The partial replacement of the shoulder, also called hemiarthroplasty involves a surgical procedure. In this surgical procedure, a prosthetic metal implant replaces the upper arm bone or humerus. The other half of the shoulder joint remains unchanged and intact.

Partial shoulder replacement is adopted when the patient is suffering from shoulder osteoarthritis. The partial shoulder replacement replaces the humeral head or damaged ball of the joint.

Osteoarthritis

The osteoarthritis is a degenerative medication condition in which the cartilage wears away, making smooth movement in the joints challenging and painful. The rubbing of the joints against each other makes the joints stiffer and the movement painful. The only way to get rid of this condition is to get the damaged portion of the humerus replacement. This way the friction of the bone ends is reduced, alleviating the patient’s pain.

Surgery for Partial Shoulder Replacement

Surgery has so far proven to be the most potent way of treatment. Orthopedic surgeon recommends when traditional methods of treating including physiotherapy, rest, and anti-inflammatory medications fail to do their job. This procedure helps relieve pain and other associated symptoms, risks, and complications.

Associated Risks and Complications

There are some potential risks and complications of partial shoulder replacement including instability, infection, fracture of the scapula or humerus, the stiffness of the shoulder, and damage to blood vessels or nerves.