From Jonathan Cluett, M.D.,
Your Guide to Orthopedics.
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About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by Kate Grossman, MD

Shoulder replacement surgery is an option for treatment of severe arthritis of the shoulder joint. Arthritis is a condition that affects the cartilage of the joints. As the cartilage lining wears away, the protective lining between the bones is lost--when this happens, painful bone-on-bone arthritis develops. Severe shoulder arthritis is quite painful, and can cause restriction of motion. While this may be tolerated with some medications and lifestyle adjustments, there may come a time when surgical treatment is necessary.

What are the symptoms of severe arthritis of the shoulder?
Common symptoms of shoulder arthritis include:

• Pain with activities

• Limited range of motion

• Stiffness of the shoulder

• Swelling of the joint

• Tenderness around the joint

• A feeling of grinding or catching within the joint

What treatments are available for shoulder arthritis?
There are much more simple treatments for shoulder arthritis that should be tried before considering shoulder replacement surgery. Because the shoulder is not a weight-bearing joint (like the knees and hips), many patients can tolerate shoulder arthritis with some basic treatments and modifications of their activities. Read the following article on shoulder arthritis for more information about treatment ideas:

• Shoulder Arthritis Treatments

What is a total shoulder replacement?
Total shoulder replacement surgery alleviates pain by replacing the damaged bone and cartilage with a metal and plastic implant. The shoulder joint is a ball-and-socket joint, much like the hip joint. The ball is the top of the arm bone (the humerus), and the socket is within the shoulder blade (scapula). This joint allows people an enormous range of motion at the shoulder.

When shoulder replacement surgery is performed, the ball is removed from the top of the humerus and replaced with a metal implant. This is shaped like a half-moon and attached to a stem inserted down the center of the arm bone. The socket portion of the joint is shaved clean and replaced with a plastic socket that is cemented into the scapula.

How do I know if I am ready for shoulder replacement surgery?
Patients who have tried the usual treatments for shoulder arthritis, but have not been able to find adequate relief, may be a candidate for shoulder replacement surgery. Patients considering the procedure should understand the potential risks of surgery, and understand that the goal of joint replacement is to alleviate pain. Patients generally find improved motion after surgery, but these improvements are not as consistent as the pain relief following shoulder replacement surgery.

Read on for more information about how shoulder replacement surgery is done, and what are the potential complications of shoulder replacement surgery...