Shoulder Replacement Surgery: What You NEED To Know

Conventional Shoulder Replacement mimics the normal anatomy of the shoulder: a plastic cup is fitted into the #shoulder socket (glenoid), and a metal ball is attached to the top of the upper arm bone (humerus). In a #reverseshoulderreplacement the socket and metal ball are switched. The metal ball is fixed to the socket, and the plastic cup is fixed to the upper end of the humerus.
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Reverse total shoulder replacement works better for people with cuff tear arthropathy because it relies on different muscles to move the arm. In a healthy shoulder, the rotator cuff muscles help position and power the arm during range of motion. A conventional replacement device also uses the rotator cuff muscles to function properly. In patients w/ large rotator cuff tears, these muscles no longer function. The reverse total shoulder replacement relies on the deltoid muscle, instead of the #rotatorcuff to power and position the arm
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Reverse Total #ShoulderReplacement may be recommended if you have:
- A completely torn rotator cuff that cannot be repaired
- Cuff tear arthropathy
- A previous shoulder replacement that was unsuccessful
- Severe shoulder pain and difficulty lifting your arm away from your side or over your head
- A complex fracture of the shoulder joint
- A chronic shoulder dislocation
- A tumor of the shoulder joint
*Your surgeon may also recommend surgery if nonsurgical treatments, such as rest, medications, cortisone injections, and/or physical therapy, have not relieved your shoulder pain. #shoulderpain

[lindakelsch]

I had a large cyst in my L glenoid. Two surgeons would not touch that shoulder. A Ortho/trauma doctor agreed to do a shoulder arthroplasty but it had to be a reverse shoulder. For my R shoulder I also had to have reverse shoulder. Both arms are doing great.

[eddieweeks]

Which is better backwards or forwards?

[miask]

I would want the new joint to be placed to allow me the the most stretch and movement in swimming. 😊

[michelleobrien]

Why do you do this? Benefits?

Thank you!

[dchamp]

You didn't say why they do this. Im curious as an xray tech who has seen this and was confused