Reverse shoulder replacement is a surgical procedure opted by the surgeons to help patients with torn rotator cuffs or having developed other kinds of arthritis or shoulder related problems.

Reverse shoulder replacement procedure is only opted for when the total shoulder replacement has failed to help relieve the patient.

There is a group of four tendons joining the head of the humerus to the deeper muscles and provide stability and mobility to shoulder joint.

Surgery of Reverse Shoulder Replacement

The orthopedic surgeon conducts surgery on the patient under regional or general anesthesia. The surgeon makes an incision over the affected shoulder to expose the shoulder joint. The common approach is to place a metal ball on the upper arm bone end and in the socket of the shoulder bone. In reverse shoulder replacement, the surgeon attaches the metal ball to the bone and places the socket at the end of the upper arm bone. This want uses their deltoid muscle instead of using the torn rotator cuff to lift objects with their arm. Upon surgery’s completion, the surgeon stitches the joint capsule and closes incisions.

The surgeon uses larger open incision procedure for conducting a reverse shoulder replacement surgery because it involves a great deal of operational complexity and hospital stays extending up to few days.