Type of Surgery
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Last updated: 11/24/2009
The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint that allows the arms to be raised, twisted, bent, and moved forward, to the side and backward. The head of the upper arm bone (humerus) is the ball, and a circular cavity (glenoid) in the shoulder blade (scapula)...
is the socket. A soft-tissue rim (labrum) surrounds and deepens the socket. The head of the humerus is also covered with a smooth, tough tissue (articular cartilage); and the joint, also called the acromioclavicular (AC) joint, has a thin inner lining (synovium) that facilitates movement while surrounding muscles and tendons provide stability and support.
The AC joint can be damaged by the following conditions to such an extent as to require replacement by artificial components:
- Osteoarthritis. This is a degenerative joint disease characterized by destruction or thinning of the articular cartilage. When non-surgical treatment is no longer effective and shoulder resection not possible, joint replacement surgery is usually indicated.
- Rheumatoid arthritis. Shoulder replacement surgery is the most commonly performed procedure for the arthritic shoulder with severe inflammatory or rheumatoid arthritis.
- Severe fracture of the humerus. A fracture of the upper arm bone can be so severe as to require replacement of the AC joint.
- Osteonecrosis. This condition usually follows a three- or four-part fracture of the humeral head that disrupts the blood supply, resulting in bone death and disruption of the AC joint.
- Charcot's arthropathy. Also called neuropathic arthropathy or arthritis, Charcot's arthropathy is a condition in which the shoulder joint is destroyed following loss of its nerve supply.
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Knee joints or finger joints are fairly easy to understand--they facilitate back and forth movement; however, anywhere that two bones meet in the body there is some sort of joint. This animation describes the different joints in the body and what anatomical structures make up joints.
During a total shoulder joint replacement, an incision is first made in the shoulder and upper arm (A). The head of the humerus is removed with a bone saw (B). The shaft of the humerus is reamed with a bone rasp to ready it for the prosthesis (C). After the shoulder joint, or glenoid cavity, is similarly prepared, bone cement is applied to areas to receive prostheses (D). The ball and socket prostheses are put in place, and the incision is closed (E). (Illustration by GGS Inc.)
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Other Information
Definition
Shoulder joint replacement surgery is performed to replace a shoulder joint with artificial components (prostheses) when the joint is severely damaged by such degenerative joint diseases as arthritis, or in complex cases of upper arm bone fracture.
Purpose
The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint that allows the arms to be raised, twisted, bent, and moved forward, to the side and backward. The head of the upper arm bone (humerus) is the ball, and a circular cavity (glenoid) in the shoulder blade (scapula) is the socket. A soft-tissue rim (labrum) surrounds and deepens the socket. The head of the humerus is also covered with a smooth, tough tissue (articular cartilage); and the joint, also called the acromioclavicular (AC) joint, has a thin inner lining (synovium) that facilitates movement while surrounding muscles and tendons provide stability and support.
From http://www.answers.com/topic/shoulder-joint-replacement
Other Information
Orthopedic complaints are the most common reason to seek medical care.
From: About.com
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