Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: 3 Reasons You May Need Shoulder Replacement Surgery

More and more people are looking to orthopaedic centers for joint replacement surgery due to its high success rate and relatively low recovery times. As a result, a growing number of insurance providers, patients, and health care institutions are recognizing the true value of orthopaedic treatments. In fact, as of 2016, Medicare approved payments for more than 3.04 million orthotic procedures, which accounted for more than $1 billion in Medicare spending that year.

In addition to minimally invasive treatments from general orthopaedists, orthopaedic centers can also offer knee, hip, shoulder, or even total joint replacement surgery. However, many people don’t realize they can benefit from these types of treatments.

For instance, let’s say you think you need a total shoulder arthroplasty? How do you know if surgery might be the right treatment for you?

1. Torn Rotator Cuff: If you’ve torn your rotator cuff at some point in your life and never bothered to get it treated, you could potentially need total shoulder arthroplasty, or TSA for short. A torn rotator cuff means that the muscles surrounding the upper arm bone sustained damage which weakened the support system for the shoulder joint. If left untreated, a torn rotator cuff can lead to arthritis, limited mobility, chronic pain, and overall joint instability.
2. Arthritis: Arthritis in the shoulder is a degenerative condition caused by the slow break down of protective cartilage in the shoulder joint. Arthritis is commonly seen in patients over 50 years of age and can cause pain and stiffness in the afflicted areas. Many first round treatments will consist of an anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen and other non-surgical procedures from a general orthopaedist. If these treatments are unsuccessful and don’t seem to manage the arthritis, then your doctor may advise shoulder replacement surgery.
3. Bone Fractures: In some cases, enough damage can occur to the ball of the socket that the only procedure that will correct it will be TSA. This depends on the health of the clavicle and overall severity of the damage.

Regardless of the reason, the purpose of joint replacement surgery is to improve mobility and relieve pain. Total shoulder arthroplasty should be followed with routine shoulder replacement therapy to increase post-op recovery. 

Is Total Shoulder Arthroplasty Right For Me?
If you still aren’t sure whether or not you could benefit from TSA, then it’s important to talk to your physician and set up an appointment with a general orthopaedist. In the meantime, answer the following questions, and if you find yourself saying yes, then TSA might be right for you:

• Does your shoulder pain interfere with daily activities or never seem to go away?
• Does the pain keep you awake at night?
• Have all other non-surgical treatments been unsuccessful?

If you feel as though you may need surgery, then visit your orthopaedic center to discuss TSA options