Shoulder replacement involves taking out broken bone fragments and replacing them with metal and plastic components (implants) and this procedure is also called shoulder arthroplasty.
Shoulder joint consists of a socket and a ball. The shallow socket in the shoulder accommodates the round head, or ball, of the upper arm bone. Joint damage can result in weakness, stiffness, and pain. There are several forms and sizes available for shoulder implants. Partial and complete replacements with anatomic or reverse implants are available.
Anatomy of The Shoulder
Three bones make up your shoulder: the humerus i.e. upper arm bone, the scapula i.e. shoulder blade, and the clavicle i.e. collarbone. The joint at the shoulder is a ball and socket: Your shoulder blade has a shallow socket that accommodates the ball, or head, of your upper arm bone.
Articular cartilage is a smooth substance that covers the surfaces of the bones where they touch, protecting them and allowing for easy movement. The remaining surfaces inside the shoulder joint are covered by a thin, smooth tissue known as a synovial membrane. This membrane produces a tiny quantity of fluid in a healthy shoulder, which lubricates the cartilage and almost removes friction.
Stability and support are given by the muscles and tendons that encircle the shoulder. The shoulder can rotate over a wider range of motion than any other joint in the body because to all of these components.
What is Shoulder Replacement Surgery?
The goal of a shoulder replacement treatment is to replace damaged shoulder joint components with artificial elements known as prostheses in an attempt to eradicate the cause of pain and dysfunction. Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tear arthropathy, and avascular necrosis are the most prevalent causes of shoulder replacement surgery. The goal of the surgery is to make your shoulder and arm more usable, reduce your pain, strengthen you, and expand your range of motion.
What Are The Types of Shoulder Replacement Surgery?
The following shoulder replacement options may be recommended by your doctor, depending on the type of joint injury you have:
- Hemiarthroplasty: This operation replaces just the stem and ball. The stem articulates with your natural socket and is attached to the ball.
- Resurfacing Hemiarthroplasty: This procedure substitutes a prosthesis that resembles a cap and does not have a stem for the humeral head’s joint surface.
- Anatomic Total Shoulder Replacement: The arthritic joint is replaced with a highly polished metal ball that is attached to a stem on the humeral side and a plastic cup on the glenoid socket.
- Stemless Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: By securing the metal ball to the upper arm without the use of a stem, this kind of total shoulder arthroplasty protects bone.
- Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement: In this procedure, the glenoid socket is replaced with a metal ball, and a plastic cup is linked to the stem and relocated to the humerus, the upper arm bone. The joint is essentially reversed.
Shoulder Replacement Surgery Cost in India
Shoulder Replacement Surgery Cost in India starts from 5,80,700 INR (7000 USD). Shoulder replacement surgery cost in India are more affordable as compared to other nations like the US, Russia, and many European countries. India offers top-notch facilities with cutting-edge technology and equipment for shoulder replacement surgery to patients who are interested in the procedure. These hospitals are often found in wealthy countries. The availability of the most skilled and best shoulder replacement surgeons in India additionally ensures exceptional treatment quality.
What Are The Types of Diagnosis Done for Shoulder Replacement Surgery?
A consultation with an orthopaedic surgeon includes the following elements:
- A medical background: Your orthopedic surgeon will inquire about your overall health, the severity of your shoulder pain, and your functional capacity.
- A physical assessment: This will evaluate strength, stability, and shoulder motion.
- X-ray tests: X-rays are useful in assessing the degree of shoulder injury. They may exhibit loose fragments of bone or cartilage that may be floating inside the joint, flattening or irregularity in the form of the bone and loss of the typical joint space between the bones.
- Additional assessments: To assess the health of the bone and soft tissues in your shoulder, your doctor may occasionally prescribe blood tests, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or bone scans.
After discussing the findings of your examination with you, your orthopedic surgeon will determine if shoulder joint replacement is the most effective way to reduce your discomfort and enhance your function. There will also be discussion and consideration of alternative treatment options, such as drugs, injections, physical therapy, or various kinds of surgery.
How Shoulder Replacement Surgery is Performed?
Shoulder replacement surgery is typically performed to relieve the pain and improve the function in the shoulder joint. Below is a general outline of the steps that involve in a shoulder replacement surgery:
- The patient will be given a general anesthesia, regional anesthesia (nerve block), or a combination of both so to ensure that the patient is comfortable and pain-free during the surgery.
- The surgeon will make an incision over the affected shoulder of the patient. Where the location and size of the incision will depend on the specific type of shoulder replacement being performed for the patient.
- The surgeon then will carefully try to separate the muscles and tendons to gain access to the shoulder joint and this may involve detaching the biceps tendon temporarily.
- The damaged or arthritic portions of the shoulder joint, including the humeral head (upper arm bone) and the glenoid (shoulder socket), will be removed by the surgeon.
- The artificial shoulder joint components, such as the humeral component (metal stem with a ball) and the glenoid component (socket), will then be secured in place using bone cement or press-fit techniques as these components mimic the natural shoulder joint.
- Once the new joint components are securely in place, the surgeon will then reattach the muscles and tendons, repair the biceps tendon if needed, and close the incision with sutures or staples.
- After the surgery is done, the patient will be monitored in the recovery room by healtcare workers. The patient may need to wear a sling to support and protect the shoulder as it heals. Physical therapy and rehabilitation will play a crucial role in the recovery, helping the patient to regain shoulder strength, range of motion, and functionality.
- The length of the patient hospital stay will vary depending on the type of shoulder replacement, the patient overall health, and the patient surgeon’s recommendations. Some patients may be able to go home on the same day of the surgery, while others may require a short hospital stay.
- The patient will need to have regular follow-up appointments with the surgeon to monitor the progress, remove sutures or staples, and adjust the rehabilitation plan as needed.
Why Choose Dr. N. K. Magu?
Dr. N. K. Magu is a world-renowned orthopedic surgeon from India whose outstanding expertise and dedication to the field have gained him international fame. Over the course of several decades, Dr. N. K. Magu has proven to be an exceptional specialist in a number of orthopedic fields, especially when it comes to hip preservation, reconstruction, proximal femoral osteotomies, and other related areas. His reputation as one of the best orthopedic surgeons in the world has been cemented by his unparalleled commitment to enhancing the quality of life for his many patients.
