Do you experience frequent shoulder pain? Are you unable to complete basic tasks or activities because of your shoulder pain?
Consider a procedure like a shoulder arthroplasty/ replacement at Southwest Shoulder to improve your quality of life.
What Is
A Shoulder Arthroplasty / Replacement?
A shoulder arthroplasty is a procedure that replaces damaged parts of your shoulder joint with artificial components. Your shoulder joint is a ball and socket joint.
It has a ball or humeral head at the top of the humerus at the top of your arm. The shoulder joint fits into the socket of your scapula.
During a shoulder arthroplasty, the damaged ball of your shoulder joint is removed and replaced with a metal ball. The metal ball is then attached to a stem inserted into your humerus.
Then, the socket is replaced with a plastic cup, which will either be cemented or press-fit into your scapula.
Shoulder Joint Replacement
How Do I Know if I Need a Shoulder Arthroplasty / Replacement?
If you’re suffering from shoulder pain and have tried resting your shoulder, taking medications to help the pain, or injections to reduce inflammation, you may be a good candidate for a procedure like a shoulder replacement at Southwest Shoulder.
Certain conditions that may make a shoulder arthroplasty necessary include:
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint condition that causes cartilage in your joint to wear down. If you have osteoarthritis, this leads to bone-on-bone contact and pain in your shoulder.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation and damage to the joints in your shoulder. Those with rheumatoid arthritis often experience pain that doesn’t improve.
Rotator Cuff Tear Arthropathy
Rotator cuff tear arthropathy occurs when the rotator cuff tears significantly. If this happens, the humeral head moves out of its typical position, leading to arthritis and discomfort.
Avascular Necrosis
Avascular necrosis occurs when the blood supply to the bone becomes disrupted. When this happens, the bone collapses and dies.
Fractures
If you severely fracture your scapula or humerus, there is no way to repair these except for a shoulder replacement procedure.
What Should
I Expect During a Shoulder Arthroplasty/Replacement?
A shoulder replacement usually uses a general anesthetic and typically takes about 3 hours to perform. Your orthopedic surgeon at Southwest Shoulder will create an incision on the front or top of your shoulder to access your joint.
Any damaged parts of the joint are removed and replaced with artificial components before the incision is closed. Once your shoulder replacement is complete, you’ll be taken to our recovery room.
A member of our staff will monitor you until you wake up. You will likely have a drainage tube in your shoulder to remove any accumulated excess fluid.
You’ll also wear a sling to keep your arm comfortable and immobilized. We’ll give you pain medication to keep you as comfortable as possible after the procedure.
What Should I Expect During a Shoulder Arthroplasty/Replacement?
A shoulder replacement usually uses a general anesthetic and typically takes about 3 hours to perform. Your orthopedic surgeon at Southwest Shoulder will create an incision on the front or top of your shoulder to access your joint.
Any damaged parts of the joint are removed and replaced with artificial components before the incision is closed. Once your shoulder replacement is complete, you’ll be taken to our recovery room.
A member of our staff will monitor you until you wake up. You will likely have a drainage tube in your shoulder to remove any accumulated excess fluid.
You’ll also wear a sling to keep your arm comfortable and immobilized. We’ll give you pain medication to keep you as comfortable as possible after the procedure.
Recovering After a Shoulder Arthroplasty / Replacement
Once your shoulder arthroplasty is complete, you will receive a pump to control your pain medication. Most patients switch to oral pain medication after about a day.
As your shoulder recovers from the procedure, you’ll need to keep your arm in a brace. However, you can remove it from the brace to complete physical therapy.
After undergoing a shoulder arthroplasty, you’ll receive antibiotics intravenously for a day to prevent infection. The day after your procedure, you should begin physical therapy, which will include moving your wrist, fingers, and elbow.
Your physical therapist will also begin introducing shoulder movement during the first few days after your procedure. They will show you appropriate exercises to do at home to coordinate with any physical therapy being done.
Physical therapy is crucial to your recovery as it will help you regain strength and range of motion in your shoulder while doing daily and necessary tasks. Expect to stay in the hospital for three to five days after a shoulder replacement.
You’ll need to avoid any activities and tasks that strain or stress your shoulder while it heals. This includes lifting heavy objects or reaching behind your back.
If you’re unsure about what you’re allowed to do after undergoing a shoulder arthroplasty, your orthopedic surgeon at Southwest Shoulder can provide more information. They can also provide instructions on activities to avoid during recovery and when you can resume your usual routine.
How Long Does a Shoulder Arthroplasty/Replacement Last?
The length of time that a shoulder arthroplasty/replacement lasts will depend on several factors. These can include the kind of implant used during the procedure, your age and activity level, and the underlying condition that makes the shoulder replacement necessary.
However, most shoulder replacements should last about ten years. With proper care and maintenance, you may be able to have a shoulder replacement that lasts longer.
It is important to note that even if you undergo a shoulder replacement, it will not cure underlying conditions like osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. You may still experience pain and stiffness in your shoulder after receiving a shoulder replacement.
However, this pain should be minimized and improved because of undergoing the procedure. If you’re experiencing pain after a shoulder replacement procedure, your orthopedic surgeon at Southwest Shoulder will work with you to manage your symptoms and the health of your shoulder joint.
Ready to Get Started?
Do you think you could need a shoulder replacement? Learn more about this procedure and if it could be right for you by requesting an appointment at Southwest Shoulder in El Paso, TX.