Shoulder Joint Replacement in Sports Medicine
Joint Replacement
Joint pain and fractures are the most prevalent type of injuries experienced in West Orange Sports medicine. The shoulder joint replacement is rarely experienced as compared to hip and knee replacement, which are prevalent. Joint replacement treatment is an effective technique of relieving pain in the joints, just like other treatment procedures used to treat the same. The first surgical shoulder replacement was done in the mid-19th century to treat severe shoulder fractures. In the present-day shoulder, joint replacement is used to treat a variety of shoulder pains and conditions like the different types of arthritis. The agency for healthcare and research estimated that about 53,000 individuals in America undergo shoulder joint replacement annually. This statistic is lower when compared to the 900,000 individuals who undergo hip and knee replacement surgeries every year.
When should you have shoulder joint replacement?
Shoulder joint replacement should be done as a last result when all other forms of non-surgical medications and treatment procedures fail. This treatment is usually effective in treating chronic pain caused by severe fractures on the shoulder or chronic illness affecting the shoulders like the different types of athletes. Joint replacement is a very effective, safe, and permanent solution to relieving shoulder pains. The procedure involves surgically removing the parts of the shoulder that have been damaged then replacing them with the prosthesis. A prosthesis is an artificial material used to replace the damaged shoulder parts. The shoulder joint replacement procedure can involve the replacement of the ball or humerus bone alone or both the ball and socket. After the joint replacement surgery has been completed, an individual can comfortably resume their daily routine.
Osteoarthritis (Degenerative Joint Disease)
This shoulder condition is caused due to a type of arthritis associated with old age. These conditions usually occur in individuals aged 50 years and above, but in some rare cases, it is experienced by much younger people. The pains associated with this condition are a result of wear and tear effect, which causes the cartilage that protects the shoulder bones to soften and wear out. When the cartilage wears out, the bones start rubbing against one another, causing friction, which with time, makes the joint very stiff. The movement of the joint once it becomes stiff becomes very painful and unbearable. There are no preventative measures that can be taken to avoid the development of osteoarthritis, which has led to an increase in the number of people requiring shoulder replacement surgery.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
This type of arthritis is characterized by the inflammation and thickening of the synovial membrane surrounding the joint. This condition is chronic and can severely damage the cartilage. With time this condition completely wears out the cartilage causing the joint to become stiff and painful. Rheumatoid arthritis, also commonly referred to as inflammatory arthritis, is the most common type of arthritis experienced by many people.
Post-traumatic arthritis
This type of arthritis is caused as a result of suffering a severe injury on the shoulder. The injury fractures the shoulder bones, damage the ligaments, tears the tendons, or damages the articular cartilage. When any of these things happen, the shoulder is in severe pain, which restricts the normal shoulder functions.
Rotator cuff tear arthropathy
This condition develops when a person suffers from a huge rotator cuff tear that does not heal as expected. The new changes caused by the damage of the rotator cuff can lead to the destruction of the cartilage or arthritis.