Different Types of Shoulder Replacement Surgeries Explained

Types of Shoulder Replacement Surgeries

The different types of surgeries are based on factors, such as the degree of joint destruction, the condition of the rotator cuff, bone quality, age, and the patient’s functional requirements. In general, shoulder replacement surgeries can be categorized as follows:

1. Total Shoulder Replacement (Anatomic Shoulder Arthroplasty)

A total shoulder replacement is the main shoulder replacement operation. In this, the surgeon replaces both the ball (humeral head) and the socket (glenoid) of the damaged joint with artificial implants which is very similar to the natural shoulder anatomy.

Typically, this operation is suitable for patients with:

• Severe osteoarthritis or inflammatory arthritis
• Severe shoulder pain without any harm to the rotator cuff function
• Stiffness is so great that it hinders daily activities

As with other joint replacements, anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty is a very effective method of pain relief and it aids in the recovery of normal range of motion, when the surrounding tendons are healthy.

2. Reverse Shoulder Replacement

Reverse shoulder replacement is mainly for people whose shoulders are severely damaged due to complex conditions, especially if the rotator cuff is badly injured. The most significant part of this operation is that the doctors reverse the natural anatomy of the shoulder joint – instead of the ball being the upper arm bone, it is now attached to the shoulder blade, and the socket is on the humerus.

With such a layout, the deltoid muscle takes over the functions of the rotator cuff and is able to move the arm.

A reverse shoulder replacement is recommended if a person has:

• Rotator cuff tendons that are completely torn or beyond repair
• Shoulder arthritis along with rotator cuff deficiency
• Unsuccessful surgeries of shoulder replacement

This operation brings mobility and pain relief in patients who could not get the relief from conventional shoulder ‍‌‍‍‌replacement.

3. Partial Shoulder Replacement (Hemiarthroplasty)

Partial shoulder replacement is a procedure when only the ball portion is replaced and the normal socket is still there. This method is applied when the spherical end of the arm bone is damaged and the cartilage in the socket remains healthy.

Here are some examples when this surgery is suggested:

• Severe fracture of the humeral head
• Avascular necrosis of the humeral head
• Primary osteoarthritis with a relatively preserved glenoid

Although the healing is faster than a complete replacement, it is important to choose the right patients to ensure success in the long ‍‌‍‍‌run.

4. Shoulder Resurfacing (Resurfacing Hemiarthroplasty)

Shoulder resurfacing is a method of preserving the shoulder bones by simply capping the affected area of the upper arm bone with a metal implant rather than removing the whole bone. Since the native socket remains untouched, this alternative is less aggressive than a complete replacement.

This‍‌‍‍‌ method is considered when:

• The glenoid cartilage remains healthy
• No serious fracture of the humeral head or neck has occurred
• Maintaining the bone stock is important