Shoulder replacement surgery is done in cases of serious damage to the shoulder. Shoulder replacement surgery is done for patients who suffer from joint dysfunction as a result of osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tear arthropathy, avascular necrosis, or rheumatoid arthritis. However, one has to be aware of the surgery and its overall details before proceeding with it.
The shoulder joint is where the upper arm connects to your body, and it is a ball-and-socket joint. The humerus is the bone in the upper arm that has a round end that fits into the curved structure on the outside of your shoulder blade.
The ball and socket are held together by ligaments and tendons. The job of the ligaments is to connect the bones, whereas tendons are connectors between the muscles to the bone. A soft tissue layer known as cartilage keeps the bones apart, so they don’t rub against each other.
This beautiful arrangement of ball and socket makes various arm movements possible. The shoulder joint is the most flexible joint of the body and it helps us to carry out daily activities smoothly.
Shoulder joint replacement surgery: who requires it and when?
The most obvious reason is pain beyond a point where it is hard to use your arm for everyday activities such as combing hair, getting dressed, self-care and reaching into a cabinet.
Other reasons are:
- Trauma leads to a serious shoulder fracture which are irreparable
- Severe arthritis due to age, overuse, wear and tear.
- Neglected Rotator cuff tear
- Irreparable Rotator cuff tear
- Rheumatoid arthritis with complete shoulder joint damage
There are various kinds of replacement surgery like reverse shoulder replacement, Total shoulder replacement and Hemiarthroplasty. The choice of implant should be planned pre-operatively based on the Age of the patient, Amount of damage and Bone quality.
Dr Chandra Shekhar B is one of the pioneers in shoulder Replacement surgery, performing shoulder replacement surgery for the last 10 years in Hyderabad. Based on the condition of the patient, the doctor manages the condition conservatively in the initial stages. Only if the conservative methods are not yielding results, he may recommend surgery.
Shoulder joint replacement surgery: what to expect?
Shoulder replacement means that expert surgeons like Dr.Chandra Sekhar B will replace the natural bone in your shoulder joint with metal or plastic material. The patient has to stay in the hospital for a couple of weeks and should sincerely do physical therapy afterwards.
Types of shoulder replacement surgeries:
Total shoulder replacement: The ball at the top of the affected humerus is replaced with a metal ball that will get attached to the remaining bone. The socket is also covered with a new POLY surface.
Partial shoulder replacement: Only the ball gets replaced with a metal ball which will naturally get attached to the bone. This surgery is usually done in fracture cases.
Reverse shoulder replacement: This surgery is done when the rotator cuff tissue is incompetent or when the above two methods do not work. A socket is implanted at the top of your arm and the metal ball gets attached to your shoulder bones.
Before the surgery, X-rays or other imaging tests are done to get a look at the joint. The patient will be evaluated for fitness before surgery by the Anaesthetist. Any blood thinner medication is stopped before the surgery.
The patient has to quit smoking and drinking. The patient should not eat or drink anything after midnight on the night before the operation. The surgical procedure takes about 3 hours.
Recovery from shoulder replacement surgery
Phase of rest for the operated shoulder for the first 4 weeks where the patient is advised to wear an arm pouch. Patients can walk with their arms safeguarded in the arm sling pouch.
The shoulder mobilization will start from 4 weeks with prescribed physiotherapy exercises advised by the surgeon. The patient will be able to manage activities of daily living with some assistance. The patient has to take appointments with the doctor regularly as suggested, the physiotherapy suggestion and progression of shoulder movements will be suggested at that time.
Within six months you will have multiple appointments that you have to keep up with ( online or offline ). The surgeon will ensure your healing of the bone and suggest physiotherapy accordingly.
A word from Dr Chandra Shekhar B from Hyderabad Shoulder Clinic
Recovery from shoulder replacement surgery requires good postoperative care and good physiotherapy. For more information, please visit our website https://hyderabadshoulderclinic.com/ or contact us at +91 9959588389 or shoulderandsportsclinic@gmail.com.
