Osteoarthritis is the primary reason for shoulder pain and loss of mobility for most adults. In addition, severe fractures can interrupt blood supply to the ball of the joint, which can speed deterioration and cause avascular necrosis (bone death).
Damage to the rotator cuff is another common cause of pain and limited mobility. When this tendon that holds the shoulder in place is completely torn, conventional total joint replacement substitutes the damaged bone but does not provide a stable pivot point needed to raise the arm higher than 90 degrees.
“When you lose your rotator cuff, you lose your fulcrum, which is the structural component required to lift your arm,” explains Paul Siatczynski, MD, Orthopaedic Surgeon at Crittenton. “The reverse total shoulder replacement procedure swaps the ball and socket, allowing the deltoid muscle to lift the arm.”
We Have the Technology
Conventional shoulder joint replacement surgery has been available in the United States since the 1950s. The reverse total shoulder approach was pioneered in Europe in the 1980s, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the procedure in late 2004. Today, only a select number of orthopaedic surgeons have mastered this leading-edge option for shoulder replacement.
“Although reverse total shoulder replacement is a very technical procedure, our team’s experience allows it to go smoothly,” Dr. Siatczynski says. “Physical therapy begins the day of the procedure and continues for 12 or more weeks on an outpatient basis to build strength and range of motion. If limited range of motion following a shoulder surgery you underwent five or more years ago prevents you from doing activities you love, talk with your primary healthcare provider about whether reverse total shoulder replacement is a viable option for you.”
For more information about joint replacement at Crittenton Hospital Medical Center, visit http://www.crittenton.com/joint-replacement.
