Reverse Shoulder Replacement Vs. Conventional Shoulder Replacement

Shoulder replacement is necessary when function becomes impaired by floating bone or cartilage, loss of cartilage between the bones, bone spurs, or structural changes in the surface of the bone.

Considerations

• Patients who have an intact rotator cuff and suffer from osteoarthritis are good candidates for a conventional shoulder replacement. Instances of prior replacement failure, a completely torn rotator cuff, or severe arthritis may require a reverse replacement.

Features

• Replacing the round part of the joint with a metal ball and resurfacing the socket with a plastic cup is the procedure for a conventional replacement. The components are switched in a reverse shoulder replacement. The ball is attached inside the socket and the cup is placed where the head of the joint was removed.

Significance

• Getting a conventional shoulder replacement when a reverse replacement is necessary may not reduce pain and could leave the patient with decreased mobility.

Potential

• Shoulder replacement can increase mobility and function while decreasing pain, sometimes eliminating it completely.

Effects

• Recovery will require physical therapy and limiting use of the arm for up to six weeks. After paying close attention to all of the physician's orders during rehabilitation, many patients will enjoy a remarkable increase in their quality of life.