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Shoulder Replacement

All joints of the body may be affected by arthritis. Because the weight bearing joints (the hip and knee) are most often affected, they are more commonly replaced. Also, patients with severe arthritis often have hip and knee replacement before shoulder replacement because the hip and knee are necessary for walking.

Shoulder replacement has been performed for many years. Shoulder replacement may involve replacement of only the ball of the shoulder or both the ball and the socket. The ball is usually chrome cobalt, and the socket is made of polyethylene. The majority of shoulder replacements today involve only the replacement of the ball. Risks of this procedure are similar to those of hip and knee replacement.

A shoulder replacement is similar to a hip replacement. There is an uncemented stem which fits into the humerus (the arm bone) and a ball which resembles the natural head of the humerus. The socket of the shoulder may be replaced also, but commonly is not as seen in this x-ray.