Symptomatology: Shoulder Injuries

There are three main forms of shoulder replacement that are available for treatment for an arthritic shoulder. Treatment will depend on the quality of the bone and the quality of the tendons around the shoulder (whether the rotator cuff tendons are intact and functional). Patient’s age and functional demands must be considered and co-morbidities.
Treatment can include the following:

Total Shoulder Replacement

Replacement of the ball and socket with anatomical total shoulder replacement

Reverse Shoulder Replacement

Reverse polarity shoulder replacement (reverse meaning that the ball part is attached to the socket and a cup is attached to the humerus (arm bone).

Hemiarthroplasty

Hemi-arthroplasty and resurfacing, replacing the ball part of the joint only.

Any of the above surgery will require a general anaesthetic, an incision on the front or side of the shoulder. Surgery can take anywhere between one to two hours. With surgery there are risks of infection, bleeding, nerve injury and fracture.
Unlike knee and hip replacements, the stay in hospital is a lot shorter with shoulder replacement but this will depend on whether you have any other medical problems. Most patients go home within one to two days of their surgery. You will need to maintain a sling for four weeks post operatively and you will require three to four months of physiotherapy.
Improvement in pain and function can extend up to anywhere between six and twelve months following the surgery. General recovery is anywhere between four and six months on average.

A reverse shoulder replacement is reserved for patients whose tendons have either torn or are non-functional around the shoulder.

Further Reading