Whats The Hospital Stay Time After My Reverse Shoulder Replacement Surgery
Reverse shoulder replacement surgery typically takes around a couple of hours, but the preparation for the surgery and the postoperative recovery might add a few more hours on to this time. You could spend a couple of hours in the recovery room, and anywhere from two to five days after surgery in the hospital.
What Is The Long
Joint replacement surgery is an effective way of reducing pain and improving movement and function in the affected shoulder. The majority of patients can return to their day-to-day activities, including low impact sports, without experiencing pain. Complications are rare but all surgery carries some risk, such as infection, shoulder instability or loosening of the implant, and your surgeon will discuss these with you. New advances mean surgeons are continually developing less invasive techniques, which provide faster recovery times.
Indications/reasons Requiring Shoulder Replacement Surgery
This procedure is typically recommended for individuals who have a shoulder replacement surgery indication of some type, who are experiencing severe shoulder pain where conservative treatments have provided little to no relief.
Some reasons for shoulder replacement surgery include:
- Rheumatoid arthritis : With this condition, your immune system attacks your joints by mistake which causes inflammation and pain.
- Osteoarthritis: This form of arthritis is common in the elderly. It occurs when you have a wearing away of your cartilage that pads your bones.
- A broken shoulder: Breaking your shoulder bone is a good indication of shoulder replacement surgery to repair it.
The doctor will help you determine if you require a shoulder replacement procedure.
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What’s The Hospital Stay Time After My Reverse Shoulder Replacement Surgery
Reverse shoulder replacement surgery typically takes around a couple of hours, but the preparation for the surgery and the postoperative recovery might add a few more hours on to this time. You could spend a couple of hours in the recovery room, and anywhere from two to five days after surgery in the hospital.
Shoulder Replacement Surgery Orthopedic Surgeon

Orthopedic surgeons are committed to diagnosing, treating and preventing disorders of the:
- Elbow and shoulder
Orthopedic surgeons are experts with a great deal of training in the adequate diagnosis and both surgical and non-surgical treatment of diseases and injuries of the musculoskeletal system.
You should find an orthopedic surgeon who:
- Has experience treating your specific condition.
- Is orthopedic surgery board-certified and specializes in shoulder replacement surgery.
- Accepts your insurance.
- Practices at hospitals with high-quality results in orthopedic care and shoulder surgery.
- Answers your questions and makes you feel comfortable talking with the.
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Shoulder Replacement Surgery Procedure
A shoulder replacement surgery procedure typically takes around a couple of hours. You may be given general anesthesia, meaning during the procedure, you’ll be unconscious. Or, you could receive regional anesthesia, meaning you’ll be sedated, but awake.
During the procedure, the surgeon replaces the destroyed joint ball, referred to as the humeral head, of your shoulder using a metal ball. They’ll also put a plastic surface on your shoulder socket, referred to as a glenoid. In some cases, they might be able to perform a partial shoulder replacement, which involves them replacing just the joint ball.
After the surgery, they’ll take you to the recovery room for a few hours. After you wake up, they’ll move you to a hospital room.
What Is A Reverse Shoulder Replacement
A reverse shoulder replacement is a design in which the positions of the ball and socket are switched: A metal ball implant is placed where the patient’s own natural socket was, and a plastic socket implant is placed on the head of the humeral head.
This reverse design has more stability and does not need the tendons to hold it in place. It’s motion is controlled by the deltoid muscle rather than the rotator cuff tendon. This make it an ideal choice when the damaged shoulder needs new surfaces, but does not have sufficiently healthy soft tissues to support stabilization and movement. It is commonly performed on patients who have shoulder arthritis and a severer rotator cuff tear.
The design rationale for the reverse shoulder replacement is as follows: In a healthy person, the shoulder ball rests against the socket (rather than being deeply contained within the socket, as in a hip joint. Because of this position, the ball relies on the tendons that surround the it and socket to both hold it in place and to move it. But with some types of arthritis, these tendons are severely damaged, torn or nonfunctioning. In such cases, the ball implant used in a traditional shoulder replacement would have no soft tissue to hold it in place and/or to move it.
HSS surgeons have led the design of both traditional shoulder replacements, as well as reverse shoulder replacements.
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Why Should A Person Get A Reverse Prosthesis Instead Of A Standard Shoulder Replacement
A standard total shoulder replacement depends upon muscles and tendons around the shoulder joint to be intact. The muscles attach to the shoulder blade and turn into tendons which attach to the shoulder. These muscles and their tendons function to move the shoulder and are together called the rotator cuff. When these tendons become extensively torn so that they do not attach to the bone any longer, the shoulder often does not function normally. The loss of the rotator cuff can produce pain and also loss of motion. A normal shoulder replacement is designed to work only if those tendons are intact. In contrast, a reverse prosthesis is designed for situations where the rotator cuff is torn or malfunctioning.
