally invasive procedures using arthroscopic instruments. This means smaller incisions, less bone loss, less bleeding, less pain, and a faster recovery.