Shoulder Replacement in Fort Mill, SC
Advanced Shoulder Replacement Surgery from Experienced Specialists
The shoulder is a ball-and-socket system that consists of the humerus (upper arm bone), scapula (shoulder blade), and clavicle (collarbone). These bones are connected by tendons and covered with articular cartilage, which helps separate the bones and allows them to move more easily. In patients with severe shoulder pain and limited range of motion, medication and physical therapy are recommended as first steps. If these treatments don’t provide relief or improve the patient’s range of motion, shoulder replacement surgery may be recommended.
To schedule a shoulder replacement consultation at our orthopaedic clinic in Fort Mill, please call (803) 548-6464 or request an appointment online.
Total Shoulder Replacement
A total shoulder replacement is performed on patients who have an extensive amount of damage to their articular cartilage. This procedure removes the damaged cartilage and replaces it with durable prosthetic parts. This procedure is performed in three steps:
Additional Shoulder Replacement Options
Stemmed Hemiarthroplasty
In cases where the cartilage in the socket is in good condition, the surgeon may choose to perform a stemmed hemiarthroplasty. During this procedure, the first two steps of a total shoulder replacement are performed. The ball of the humerus is removed and replaced with a metal stem and prosthetic metal ball that works in tandem with the intact shoulder socket and cartilage.
Resurfacing Hemiarthroplasty
In order to preserve the humerus bone mass, a resurfacing hemiarthroplasty replaces the humerus head with a cap-shaped prosthesis without the use of a metal stem. This procedure is performed if the humerus is in strong shape and the cartilage in the shoulder socket is healthy. A resurfacing hemiarthroplasty can be converted into a total shoulder replacement in the future if necessary.
Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
A reverse total shoulder replacement is performed on patients who have completely torn their rotator cuff or those who have severe arthritis with a rotator cuff tear or weakness. In a reverse total shoulder replacement, the socket and metal ball are switched. The prosthetic ball is placed in the existing shoulder socket, and the plastic socket prosthesis is attached to the top of the humerus. This allows the patient to lift their arm using their deltoid muscle instead of the weakened or torn rotator cuff.
Schedule a Shoulder Replacement Consultation
If you’re in need of a shoulder replacement in the Fort Mill area, contact SpecOrtho today to schedule a consultation. Give us a call at (803) 548-6464 to get started or request an appointment through our secure online form.