The shoulder is one of the most mobile joints in the body. Because of this mobility, it is also prone to pain, stiffness, instability, tendon injuries, arthritis, and fractures. Shoulder surgery may be needed when pain or movement restriction affects sleep, work, sports, or daily activities.
Shoulder Replacement
Shoulder replacement surgery is performed when the shoulder joint is severely damaged due to arthritis, fracture, rotator cuff disease, or long-standing joint degeneration. During the procedure, damaged parts of the shoulder are replaced with artificial components.
AAOS explains that shoulder replacement involves removing damaged parts of the shoulder and replacing them with artificial components called prostheses.
Types of shoulder replacement may include:
Partial shoulder replacement
Anatomic total shoulder replacement
Reverse shoulder replacement
Reverse shoulder replacement is often recommended when the rotator cuff is severely or irreparably damaged. In this procedure, the positions of the ball and socket of the shoulder joint are reversed, allowing the deltoid muscle to compensate for the damaged rotator cuff and restore shoulder function. It is commonly performed for patients with severe shoulder arthritis combined with an irreparable rotator cuff tear (rotator cuff tear arthropathy). Reverse shoulder replacement may also be the preferred option for selected patients with complex shoulder fractures or severe trauma when the upper end of the arm bone (humerus) cannot be successfully reconstructed.
Rotator Cuff Surgery
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that help lift and rotate the arm. Rotator cuff tears can occur due to injury, repetitive overhead activity, or age-related degeneration.
Symptoms may include:
Pain while lifting the arm
Night pain
Weakness
Difficulty reaching overhead
Pain while dressing or combing hair
Rotator cuff surgery aims to repair the torn tendon and restore shoulder strength and movement. It is often performed arthroscopically using small cuts and a camera, depending on the tear size and tissue quality.
Shoulder Instability Surgery
Shoulder instability occurs when the shoulder repeatedly slips out of place or feels loose. This may happen after a dislocation, sports injury, ligament tear, or structural damage to the shoulder socket.
Surgery may be needed when instability continues despite physiotherapy or when there are repeated dislocations. The aim is to repair or tighten the damaged soft tissues, restore stability, and reduce the risk of future dislocation.
Frozen Shoulder Surgery
Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, causes pain and stiffness due to tightening of the shoulder capsule. Many patients improve with physiotherapy, medicines, and injections. Surgery may be considered when severe stiffness continues despite adequate non-surgical treatment.
Surgical treatment may include arthroscopic release of the tight capsule, followed by structured physiotherapy to maintain movement.
