Shoulder Arthritis Arthroplasty

Understanding Shoulder Arthritis

Shoulder or glenohumeral arthritis occurs overtime as joint cartilage is destroyed and joint space narrows. This can be the result of degenerative changes, posttraumatic arthritis, or inflammatory arthritis. Patients describe the pain as being worse with any kind of movement or strenuous activity. Range of motion is usually limited and crepitus is usually present. X-rays will reveal narrowed or no remaining joint space between the humeral head and the glenoid. Initial treatment usually consists of rest, NSAIDs, therapy and cortisone injections. Ultimately, depending on the patient’s health and age, a reverse or total shoulder arthroplasty may be indicated to alleviate pain and restore some function.

Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

Some patients with advanced shoulder arthritis and an intact rotator cuff may be a candidate for a total shoulder arthroplasty. It is important to take into consideration the patient’s age and functional status when considering this option. The total shoulder replacement will help the decrease pain and allow the patient to return to daily activities. It is generally not designed for heavy labor or strenuous activities. The surgery involves replacing two components from within the shoulder, the humeral head (ball) and the glenoid (socket). The patient will begin gentle range of motion shortly after surgery. The patient’s progress will be followed closely by their surgeon at follow up appointments.

Reverse Total shoulder Arthroplasty

This surgery is reserved for patients with advanced shoulder arthritis and with a torn and retracted rotator cuff. The reverse shoulder arthroplasty changes the dynamics of the shoulder so that the deltoid muscle takes the place of the rotator cuff in elevating the arm. The native humeral head is replaced with the socket portion of the arthroplasty and the glenoid is replaced with the ball portion of the arthroplasty.