Article:
Do Shoulder Replacements Work?
By Gita Pillai, MD
Read More About Shoulder Surgeries:
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The shoulder is a ball and socket joint that allows you to raise, twist, and bend your arm.
It allows you to swing a golf club or a tennis racket, lift your dishes, or pick up your
grandchildren. Just like many of the other joints in your body, both the ball and socket of
the shoulder are normally covered with smooth cartilage, allowing your shoulder to move
around with ease.
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder can affect anyone. It is sometimes referred to as “wear and
tear” arthritis. It is a process in which the smooth cartilage covering the joint is damaged.
It typically affects older individuals. They may experience pain, grinding, and clunking. It
often results in a shoulder that cannot move very well and feels weak.
What can we do to help with this condition? In patients with early arthritis, activity
modification, anti-inflammatory medication, and gentle stretching to maintain motion can
help. Once the pain becomes so severe that it truly affects a person’s quality of life, then
a shoulder replacement can be considered.
Shoulder replacement was first performed in the U.S. in 1953. New implant materials
and design, as well as improved surgical and rehabilitation techniques have resulted in
shoulder replacement being a very successful surgical procedure. Shoulder replacement
surgery replaces the damaged surfaces of the ball and socket. The damaged ball is
replaced by a metal ball that rests against the replaced plastic (polyethylene) socket.
Patients typically wake up from surgery with some pain, but this pain is different than
the pain they previously had. On the day after surgery patients will begin with physical
therapy. Within 2–3 months patients will begin to regain strength in their shoulder and, generally, will be able to
return to most activities.
Approximately 23,000 shoulder replacement surgeries are performed in the U.S. yearly.
This can be a very successful operation for a patient with the correct indications. The
decision to proceed with surgery is based entirely upon quality of life.
Orthopaedic Associates of Southern Delaware
Offices in Lewes, Millsboro, Milton and Ocean View
302-644-3311 |
