If your shoulder joint has deteriorated or sustained an injury and you experience pain and poor function, shoulder replacement surgery could be your best treatment option. There are multiple types of shoulder replacement techniques available so that you and your surgeon can choose the procedure that best suits your condition and your lifestyle. Keep reading to find out more about your options for shoulder replacement surgery and where you should go in Kansas City for shoulder replacement surgery performed by board-certified orthopedic surgeons.
Reasons For Shoulder Replacement Surgery
The shoulder joint is often injured easily because it is a complex joint that allows your arm to move in a full 360 degrees of motion. This extensive range of motion allows you to do all sorts of things from reaching above your head, to throwing a ball, to carrying heavy items, and more.
The shoulder joint is composed of two bones coming together –the head of the humerus (shaped like a ball), which sits in an indentation in the shoulder blade known as the glenoid (shaped like a socket). A complex system of muscles and tendons (the rotator cuff) help move the shoulder, and cartilage covering the bones facilitates smooth gliding.
Through injury (such as fracture or repeated dislocations) or disease (such as arthritis or a vascular necrosis), the shoulder joint can become dysfunctional and painful. In mild cases, noninvasive treatments like physical therapy may improve symptoms and return range of motion and strength to the joint. However, severe and long-standing damage to the shoulder that causes daily pain warrants consideration of surgical options.
During an in-office consultation, your orthopedic surgeon will discuss your symptoms, medical history, and any previous treatments. They will also take X-rays and other types of imaging, such as a CT scan or MRI. These scans help your orthopedic surgeon understand what needs to be replaced or repaired in your shoulder and which one of today’s innovative joint replacement surgeries they recommend.
Types of Shoulder Replacement Surgery
Total Shoulder Replacement
During total shoulder replacement surgery, the orthopedic surgeon removes the damaged portions of the shoulder joint and replaces them with medical-grade metal or plastic. The humeral head is replaced with a metal ball, and the glenoid is replaced with a plastic socket in which the metal ball sits. This is an in-hospital surgery that requires general anesthesia, pain medications, and a program of physical therapy during recovery.
Reverse Shoulder Replacement
Like total shoulder replacement, reverse shoulder replacement involves removing the head of the humerus and glenoid and replacement with a metal ball and plastic socket. However, unlike conventional shoulder replacement, the reverse procedure switches the location of the prostheses. Thenew socket is placed onto the revised humerus and the new metal ball is placed onto the shoulder blade.
This new arrangement avoids use of deteriorated rotator cuff muscles and tendons. Instead, the deltoid muscle is used primarily to move the arm.
Like these other surgical options, reverse shoulder replacement is an open surgery done with general anesthesia, a limited hospital stay, pain medication, and a program of physical therapy to improve flexibility and strength.
Shoulder Hemiarthroplasty
Also known as a partial shoulder replacement, shoulder hemiarthroplasty replaces a damaged humeral head with a metal one. It is called a partial replacement because the glenoid socket of the shoulder blade is not replaced. The patient receives general anesthesia during the procedure and may also get nerve blocking medication to help with post-operative pain. Physical therapy is also prescribed during the healing process.
The Joint Experts at Midwest Orthopaedics
If you or a loved one is considering shoulder replacement surgery, look no further than Midwest Orthopaedics. Our team of board-certified orthopedic surgeons deliver high-level treatment solutions for a wide array of musculoskeletal issues, including joint replacement, arthroscopic repairs, and more. We also offer high-tech sports medicine treatments customized to the individual amateur or pro athlete.
Call our office today at (913) 362-8317 to learn more about shoulder replacement surgery, or request an appointment here. We look forward to serving you!
