All of our joints slowly wear down over time as a result of the natural aging process, but if this degeneration happens too quickly, joint movement can become painful. Joint deterioration is typically referred to as osteoarthritis, and the condition affects millions of Americans, particularly those over the age of 60. Osteoarthritis can develop in any joint, but Dr. Holloway specializes in treating osteoarthritic degeneration in the shoulder joint, and for patients with severe degeneration or painful symptoms, oftentimes surgery is the recommended course of care.
Interestingly, when it comes to shoulder surgery to address osteoarthritis, there are two standard courses of care. There is the normal anatomical correction and the reverse total shoulder replacement procedure. Both tend to yield fantastic results, so how can you know which type of shoulder replacement procedure is right for your arthritic shoulder? In today’s blog, we explain how doctors work to determine which shoulder replacement procedure is right for you.
Shoulder Replacement Options For Osteoarthritis
The anatomical shoulder replacement technique – where the ball and socket joint is replaced with artificial components in the same position – was the standard practice for decades, but the reverse technique has grown immensely in popularity over the last two decades. In the reverse shoulder replacement procedure, the position of the artificial ball and socket is reversed compared to an anatomical alignment.
Both of these surgeries yield fantastic results. In fact, a recent study sought to learn more about which procedure produces the best results for patients working to overcome osteoarthritic degeneration in their shoulder. In a review of more than 12,000 patients who had undergone the anatomical or reverse shoulder replacement procedure to treat osteoarthritis, researchers found no significant long-term differences in outcomes between either procedure, and both procedures had incredibly high marks for patient safety. The only difference noted between the two was that patients undergoing the anatomical procedure were slightly more likely to need a revision procedure in the first three years after surgery.
Knowing this, you might assume that reverse shoulder surgery is the best treatment and should soon become the norm, but there’s more to it than that. Not every patient is an ideal candidate for one of the two types of procedures. While a bunch of individual factors will come into play, oftentimes the choice to recommend anatomical or reverse shoulder replacement comes down to these factors:
- Rotator Cuff Function – Patients may be better suited to a reverse shoulder replacement if their rotator cuff is significantly damaged or weakened. If your rotator cuff is still providing ample support and stability to the shoulder joint, you may be better off with an anatomical replacement.
- Glenoid Density – Similarly, if the glenoid bone (the socket in the ball and socket joint) is worn down or overly damaged, a reverse shoulder procedure may be the best move. Those with a strong, dense and supportive glenoid bone could get by with a standard anatomical correction.
- Patient Age/Activity Level – Finally, although individual factors will certainly play a role, age and activity level can sometimes help guide the surgeon to the correct recommendation. Reverse shoulder replacement may be the right option for older or less active patients, especially if they may have difficulty complying with post-op instructions.
We can’t know which procedure is right for your osteoarthritic shoulder until we get to know you, so set up an appointment with Dr. Holloway today if you have questions or concerns about your shoulder. For more information, or to get in touch with our office, give us a call today at (865) 410-7887.
