Shoulder joint replacement surgery is performed to replace a shoulder joint with artificial components (prostheses) when the joint is severely damaged by arthritis or in complex cases of upper arm bone fracture. It is less common than hip or knee replacement, but it also is very successful at relieving pain, both from arthritis and injury.

Patients with bone-on-bone osteoarthritis and intact rotator cuff tendons are generally good candidates for conventional total shoulder replacement, where arthritic joint surfaces are replaced with a highly polished metal ball attached to a stem and a plastic socket. Another type of shoulder replacement "reverse total shoulder replacement" can be used for people who have completely torn rotator cuffs and the effects of severe arthritis (cuff tear arthropathy) or who have had a previous shoulder replacement that failed. These patients may still have pain or may be unable to lift up their arm past a 90-degree angle. In reverse total shoulder replacement, a metal ball is attached to the shoulder bone and a plastic socket is attached to the upper arm bone, allowing the patient to use the deltoid muscle instead of the torn rotator cuff to lift the arm.

Are you sure it's your shoulder that hurts?

Causes of pain and non-surgical treatments

Surgical treatments for rotator cuff

Frozen shoulder/labrum

Osteoarthritis and shoulder replacement