When your shoulder joint is too damaged to support arm movement, a shoulder replacement can relieve your pain and restore the full range of motion. The experienced orthopedic surgeons at Orthocenter specialize in total and reverse shoulder replacement, then their rehabilitation physicians work with you to achieve full recovery. If you live with shoulder pain and would like to learn whether you’re a good candidate for shoulder replacement, call one of the offices in Red Bank, Morganville, and Holmdel, New Jersey, or use the online booking feature.
When you get a shoulder replacement, your doctor at Orthocenter removes the damaged parts of the shoulder’s ball-and-socket joint and replaces them with artificial prosthetics. You can replace only the rounded head of the arm bone (the ball) or you can replace both the ball and the socket, which is in the shoulder blade.
You may need a shoulder replacement when osteoarthritis wears down the cartilage that covers bones in the joint. Cartilage allows bones to move smoothly, but as it degenerates, bones rub against one another, causing pain, stiffness, and inflammation. The condition progressively worsens until a joint replacement is the only treatment option to relieve pain and restore motion.
Inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis gradually erodes the bone, ultimately causing enough damage to require a joint replacement.
If you sustain a severe shoulder fracture that shatters the upper arm bone, your doctor may not be able to restore all the pieces. Additionally, the blood supply may be so interrupted that the bone won’t heal even if it’s repaired. As a result, replacing the ball may be the only treatment option.
Finally, a condition called avascular necrosis can lead to a shoulder replacement. This is a condition in which blood supply to the joint is disrupted and bone cells die.
The team of orthopedic surgeons at Orthocenter offer two replacement procedures:
If you have ongoing shoulder pain and limited movement despite treatment, call Orthocenter or book an appointment online.