Total Shoulder Replacement

Woodlands Center For Special Surgery

Hand Surgeons & Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Specialists located in The Woodlands, TX & Willis, TX

A total shoulder replacement relieves the daily pain and limited movement caused by a severely damaged shoulder joint. If your current treatment is not improving your symptoms, it’s time to meet with board-certified surgeons Mark Ciaglia, DO, William J. Jordan, MD, and Hemali Patel, DPM, at the Woodlands Center for Special Surgery. You will receive an in-depth examination of your shoulder to determine if you’re a good candidate for a total shoulder replacement. Call the office in The Woodlands or Willis, Texas, or request an evaluation online today.

What is a total shoulder replacement?

A total shoulder replacement is advanced surgery to remove damaged bones in the shoulder joint and replace them with artificial components.

The shoulder joint includes a socket (glenoid cavity) in the shoulder blade (scapula), which holds the ball-shaped bone at the top of your arm (humerus). During a total shoulder replacement, the ball and socket are both replaced.

When would I need a total shoulder replacement?

Your Woodlands Center for Special Surgery provider may recommend a total shoulder replacement when you have extensive joint damage symptoms that don't improve with conservative treatments.

The most common conditions resulting in shoulder replacement surgery include:

Arthritis

Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and post-traumatic arthritis (a type of osteoarthritis caused by a shoulder injury) are progressive conditions that can cause increasing damage to the shoulder joint.

After arthritis reaches an advanced stage, the only treatment option is a shoulder replacement.

Rotator cuff arthropathy

Rotator cuff arthropathy is another type of shoulder arthritis. However, it develops as a result of a long-lasting, large rotator cuff tear.

Osteonecrosis (avascular necrosis)

Osteonecrosis develops when you lose the blood supply to the bone and the bone dies. The blood supply may be affected by a range of health problems, including long-term corticosteroids, lupus, and severe trauma.

Shoulder fracture

A severe shoulder fracture that can’t be repaired may need replacement surgery.

What symptoms suggest I may need a total shoulder replacement?

You may need a shoulder replacement if you experience:

Intense pain in your shoulder
Limited shoulder and arm movement
Pain that gets worse when you're active
Pain that interferes with your sleep
Grinding noises or sensations in the joint
Locking or catching of the joint
Muscle weakness and atrophy

It’s time to consider a shoulder replacement when your symptoms become a daily struggle or prevent you from performing your usual activities.

What happens during a total shoulder replacement?

During a total shoulder replacement, your experienced surgeon removes the damaged ball (at the top of the arm) and the damaged bone and cartilage in the socket.

A metal ball with a stem replaces the rounded part of the arm. Your surgeon inserts the stem into the center of the arm bone. Then, they place a cup-shaped prosthetic in the socket, implant a plastic liner to replace the cartilage, and put the ball into the socket.

Call the Woodlands Center for Special Surgery or book an appointment online today to learn if you can eliminate pain and restore mobility with a total shoulder replacement.