While shoulders wear out much less commonly than hips or knees, shoulder arthritis can be a severely limiting condition. Patients often have pronounced pain and difficulty with daily activities such as putting on clothes, using utensils and combing their hair. Shoulder replacement can be very effective in eliminating pain and restoring function.
We perform total shoulder replacements and shoulder resurfacings in younger patients. Resurfacing allows us to preserve more bone and create a more natural humeral head. This procedure is appropriate in some younger patients who may need more surgery in the future.
Resurfacing uses an innovative, uncemented metal surface that takes the place of the damaged cartilage. There is very little bone removed, and hte patient’s anatomy can be restored without using a large stem that needs to be placed in the humerus, or arm bone.
