Reverse Shoulder Joint Replacement Performed in Arlington, VA

Women holding her painful shoulder

The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint formed by the end of the upper arm bone (humeral head) and the flat part of the shoulder blade (scapula). A shoulder replacement involves removing portions of damaged bones and cartilage from an arthritic shoulder joint and inserting customized metal and plastic components in their place.

A standard shoulder replacement replaces the humeral head with a metal ball and replaces the scapula with a plastic component. A reverse shoulder replacement reverses the structure of the natural joint. Specifically, a metal ball is attached to the scapula with surgical screws and a plastic component is bonded to the humeral head with special cement. This complex surgical procedure has been mastered by board-certified, fellowship-trained surgeons at Nirschl Orthopaedic Center in Arlington, Virginia.

When Is a Reverse Shoulder Joint Replacement Appropriate?

A shoulder replacement—standard or reverse—may be considered to address severe pain or loss of shoulder function caused by:

  • Osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease)
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Post-traumatic arthritis
  • Rotator cuff tear arthropathy (a loss of shoulder joint cartilage)
  • A severe fracture
  • The failure of a previous shoulder replacement

Usually, conservative treatments such as physical therapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and cortisone injections are attempted first. If the symptoms persist or worsen, surgery may be the next step.

When determining which type of shoulder replacement surgery is most appropriate for a patient, a key factor our surgeons consider is the amount of rotator cuff damage. Instead of the rotator cuff, a reverse shoulder joint replacement allows other shoulder muscles such as the deltoid to power and position the arm.

Regardless of whether a standard or reverse shoulder joint replacement is performed, many patients achieve significant pain relief and can resume many activities that were previously impossible due to shoulder pain. If you would like to learn more, contact Nirschl Orthopaedic Center at (703) 525-2200 to schedule a consultation with a shoulder specialist in Arlington, VA.