The field of orthopedics has become much more advanced in the last few decades. The advancements in the industry have made it possible to treat problems that were difficult to treat decades ago. Continuous advancements have also led to the development of new and improved orthopedic implants and instruments.
Well, we are here to discuss total shoulder replacement.
The shoulder joint is one of the most complex and biggest joints in our body. It is involved in numerous day-to-day activities. Any injury or problem occurring in the shoulder joint can reduce its range of motion while creating difficulties in doing even simple daily tasks. When it comes to shoulder replacement, it is recommended in severe cases where other treatment methods fail to relieve the condition.
What is Shoulder Replacement?
Shoulder replacement is a surgical procedure in which the surgeon removes the damaged bones and muscles of the shoulder joint and replaces them with specially made orthopedic implants.
The shoulder joint is a type of ball and socket joint where the round head of the upper arm bone serves as the ball that fits in a shoulder socket. When this natural anatomy of the joint gets disturbed, pain, stiffness, swelling, and other complications start to occur.
Why is Shoulder Replacement Surgery Done?
Shoulder replacement surgery aims to restore the natural anatomy of the joint while relieving the associated symptoms. Here are certain conditions in which the doctor may suggest doing shoulder replacement:
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a condition characterized by the damage to the cartilages that protect our joints from day-to-day impacts caused by day-to-day activities.
Rotator Cuff Tear
Rotator cuff tear is one of the commonest shoulder injuries that are seen in the shoulder. A rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround our joint. Both overuse and traumatic injury can cause rotator cuff tear and if the condition is severe, replacement surgery may be recommended.
Fractures
Surgery is recommended when the upper end of the humerus gets fractured. This could occur as a result of a collision while playing a contact sport or a traumatic injury like an automobile accident.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
It is an inflammatory condition that occurs as a result of an overactive immune system. This form of arthritis is also characterized by cartilage damage.
Osteonecrosis
Osteonecrosis is a condition in which blood flow is affected to a bone or joint making it dead over time. Thus, if someone is suffering from osteonecrosis in the shoulder joint, replacement surgery may be required for the treatment.
Types of Shoulder Replacement
Now, different types of shoulder replacement procedures are performed based on the severity and type of injury that occurred.
Anatomic Total Shoulder Replacement
This is when both the ball and socket are replaced by an artificial shoulder implant.
Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
In this case also, both the ball and socket are replaced but implants are reversed. This means the ball is fixed to the shoulder blade and the socket is placed to the upper arm bone. This type of surgery is performed mostly in the case of severe rotator cuff injury.
Partial Shoulder Replacement
This is done when only the ball portion of the shoulder joint is damaged. Here, only the ball part is replaced with an implant.
To explore a huge range of orthopedic implants and instruments along with thousands of other medical products and supplies, book your visit to the Argentina International Medical Expo from 21 to 23rd September 2022.