Shoulder Joint Replacement Surgery

What are the different types of shoulder replacements?

Although shoulder replacements aren’t as common as hip or knee replacements, they offer the same success in returning function and relieving pain.

Total shoulder replacement  

– In total shoulder replacement, the damaged bone of the humerus and of the glenoid are replaced with metal and plastic replacement components.

Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement  

– Some patients with shoulder arthritis are diagnosed with a special type of shoulder arthritis called cuff tear arthropathy. 

– Patients with cuff tear arthropathy will not benefit greatly from a total shoulder replacement because the cuff is a very important part of being able to lift the arm. Alternatively, a reverse total shoulder replacement changes the anatomy of the shoulder such that the deltoid muscle can function without a rotator cuff muscle, allowing the patient to lift their arm pain free.

– In all, reverse total shoulder replacements are becoming a more popular choice of shoulder replacement for shoulder arthritis conditions.

Personalised Reverse and Total Shoulder Replacement  

– Best suited for patients with abnormal anatomy, patient specific instrument technology (PSI) is tailor made for your joint, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach – giving you maximum stability from your prosthesis placement. 

– This treatment is also multi-purpose and addresses both rotator cuff tears AND arthritis. 

Short Stem Total Shoulder Replacement

– The critical factors when looking at shoulder replacement are stability and function. 

– The shoulder is not a weight bearing joint like the knee and so different considerations are important.

– This option is best suited for younger patients. The short stem shoulder replacement is bone preserving and has a variable angle interface to maximise and restore biomechanical function.