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Shoulder

A short guide to your upcoming shoulder arthroplasty.

Shoulder image
If your shoulders hurt, you may be considering undergoing shoulder replacement surgery.
We’ll explain how your shoulders work and why they may wear out over time. Of course, we’ll also explain how shoulder prosthetic implants are made and what happens during shoulder arthroplasty.

For more general information on joint replacement, visit our guide and FAQs section.
Shoulder Anatomy The shoulder resembles a ball and socket joint that connects the humerus and the scapula.

However it is subject to lower anatomical constraints than hip joint and allows one of the widest ranges of movement in the whole body.

The upper humerus ends with its humeral head which articulates, on the other side, onto the glenoid bone of the scapula. In a healthy state, cartilage covers both and they smoothly articulate with each other. The joint capsule, ligaments, and shoulder muscle tendons stabilize the joint. The deltoid muscle and the rotator cuff provide the main moving forces. The rotator cuff consists of four muscles that centralize the humeral head in the glenoid cavity.

Shoulder Joint-specific
Diseases

Rotator Cuff's Tear Arthropathy

A very large and long-standing rotator cuff tear may develop a condition called Rotator's cuff tear arthropathy. The lack of muscle stability and protection leads to bone-on-bone contact. This results in arthritis and the destruction of the joint cartilage. This rotator cuff tear usually has a traumatic origin or is due to tendon degeneration.

Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)

Avascular necrosis occurs when the blood supply to the bone is disrupted. Bone cells die without a proper blood supply and cause the destruction of the shoulder joint. Risk factors associated with its cause include chronic steroid use, deep-sea diving, severe fractures, sickle cell disease, and alcohol abuse.

Shoulder Prosthetic implants There are several shoulder implants available. Depending on the type of joint disease, an orthopedic surgeon may choose to replace the joint with a total or partial prosthesis.

The two main types of prosthesis are the total anatomical or reverse. The former maintains the natural shoulder formation. In the latter, the socket and sphere materials are 'inverted'.
Depending on the patient’s bone quality and diagnosis, these implants are good for implantation with or without a humeral stem.

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Shoulder implants mentioned above may fail for many different reasons. When this occurs, revision prosthetic surgery may be required.
Shoulder Arthroplasty
  • Your surgeon begins by cutting the skin so that nerves and blood vessels can be isolated and moved aside. Any muscles in the area are also moved to the side to give a complete view of the joint.
  • Your orthopedic physician will discuss alternative surgical approaches with you. The final decision depends on your diagnosis, physical condition, and lifestyle.
disclaimer
Limacorporate S.p.A., as a manufacturer of prosthetic implants, does not practice the medical profession. The choice of the most suitable surgical intervention and technique is necessarily the responsibility of the holy professional. Each surgeon will have to evaluate the appropriateness of the implant technique he intends to carry out in the light of his own preparation, experience and clinical evaluation of each individual patient.
Your orthopedic surgeon is responsible for all recommendations and decisions about your medical care if you and your surgeon decide that joint replacement is appropriate for you. The following information also does not provide a complete or full discussion of the specifics of joint replacement surgery; the prosthesis that may be used; your care before, during, and after surgery; or the potential complications associated with surgery and your particular condition. Depending upon your particular condition, some of the general information provided may not be applicable to you. You will need to discuss the specifics of your case with your surgeon. LimaCorporate does not guarantee any specific results, recovery or rehabilitation.
WARNING: Please remember the information on this document is for educational purposes only and should not be used to make a decision on a condition or a procedure. All decisions should be made in conjunction with your surgeon and your primary care provider.
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