Shoulder Replacement Specialist

Why might I need a shoulder replacement?

Three bones make up your shoulder joint: the humerus (upper arm bone), clavicle (collarbone), and scapula (shoulder blade). They’re connected by cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. Over time, your shoulder joint can wear down, or you can experience a damaging injury.

A shoulder replacement involves removing damaged tissues and resurfacing the bones within your joint. Dr. Peterson tailors different shoulder replacement methods to your particular problem.

Shoulder replacement treats conditions like:

• Arthritis
• Bone fractures
• Chronic rotator cuff problems
• Avascular necrosis (loss of blood supply to the bone)

If conservative treatments haven’t produced positive results, talk to Dr. Peterson about the long-term benefits of a shoulder replacement.

Which shoulder replacement is right for me?

Dr. Peterson has extensive experience in shoulder replacement techniques, including:

Total shoulder replacement

This involves replacing your shoulder’s entire ball-and-socket joint. Dr. Peterson replaces the upper arm bone’s head with a metal ball that sits on a stem. The stem is inserted into the top of the arm bone. The prosthesis functions like your natural shoulder.

Reverse total shoulder replacement

This surgery reverses the ball-and-socket joint, attaching the metal ball to your shoulder bone and implanting a socket at the top of your arm. Dr. Peterson will use this surgery if your rotator cuff is too damaged to support a traditional replacement.

Stemless total shoulder replacement

This method preserves more of your natural bone and doesn’t require the metal ball to sit on a traditional stem.

Partial shoulder replacement

This involves replacing the damaged portion of your joint while keeping the undamaged portion intact.

What can I expect during my shoulder replacement recovery?

After your surgery, you’ll spend one to several nights in the hospital. You can expect to start light exercises with a physical therapist within a day of your surgery.

When you get home, you’ll wear a supportive arm sling to support your shoulder for 2-4 weeks. You also attend physical therapy sessions 2-4 times a week for 4-8 weeks and practice exercises at home.

You should be able to return to your daily activities within 2-3 weeks and drive after 2-4 weeks. Physical therapy allows your shoulder to heal, giving you full function within a few months.

Call the Pinnacle Orthopaedics office nearest you today or book an appointment online to determine if a shoulder replacement is right for you.