Reverse Shoulder Replacement | Q& A with Dr. Edward McFarland
A leading expert in his field, Edward McFarland M.D., explains the difference between Total Shoulder Replacement and Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement. An R-TSR can be the solution to certain conditions that a regular Total Shoulder Replacement cannot resolve.
How Do I Treat The Stiffness
You should always follow the directions of your surgeon after surgery, since some tears need more time to heal than other tears. The best thing is to listen to your doctor as well as the physical therapist involved in your care. We tell our patients that ice is helpful for the pain, along with pain medicine of some sort, such as acetaminophen , anti-inflammatory medications , pain relievers and even prednisone by mouth . You should take these medications only at the direction of your doctor. We usually recommend that during the first three months the emphasis in physical therapy and with your home program should be on regaining motion in your fingers, wrist, elbow and shoulder. We tell patients they have the rest of their lives to get strong, but during the first four months after rotator cuff surgery, the major goal should be largely to regain motion in the shoulder. Stiffness in the shoulder can be the cause of pain months after the surgical repair, so it is important that stiffness be addressed even months or years after the surgery.
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Who Should Not Have A Reverse Prosthesis
There are only a few instances where a reverse prosthesis cannot be implanted. The first is if the socket bone is too far gone to allow the component base plate to be able to be fixed with screws to the bone. In some instances bone graft can be added at the time of surgery which makes it possible to place the base plate and screws, or bone graft can be added to allow placement of the base plate at a later date.
Patients with an ongoing infection in the shoulder should not have a reverse prosthesis. However, if the infection can be cleared up then a prosthesis can be inserted. Whenever a shoulder replacement is attempted in a shoulder that has had a previous infection, the post-operative infection rate is higher than if the shoulder never had an infection. This should be discussed in detail with your doctor prior to having this surgery done.
What Is The Average Age For A Shoulder Replacement
For cases where the shoulder replacement is part of the treatment plan for osteoarthritis or a similar age-related degradation of the joint, the average patient age is between 60 to 80 years old. Though some individuals who suffered shoulder trauma from sports injuries or an automobile accident who may need a shoulder replacement as early as their 40s.
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Is Shoulder Replacement Harder Than Knee Replacement
The very thing that gives the shoulder its amazing range of motion also makes replacing it more complicated than the equivalent surgery for a hip or knee: Shoulder movement depends more on muscles and tendons than it does on bones and ligaments.
The shoulder is the most complex joint in the body, and its the one thats most likely to be injured, Dr. Michael J. Osterholm, a professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of California, San Francisco, who was not involved with the new study.
What Complication Can Happen After A Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery

Possible complications of any operation include: wound infection, an unexpected reaction to the anaesthetic, excessive bleeding or a blood clot.
Complications specific to total shoulder replacement surgery:
shoulder instability – the top of your upper arm moves out of its socket.accidental damage to your shoulder joint – nerves, muscles and blood vessels.joint infection.small bone cracks leading to a fractured shoulder bone. A new shoulder joint should last for at least ten years. If necessary it can then be replaced again.
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Contact Dr Gombera To Schedule Your Shoulder Replacement Surgery Consultation
Dr. Gombera is Houston’s go-to shoulder replacement surgery specialist. He is board-certified and specializes in arthroscopy, sports medicine and treatment of knee, shoulder and hip injuries. He stays up-to-date with all the latest, innovative and minimally invasive techniques. Contact our office to schedule your consultation with Dr. Gombera for your shoulder replacement surgery.
Total Shoulder Replacement Reverse Shoulder Replacement
If you have advanced shoulder arthritis, and nonsurgical treatments havent relieved your pain or you can no longer lift your arm to perform daily activities, your doctor may recommend shoulder replacement surgery. In this procedure, also called shoulder arthroplasty, the surgeon replaces all or part of your shoulder joint with a prosthetic one that restores your range of motion and your ability to function without pain.
Duke shoulder surgeons are experts in the different approaches to this surgery, as well as the different prosthetic devices used to replace the shoulder joint. They perform hundreds of these operations every year and lead research on the newest technologies. Duke surgeons use computer modeling to ensure that your replacement is the best fit for you. Our goal is to educate you about your options and help you determine if shoulder arthroplasty is right for you.
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In Reverse Shoulder Replacements
The components are still metal and plastic, but reversed: The metal ball is attached to the patient’s existing socket, and a new plastic socket is attached to the patient’s upper humerus, which formerly included the natural ball of the anatomic shoulder.
The stem is designed to be cementless to promote the ingrowth of bone into the prosthesis. The plastic socket also features a metal peg that allows the patient’s natural bone to grow into the implant. The Comprehensive Reverse Shoulder System , also designed by HSS surgeons, is entirely cementless. Both sides of the joint feature the ability for natural bone to grow into, and become integrated with the implant.
