Shoulder Joint Replacement (Total Shoulder Arthroplasty)

The most frequent source of pain and joint destruction is arthritis. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, rotator cuff arthropathy, and trauma related arthritis are the four most common sources of shoulder joint destruction. When conservative methods of treatment fail to provide adequate relief, shoulder replacement is considered. 

 

The primary purpose of shoulder joint replacement is to relieve pain. Many patients will also experience an increase in range of motion. Shoulder replacement has an extremely successful track record and has transformed the lives of many patients. 

 

The type of shoulder replacement depends upon the particular patient pathology. Partial shoulder replacements may be indicated in young individuals with disease limited to the humerus. Complete shoulder replacements (Figure 1) are the most common procedure and deliver better overall results for patients with disease effecting both the humerus and glenoid. A relatively new procedure, reverse shoulder replacement (Figure 2), switches the component positions of the humerus and glenoid. This transition allows for tensioning of the deltoid in patients with severe rotator cuff deficiency associated with arthritis.