Reverse shoulder replacement surgery (reverse shoulder arthroplasty) has given hope to patients who have had a failed conventional shoulder arthroplasty or who are suffering from a severely damaged rotator cuff for which the standard procedure is not recommended.
Nonetheless, like making any other important decision, deciding to get a reverse shoulder replacement entails forethought and due diligence. Knowing the right questions to ask your orthopedic surgeon about the procedure is a crucial step toward making a well-informed decision.
Here are some questions you may find worth asking your orthopedic surgeon about reverse shoulder replacement.
How is Reverse Shoulder Replacement Different from Traditional Shoulder Arthroplasty?
Although the goal of a reverse shoulder arthroplasty is the same as the conventional surgery, the process is different. The traditional procedure mimics your shoulder’s natural ball-and-socket anatomy: a plastic lining is placed into the socket (glenoid) and the metal ball is attached to the end of your upper arm bone (humerus). A reverse shoulder replacement is what it sounds like: the normal ball-and-socket structure is reversed. It involves your orthopedic surgeon fixing the metal ball to your shoulder blade (scapula) and attaching the artificial socket to the top of your humerus.
This placement enables your deltoid muscle, instead of your damaged rotator cuff muscles, to raise your arm above your shoulder.
How Long Will the Procedure Take?
The surgery itself takes roughly two to three hours. Including the preparation and recovery, the entire process can take several hours. You may have to stay two to four days in the hospital following your surgery.
How Will I Manage Pain After Surgery?
Pain is unavoidable with any orthopedic surgery, but your care team will take all necessary measures to ensure your comfort as you recover. Your doctor will prescribe medications as well as provide you with detailed aftercare instructions to help you effectively manage your pain.
Additionally, you must have help at home after discharge. Assistance is crucial for ensuring you don’t overexert yourself during your recovery.
Where Will My Incision Be?
With a reverse shoulder replacement, your orthopedic surgeon will create incisions in the front of your shoulder. It will be a single horizontal line, about five inches in length.
What Can I Do to Speed Up the Healing Process After the Procedure?
How quickly and successfully you regain your normal function after reverse shoulder replacement hinges greatly on your adherence to your doctor’s postoperative instructions and to your physical therapy program. It also pays to keep your follow-up appointments with your orthopedic surgeon, who will track your progress in recovery as well as ensure that there are no signs of complications and that your incision is healing properly.
Reverse Shoulder Replacement Surgery in Maryland
If you live in Maryland and are in search of an orthopedic specialist whom you can trust to deliver the best possible outcome for reverse shoulder replacement surgery, your search ends here—visit us at Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder. Our board-certified upper-extremity surgeons have performed thousands of successful shoulder arthroplasties (total, partial, and reverse), helping countless patients get back to living their best lives. This means you can rest assured that you’re in very capable hands!
Schedule your consultation today by calling us at (410) 296-6232, or by sending an appointment request right here on our website.