How Do I Prepare For Shoulder Replacement Surgery What Happens Before The Procedure
Unless there is an emergency, your surgery will be scheduled in advance. Knowing the date of your operation, you will have enough time to prepare and plan for any special help you might need following discharge from the hospital. It is important to have a partner to assist you with your home exercises following discharge. Your partner should accompany you to physical therapy at least once or twice during your hospital stay. Shoulder replacement can be done as an outpatient procedure but on average, you will be staying one night in the hospital after surgery to make sure your pain is controlled and you are medically stable before leaving the hospital.
A series of pre-operative tests will be scheduled one to two weeks before surgery. They usually include: some blood tests, an electrocardiogram that evaluates the electrical activity of your heart and a visit with a healthcare provider to make sure you are medically cleared to undergo surgery. Some medications may be discontinued because they will complicate surgery and other medications you may need to continue. You should discontinue use of any anti-inflammatory medication, including aspirin, one week before surgery unless instructed otherwise. You will be given instructions regarding your daily medications in this visit.
You will be transported to surgery on a cart. Different hospital staff will be asking your name, verifying your identification bracelet and asking you which shoulder will be operated on, right or left.
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Return To Work Time For Shoulder Replacement Surgery
The precise time you can return to work will depend immensely on the strength and motion of your shoulder and how you’re progressing. Usually:
- You can return to desk work in two to three weeks
- You can perform heavier, physical activity four months or more
The presurgical condition of your shoulder tendons and muscles play the biggest role in your recovery time and when you can go back to work. If your tendons and muscles are in good shape before your procedure, rehab will typically be easier.
In all cases, extensive and proper postoperative rehab are important factors in achieving the most benefit of a shoulder replacement procedure.
What Are The Risks And Complications Of A Shoulder Replacement
Complications are rare in total shoulder replacement, but can include:
- glenoid loosening
*An arthritic shoulder is often very tight prior to surgery. If, however, stiffness is still a problem in a shoulder in after motion was restored during surgery, this is usually the result of incomplete rehabilitation. Continuous physical therapy efforts are usually effective in restoring shoulder motion and strength.
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What Happens During The Procedure
Shoulder replacement surgery typically takes about two hours. You might receive general anesthesia, which means youll be unconscious during the procedure, or regional anesthesia, which means youll be awake but sedated.
During the surgery, doctors replace the damaged joint ball, known as the humeral head, of the shoulder with a metal ball. They also place a plastic surface on the socket of the shoulder, known as the glenoid.
Sometimes, a partial shoulder replacement can be performed. This involves replacing only the ball of the joint.
After your procedure, youll be taken to a recovery room for several hours. When you wake up, youll be moved to a hospital room.
What Are The Types Of Shoulder Replacement

There are a range of surgical options for shoulder replacement, depending on whether you have an intact rotator cuff or not. After careful examination and reviewing your MRI and CT scans, your consultant will make a decision about which implant would be appropriate for you.
Typically, if your rotator cuff is intact, you will get an anatomic or total shoulder replacement. If the rotator cuff is torn, your consultant will perform a reverse shoulder replacement.
There are different types of humeral implants which are long stem, short stem and stemless. These all depend on your bony anatomy and your consultant will discuss these options with you and plan your operation depending on these criteria. The implants are most commonly made of metal including titanium, cobalt chrome alloys, polyethylene. Ceramic shoulder replacements can be used however, these are relatively new and there are currently no studies comparing the outcomes with other materials.
The new generation of short stems or stem less implants provide better restoration of normal anatomy in young patients where bone preservation is vital. These need a less invasive technique to insert and work to conserve bone stock, allowing for easy revision in the future if this is required.
Options for shoulder replacement surgery include:
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Shoulder Replacement Surgery: Indication Procedure Recovery And Cost
Shoulder replacement surgery is where the surgeon removes damaged shoulder areas and replaces them with artificial parts. The surgeon performs the procedure to improve mobility and relieve pain. You may require a shoulder replacement procedure if you have a shoulder joint fracture or severe arthritis.
How Soon Will I Recover
You should be able to go home after 2 to 3 days.
You will need to keep your arm in a sling for up to 6 weeks to keep the tension away from your shoulder joint.
Regular exercise should help you to return to normal activities as soon as possible. Before you start exercising, ask the healthcare team or your GP for advice.
Most people make a good recovery, have less pain, and can move about better.
An artificial shoulder never feels quite the same as a normal shoulder and it is important to look after it in the long term.
A shoulder replacement can wear out with time.
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What Should You Expect During Recovery
During the first few weeks after shoulder surgery, you will likely experience some pain and swelling. This is normal and will gradually improve as your body heals. You may also have some bruising and swelling around the incision site. These side effects can be managed with pain medication and ice packs.
As you begin physical therapy, you may feel some discomfort as your shoulder muscles adjust to the new range of motion. However, this should subside with time and regular exercise.