Shoulder Replacement Surgery
Find relief for the pain and stiffness in your shoulder
When your shoulder becomes damaged or worn out due to arthritis, injury or other conditions, shoulder replacement surgery can offer pain relief and improved range of motion.
Your shoulder is a ball and socket joint. The ball of your shoulder joint is the rounded top of your upper arm, or humerus bone. It sits in a cup-shaped socket called the glenoid. When you have shoulder replacement surgery, these parts are replaced with artificial joints.
IU Health offers a full range of options for shoulder replacement surgery that provide pain relief by replacing part or all of the joint.
Anatomic Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery
Patients with severe shoulder pain, stiffness or grinding may be a candidate for anatomic total shoulder replacement surgery. This procedure replaces both the ball and socket of the joint.
The damaged top of the humerus bone is replaced with a metal ball, and the shoulder socket is replaced with a plastic liner. This new joint allows the shoulder to move freely.
However, patients who undergo total shoulder replacement surgery must no longer lift more than 25 pounds to avoid damaging the implants.
Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery
Reverse total shoulder replacement can be a good option for certain patients, including patients with fractures, arthritis or rotator cuff tears, or patients who need a previous shoulder surgery repaired.
This surgery reverses the anatomy of a patient's shoulder by hollowing out the top of the arm bone into a socket shape and attaching a ball to the existing socket. This reversal of the ball and socket changes how a shoulder moves, which recruits different muscles to improve shoulder motion.
Partial Shoulder Replacement Surgery
When only one part of the joint needs to be repaired, a partial shoulder replacement surgery replaces the ball.
This is a good option for patients with conditions affecting the humerus ball, such as avascular necrosis, or younger patients who want to avoid permanent lifting restrictions that come from a total shoulder replacement.
The risk of a partial shoulder replacement surgery is that it may not achieve the full pain relief of a total replacement surgery. The patient may eventually need conversion to total shoulder replacement.
Revision Shoulder Replacement Surgery
A revision shoulder surgery replacement surgery may remove existing shoulder implants that did not work as expected due to instability, infection, fractures, rotator cuff tears or loosening implants.
This type of surgery varies depending on the patient’s needs and previous surgeries on the shoulder. Revision surgeries are often anatomic or reverse total shoulder replacements.
Revision surgeries have an increased risk of infection and are often more challenging due to the prior surgery.
Types of Shoulder Replacement Surgery
IU Health offers a full range of options for shoulder replacement surgery that provide pain relief by replacing part or all of the joint.
Anatomic Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery
Patients with severe shoulder pain, stiffness or grinding may be a candidate for anatomic total shoulder replacement surgery. This procedure replaces both the ball and socket of the joint.
The damaged top of the humerus bone is replaced with a metal ball, and the shoulder socket is replaced with a plastic liner. This new joint allows the shoulder to move freely.
However, patients who undergo total shoulder replacement surgery must no longer lift more than 25 pounds to avoid damaging the implants.
Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery
Reverse total shoulder replacement can be a good option for certain patients, including patients with fractures, arthritis or rotator cuff tears, or patients who need a previous shoulder surgery repaired.
This surgery reverses the anatomy of a patient's shoulder by hollowing out the top of the arm bone into a socket shape and attaching a ball to the existing socket. This reversal of the ball and socket changes how a shoulder moves, which recruits different muscles to improve shoulder motion.
Partial Shoulder Replacement Surgery
When only one part of the joint needs to be repaired, a partial shoulder replacement surgery replaces the ball.
This is a good option for patients with conditions affecting the humerus ball, such as avascular necrosis, or younger patients who want to avoid permanent lifting restrictions that come from a total shoulder replacement.
The risk of a partial shoulder replacement surgery is that it may not achieve the full pain relief of a total replacement surgery. The patient may eventually need conversion to total shoulder replacement.
Revision Shoulder Replacement Surgery
A revision shoulder surgery replacement surgery may remove existing shoulder implants that did not work as expected due to instability, infection, fractures, rotator cuff tears or loosening implants.
This type of surgery varies depending on the patient’s needs and previous surgeries on the shoulder. Revision surgeries are often anatomic or reverse total shoulder replacements.
Revision surgeries have an increased risk of infection and are often more challenging due to the prior surgery.
What to Expect with Shoulder Replacement Surgery
Shoulder replacement surgeries may be an outpatient procedure, which means you will return home the same day of surgery. However, an overnight stay is often recommended based on the patient’s underlying medical conditions.
It’s important to manage pain immediately after surgery and follow physical therapy instructions in the weeks that follow.
Recovery after shoulder replacement takes time, and the shoulder will be immobilized in a sling for four to six weeks. This affects driving and other daily activities, especially if it’s the dominant arm in the sling.
You will undergo physical therapy to recover from surgery and regain range of motion in your arm.
Preparing for Shoulder Replacement Surgery
Since you will not be able to actively move your shoulder after surgery, it’s important to arrange to have family or friends help you with transportation, home care and meal preparation after surgery.
You may want to try wearing your arm in the sling before surgery to better understand the limitations you can expect during recovery.
Be sure to ask your doctor about what you can expect following your surgery.
After Shoulder Replacement Surgery
You will likely receive a nerve block (anesthesia) at the time of surgery, which will relieve pain for 24 to 72 hours. It’s important to have pain medications ready when you return home.
Your doctor will likely prescribe regular acetaminophen (Tylenol) and narcotic pain medication to be taken as needed. Be sure to discuss with your doctor any concerns you may have about taking narcotic pain medications.
Everyone recovers differently after shoulder replacement surgery, but it’s typical to expect:
- Pain and swelling that tapers off in the first few days.
- Gentle exercises in the first couple of weeks.
- Sling use followed by light activities in weeks two through six.
- Return to normal function in eight to 12 weeks.
- Permanent weightlifting restriction for patients who undergo total shoulder replacement.
Questions to Ask Your Provider
- What type of shoulder replacement surgery is right for me?
- How long will I be in a sling after surgery?
- When can I expect to return to work? Driving?
- What are my pain management options if I want to avoid narcotic pain medications?