Shoulder Replacement Surgery

What is Shoulder Replacement Surgery?

Shoulder replacement surgery is used to repair the shoulder joint after it has been damaged or worn away, the common causes of this is arthritis or injury. The surgery can take up to two hours depending on how complicated your surgery is. The surgery is always seen as a final resort if all other physiotherapy and treatments have not been successful. The full replacement surgery removes the top of your upper arm bone replacing it with an artificial ball to rebuild the socket.

Possible Side Effects and Aftercare

Following the procedure, you may need to stay in hospital for two or three days after your operation. This is to recover from the drains and the general anaesthesia. You will also receive physiotherapy treatment to encourage movement with the shoulder to avoid stiffness and help the recovery process. It usually takes three months to make a full recovery from a shoulder replacement. This varies between individuals so it’s always imperative to follow your surgeon’s advice.