Whether you’re young or old, if you’re experiencing debilitating shoulder pain that isn’t responding well to conservative treatment, surgery may be the logical next step. If the integrity of the joint is severely compromised, you and your surgeon may have a discussion about shoulder replacement surgery. Perhaps you’re thinking you’re too young to undergo a total shoulder replacement, or maybe you’re questioning if you’re too old to have something like this done.
But how young is too young for shoulder replacement? What age is too old for the procedure? In today’s blog, we take a closer look at whether someone is too young or too old for shoulder replacement surgery.
Age Is Just A Number
Age is certainly a factor that is considered when determining whether or not a patient is a formidable candidate for shoulder replacement surgery, but it’s not the only factor that is taken into account. In fact, age is pretty low on the totem pole in terms of what is important when determining a patient’s candidacy. Let’s explore some factors that are more important than age when looking to see if shoulder replacement may be the right next step.
- Patient’s Health – The patient’s overall health is much more important than just their age. We’ve seen people in their seventies and eighties who are much healthier than those in their forties and fifties, so a close examination of the patient’s health profile is a must. Your weight and the presence of any underlying health conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease and blood pressure will all be examined when determining if a patient is healthy enough to withstand and make a strong recovery from shoulder surgery.
- Activity Expectations – If you’re an older adult that isn’t that active and is simply looking for the best way to manage shoulder discomfort, you may not be in need of such an invasive procedure. However, if you’re hoping to remain active in old age, or you’re younger and plan to continue doing daily activities that ask a lot of your shoulder, then shoulder replacement may be the right move. We’ll talk with each patient about their goals and their return-to-activity expectations to see if surgery may be the right option.
- Underlying Shoulder Problem – Depending on the root cause of your shoulder issue, you may be able to rectify the problem with a procedure that’s less invasive than a shoulder replacement. If your discomfort is due to a torn labrum, a weakened rotator cuff or a nerve impingement, a minimally invasive procedure that keeps the natural shoulder joint intact may suffice. Shoulder replacement surgery tends to be reserved for patients with more severe joint dysfunction, so if that’s not your issue, then a replacement operation may not be needed.
- Shoulder Maturity – While age isn’t a top factor that is considered when looking at a patient’s shoulder replacement candidacy, it does come into play when exploring the maturity of their shoulder. A shoulder replacement is typically designed to replace a fully developed shoulder joint, so if your bones have not yet reached maturity, a shoulder replacement operation may not be right just yet. The growth plates in our shoulder area typically fuse and mature around the age of 17-19.
- Patient’s Commitment – Finally, regardless of age, it’s more likely that a patient will be considered for a shoulder replacement procedure if it’s something they want to pursue and are willing to put in the work during their rehab period. Shoulder replacement is the first step in the restoration of your shoulder health, but you’ll need to put in months of effort during physical therapy to achieve the best functional outcome. If you’ve expressed that you’re overwhelmed by the prospect of an extended recovery program, your doctor may consider other options. But if you’re willing or even excited at the possibility of working towards a much stronger shoulder joint, then total shoulder replacement may be right for you.
Age will be taken into consideration, but other factors like your underlying shoulder condition, your overall health and your functional goals will play a greater role in determining if shoulder replacement surgery is the right option for you. To get a better understanding of how you and your provider can work to help you overcome your shoulder problems, reach out to Dr. Holloway and his team today at (865) 410-7887.
