Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery:
Causes, Diagnosis And Treatment

Shoulder replacement surgery is a serious decision that must be made after a long and careful course of study. Patients suffering from chronic pain, inflammation, limited mobility and a basic inability to get daily tasks completed due to shoulder problems are the most likely to need shoulder replacement surgery, though it takes a doctor’s thorough exam and diagnosis to get to this stage.

Ailments and injuries that can require a total shoulder replacement surgery are varied. Arthritis, trauma, tearing of the rotator cuff, bone death and even a failed previous replacement surgery are reasons to attempt shoulder replacement surgery.

Despite the fact that the technique has been in practice since the 1950s, it’s still used much less frequently than say knee or hip replacement surgery. Part of this is the fact that the shoulder doesn’t normally undergo the kind of trauma that would lead to such an invasive technique and part is due to the importance of the arm and hand to overall quality of life. Should something go wrong with the surgery, mobility and sensation in the limb can be permanently impaired.

The doctor will diagnose the need for shoulder replacement surgery when certain things have occurred- the patient loses all or most of the cartilage in the bone joint, there are pieces of bone and cartilage floating around and within the bone joint, bone spurs develop within the shoulder or the bone becomes irregular and deformed.

All of these conditions resulting from the above ailments and injuries can be extremely painful and limiting in mobility. At this point, complete shoulder replacement surgery is advisable to improve quality of life for the patient.

Complete, or total shoulder replacement surgery usually involves replacing the joint surfaces with a highly polished metal ball attached to a stem, and a plastic socket. After surgery the patient will undergo a period of recuperation during which he or she enters a shoulder replacement exercise program to strengthen the muscles around the joint. This shoulder replacement exercise program will be practiced under the supervision of a physical therapist or in a rehabilitation center. Patients typically recover sufficiently within a few weeks to continue their daily activities.

The causes, diagnosis and treatment of the shoulder joint are varied, but if severe enough and chronic the treatment is usually the same. Total shoulder replacement surgery can significantly improve the patient’s quality of life.

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Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery: Causes, Diagnosis And Treatment

Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery:
Causes, Diagnosis And Treatment