Total Shoulder Replacement

Are You Experiencing Shoulder Pain as a Result of a Sudden Accident, Twist, or Previous Injury?

The orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine experts at Westchester Sport and Spine are here to help you with your shoulder pain. With 40 years of combined experience diagnosing shoulder pain and treating shoulder injuries, the fellowship trained orthopedic doctors and specialists at Westchester Sport and Spine provide you with the highest level of care for surgical and non-surgical shoulder procedures.

About Total Shoulder Replacement

In some cases, patients do get relief from conservative treatments for their shoulder condition or injury. When that happens, a total shoulder replacement may become an option. At Westchester Sport and Spine, surgery is not the first line of treatment. The shoulder is one of the largest joints in the body. So, discomfort or stiffness in this area could severely impact a patient’s quality of life.

Total shoulder replacements are lesser-known than hip and knee replacements. This procedure is a successful option for many with shoulder arthritis, rotator cuff tears, and fractures.

During your consultation, your Westchester Sport and Spine surgeon will examine your shoulder. You will discuss your history, and your surgeon may order further tests such as an MRI. Whenever possible, patients first receive conservative treatments like joint injections or physical therapy. If those methods fail, a total shoulder replacement may become the best option.

The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint. However, the humeral head (ball) of the shoulder joint does not have much structural support within the glenoid (the socket). This means that it is more prone to damage and dislocation over time. During a total shoulder replacement, both the ball and socket of the joint are removed. Then, the damaged joint gets replaced with a prosthesis.

Common Shoulder Conditions that May Require Surgery

Patients of all ages can experience a condition or injury that will need a total shoulder replacement. Some of these conditions and injuries include:

  • Osteoarthritis: the most common form of arthritis where the cartilage of the shoulder joint is worn away.
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis: a long-term autoimmune disease that causes inflammation, pain, and deformation of the joints.
  • Post-Traumatic Arthritis: arthritis that develops as a result of an injury that changed the mechanics of the joint.
  • Rotator Cuff Tear Arthropathy: a severe tear in the rotator cuff, which changes the mechanics of the joint and may cause bone to rub against bone.
  • Avascular Necrosis: a condition where bone tissue dies from a lack of blood supply.
  • Severe Fractures: when the humerus or scapula gets broken after an accident or injury. Shoulder fractures may be difficult to heal correctly. So, fractures could result in post-traumatic arthritis that requires a total shoulder replacement.
  • Failed Previous Shoulder Replacement Surgery: if the patient has previously received a shoulder replacement that did not improve their condition, they may need a revision shoulder replacement.

To be certain of the cause of your shoulder pain, contact the orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine doctors at Westchester Sport and Spine for specific diagnosis.

Recovering from Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery

Total shoulder replacement is a standard and highly successful procedure. Before your surgery, your WSS surgeon will discuss all the details of the surgery and recovery process. You may receive antibiotics before your surgery to reduce the risk of infection and complications.

Many patients get relief from their discomfort shortly after their shoulder replacement surgery. Patients will receive medication to manage the pain while they recover. Physical therapy will be an essential part of the process.

Stretching and working on the mobility of their new joint will be a vital part of recovery. For this reason, patients will need to attend physical and occupational therapy sessions. At-home exercises will also be a part of the process. Your physical therapist will discuss how to safely exercise the joint.

Call us immediately

Please call Westchester Sport and Spine immediately. Then, ask someone to drive you to our clinic if your shoulder pain is caused by an injury and is accompanied by:

  • You have lost feeling in any extremity
  • Inability to move
  • Extreme bruising
  • Intense pain or tingling
  • Sudden swelling in the area