All You Need to Know About Shoulder Replacement

Your shoulder is the most vital joint in your body that rotates at a much greater motion range than the other joints in your body. Your shoulder may sometimes cause you to feel pain and make it difficult to perform your everyday functions. Fortunately, shoulder replacement procedures have proven to eliminate shoulder pains and improve their normal functioning effectively. These procedures are also used to improve your motion range, allow you to use your arm and shoulder normally, and increase your shoulder strength. In this post, we will tell you why you should have your shoulder replacement procedure at Sugar Land sports medicine.

What are The Symptoms of Shoulder Injury?

Shoulder replacement surgery is often recommended for patients suffering from joint problems that can be triggered by avascular necrosis, osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tear arthropathy, or rheumatoid arthritis. Some of the common treatment solutions for shoulder injuries are medications and physical therapy. Below are the symptoms of a shoulder injury that may indicate you need shoulder replacement surgery:

  •   Persistent shoulder pain that affects your normal shoulder pain functioning
  •   Previously had arthroscopic surgery, fracture, or rotator cuff repair that proved to be unsuccessful in solving your shoulder injury.
  •   Abnormal weakness in your shoulder
  •   Reduced range of motion in your shoulder
  •   Have tried cortisone injections, anti-inflammatory medications, and physical relief with no shoulder relief.

 What are the Types of Shoulder Replacement Procedures?

The type of shoulder replacement procedure your healthcare provider will recommend usually depends on the severity of your shoulder problem. Below are the four main types of shoulder replacement procedures:

  • Hemiarthroplasty. This involves replacing the stem and ball. The ball is linked to the stem and attached to your natural shoulder socket.
  • Reverse total shoulder replacement. This treatment involves the complete reversal of your joint, where the plastic cup is shifted to the upper arm bone and the metallic bone fixed on the glenoid socket.
  • Stemless total shoulder arthroplasty. This procedure is where the metal ball is fixed to the humeral area without attaching it to a stem.
  • Resurfacing hemiarthroplasty. This procedure is where the joint areas of the humeral head are replaced with a prosthesis without using a stem.

During the Procedure

When you attend your shoulder replacement procedure, you will be taken to a bright, very cool operating room, where the procedure will be performed. Your nurse will also provide you with warm blankets if you get cold. Your provider will prepare you for the procedure by monitoring your temperature, blood pressure, and pulse and recommend pain-killing medications. You will then be requested to lie on the operating table, and the surgical area will be prepared while administering general anesthesia. Shoulder replacement procedure usually takes less than two hours or fewer, depending on how severe your shoulder injury is. It is often advisable to have someone take you home after the procedure as the general anesthesia effects begin to wear off.

Dr. J. Michael Bennett, MD, is a well-known orthopedic surgeon who has been offering residents living around Sugarland, Texas with comprehensive and reliable treatments for elbow, knee, and shoulder injuries. Dr. Bennett is also well-knowledgeable on a wide array of sports medicine and treating sports injuries to help restore your normal joint functioning. Get started today and book an appointment or call any of our offices at 346-236-1238.