Total Shoulder Replacement

Total shoulder replacement arthroplasty is a well-established surgery for restoring comfort and function to the arthritic shoulder. In this procedure the arthritic ball is replaced by a smooth met- al ball fixed to the arm bone (humerus) by a stem that fits within it.

Why Have Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery?   Most candidates for traditional total shoulder replacement have osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, with moderate to severe joint degradation that shows up on X-rays and other imaging.

Many patients have developed pain that limits their daily activities, as well as interferes with their sleep. Shoulder stiffness also interferes with the use of their arm for everyday activities. A shoulder replacement is performed to alleviate shoulder pain. It also helps to improve the range of motion of your shoulder joint, which also improves your function and the quality of your life.

These patients often report the following:

• Pain that is moderate to severe with activity
• Pain that affects sleep
• Inability to lift the affected arm to perform daily tasks, such as reaching high shelves or washing hair Stiffness and pain with overhead movement
• Insufficient pain relief from non-surgical treatments, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), physical therapy, and steroid injections

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