Shoulder replacement surgery, also known as arthroplasty, restores function and comfort to shoulders which have been damaged by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or other degenerative joint diseases.

As the shoulder joint surface is damaged by general wear and tear, injury or inflammation, the area becomes painful and stiff, making it hard to perform even basic functions. By removing scar tissue, realigning the muscles and replacing deteriorated surfaces of the shoulder joint with artificial ones, surgeons can restore the shoulder to nearly 100 percent effectiveness over time. Total shoulder replacement is a highly specialized and technical procedure, but adverse after effects are usually minimal.

Procedure information
First, an incision is made that gives access to the shoulder joint without affecting the deltoid or pectoral muscles, which are important to the strength of the shoulder. The arthritic humeral head in the joint is removed and any bone spurs are filed off the socket. Depending on the condition of the glenoid socket, only the humeral head may have to be replaced.

Prosthesis are made from metal and formed to fit perfectly in the glenoid socket. If there’s any damage to the glenoid, then this section must also be reshaped to fit with the humeral prosthesis which, in this case, will require its own separate artificial device. Bone cement is used to fasten the artificial glenoid prosthesis into position.

After everything has been replaced, the subscapularis tendon is reattached to the bone and cannot be used for at least 6 weeks. The entire procedure takes about 2 hours and is usually performed under a general anesthesia.

Recovery time
Patients will need to spend from 2 to 4 days in the hospital following the surgery. A continuous motion machine is used for the first few days to begin the essential passive movement of the shoulder joint. A physical therapist will provide a program of low-impact flexibility and strength exercises which should be dutifully followed. Full recovery of the shoulder will take up to 1 year, during which time the patient needs to have constant vigilance not to overexert the shoulder.