Shoulder Replacement Surgery

Shoulder prosthesis is known as shoulder arthroplasty in medicine. Shoulder prosthesis, which consists of metal and polyethylene parts, is used to replace the shoulder joint, which has deteriorated due to various reasons or has become painful with the restriction of its functions. The shoulder prosthesis system, which has been developed for the broken or damaged shoulder problem, allows the shoulder system to move more flexibly.

How is Shoulder Replacement Surgery performed?

Shoulder replacement surgery is a surgical method applied in the treatment of serious damage to the shoulder joint. It is usually performed to reduce pain and increase mobility in cases such as arthritis (arthrosis), shoulder dislocation, fractures or rotator cuff tears. The shoulder joint is one of the most mobile joints in the body and can lose its function due to age-related degeneration, trauma or rheumatic diseases. In this case, shoulder replacement surgery comes into play.

Who Can Have Shoulder Replacement Surgery?

Shoulder replacement surgery is generally preferred in the following cases:

• Advanced shoulder arthrosis (calcification)
• Shoulder head fractures
• Arthropathy after rotator cuff tear
• Rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory rheumatic diseases
• Persistent pain and limitation of movement in the shoulder joint
• Shoulder prosthesis is recommended as a surgical solution when conservative treatments (physical therapy, medication, injections) do not produce results.

Types of Shoulder Prosthesis

Shoulder prostheses differ according to the patient’s condition. The most commonly used types of shoulder prosthesis are as follows:

• Total Shoulder Prosthesis: Both the shoulder head (humerus) and the joint socket (glenoid) are replaced.
• Partial Shoulder Replacement: Only the humeral head is replaced.
• Reverse Shoulder Prosthesis: It is preferred in patients with rotator cuff tears. In this method, the anatomical structure of the prosthesis is reversed so that the shoulder muscles work more efficiently.

Surgery Process and Recovery

The surgery is performed under general anesthesia and takes approximately 1.5 – 2 hours. The hospital stay varies between 2-4 days. The postoperative physical therapy process is very important. Thanks to physical therapy, the mobility of the shoulder is regained and the prosthesis is ensured to be long-lasting.

Although the recovery process varies from person to person, the full functional return period can be between 3-6 months. Following the recommendations of the doctor and physiotherapist during this process is critical for a successful recovery.

Advantages of Shoulder Prosthesis Surgery

• Elimination of chronic pain
• Increased shoulder movements
• Significant improvement in quality of life
• Ability to perform daily activities comfortably