1. People who experience chronic pains in the shoulder have likely developed arthritic degeneration or
structural injury of the shoulder. The conditions can affect people of any age, and are often
accompanied by intense pains and the inability to raise the arm above shoulder level. Soft tissue
damage to the rotator cuff (the group of muscles responsible for stabilizing the shoulder) can render a
person unable to complete even the most basic tasks like dressing or bathing. When damage to the
rotator cuff is severe enough, surgeons may opt to perform a reverse total shoulder replacement
surgery.
Like a total shoulder replacement, a reverse total shoulder replacement is an effective and safe
procedure for people suffering from shoulder damage. Also similar is the process by which the damage
is fixed. In both procedures, surgeons install an artificial ball-and-joint into the shoulder. The difference
is that, in reverse total replacement surgery, the socket prosthesis replaces the rounded end of the
humerus, and the metal ball is installed into the glenoid fossa (commonly referred to as the shoulder
socket). The reason for this reversal is that it allows for the deltoid muscle to become the elevator
muscle in the shoulder, as opposed to the rotator cuff, which has likely been torn and damaged.
People who are good candidates to total shoulder replacement surgery are people who experience the
following symptoms: arthritic degeneration of the glenohumeral joint of the shoulder, severely damaged
rotator cuffs (characterized by a decreased range of motion), chronic pain and weakness in the shoulder
that do not improve after conservative treatments (including medications, injections, and even physical
therapy).
Like the normal shoulder joint replacement surgery, reverse total shoulder replacement surgery involves
surgeons making a four to six inch incision on the body. Patients are placed under general anesthesia,
during which surgeons examine and remove torn cartilage and debris from a damaged rotator cuff.
Next, surgeons will insert a ball prosthesis into the shoulder, which should help the patient regain
movement in the shoulder.
Reverse total shoulder replacement is an outpatient procedure, which means that patients can return
home within 24 hours of the procedure being performed. Long-term success of reverse total shoulder
replacement surgery is highly dependent upon a patient’s actions during the rehabilitation process. If a
patient is highly motivated and determined during rehabilitation, there’s a good chance that the
shoulder will heal properly and strongly. However, anything less than 100% could result in the shoulder
experiencing recurring pain and discomfort once again.
Also important is following the post-operative procedures that your surgeon has laid out for you.
Properly following these guidelines will ensure that your prostheses retain their position within the
shoulder. If by chance any complications begin to arise, you surgeon will quickly identify and take steps
to fix the condition before it can develop into anything serious.