When some or all of the components that make up your shoulder joint have experienced a fair amount of damage or natural degeneration and conservative care isn’t providing relief, a replacement procedure may be in your future. Fortunately, there are a couple of different ways you and your surgeon can address your shoulder issue based on your needs and preferences. You may undergo a partial shoulder replacement, a reverse shoulder replacement or a total shoulder replacement. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at these three procedures, when they may be indicated and why they may be the best shoulder replacement operation for you.
Partial Shoulder Replacement
- The Procedure – As the name implies, only a portion of the shoulder joint is replaced during the procedure. This is also known as a shoulder hemiarthroplasty. During the partial total replacement procedure, the damaged humeral head of the upper arm (the ball in the ball and socket joint) is removed and replaced with a prosthetic impact. The glenoid, which forms the joint socket, remains in place, although it may be slightly smoothed or reshaped to allow for a better fit with the artificial humeral ball.
- When It’s Considered – A partial shoulder replacement procedure is less common than a total shoulder replacement because it requires the humeral ball to be quite damaged while the glenoid socket remains strong and stable, and usually this degeneration is more uniform. However, for the right patient, it can restore strength and function without replacing as many shoulder components.
- Function – Similar to a total shoulder replacement, partial shoulder replacement aims to restore strength, function and more standardized movement in the shoulder joint while preserving more of the body’s own components.
Total Shoulder Replacement
- The Procedure – During a standard total shoulder replacement procedure, the surgeon will replace both the damaged humeral head and the glenoid socket with prosthetic components. The artificial ball and socket are placed in the same anatomical position as these areas would exist in a healthy shoulder joint.
- When It’s Considered – Total shoulder replacement is oftentimes considered for your average patient with signs that suggest that they could benefit from shoulder replacement. Patients with moderate osteoarthritis degeneration, rheumatoid arthritis degeneration or post-traumatic arthritis are oftentimes quality candidates for the procedure.
- Function – A total shoulder replacement restores strength, function and movement in the shoulder joint by replacing damaged bones with artificial components.
Reverse Shoulder Replacement
- The Procedure – With a reverse total shoulder replacement, the position of the ball and socket components are switched. A metal ball is attached to the glenoid, and the artificial socket is attached to the upper portion of the humerus.
- When It’s Considered – Reverse shoulder replacement tends to be reserved for patients with more severe shoulder damage and deterioration. Most patients also have rotator cuff tears or significant weakening of the rotator cuff complex.
- Function – By reversing the position of the ball and socket joint within the shoulder, the mechanics of the joint are changed. This allows the deltoid muscle to take over for the compromised rotator cuff tissues, which in turn leads to a significant improvement in both function and shoulder stability.
To learn more about any of these procedures, or to talk to a specialist about a shoulder issue you’ve been experiencing, reach out to Dr. Holloway and his team today at (865) 410-7887.
