TSR, Reverse TSR

Severe shoulder conditions with persistent symptoms that have not responded to conservative treatments may benefit from total shoulder replacement surgery.  Shoulder replacement surgery replaces the damaged joint with an artificial one that allows patients to enjoy painless motion and resume their regular activities.

Shoulder replacement surgery is often performed to treat painful conditions such as:

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Rotator cuff tears
• Osteonecrosis

Shoulder replacement surgery takes about two hours to perform and is usually done under general anesthesia.  It may be performed arthroscopically or through a traditional open procedure that requires a four to six inch incision.

Patients will be required to stay in the hospital for one to three days and will need physical therapy in order to restore function to the joint after surgery.  Most patients are able to return to all of their regular activities after two to three months.

If total shoulder replacement is unsuccessful, your doctor may recommend reverse shoulder replacement, which reverses the structure of the healthy shoulder joint, placing the “ball” of the joint on the shoulder blade and the “socket” on the humerus (upper arm bone).  This procedure is usually reserved for patients with severe cases of rotator cuff arthropathy, as well as arthritis and for revision surgery.  It often provides significant improvements in range of motion and with regular activities such as eating and drinking.