Shoulder Surgery: Everything you should know

Shoulder Surgery: Everything you should know

Our shoulders are made up of three bones,
the combination of which enables our movements. These bones can be effected by
inflammation or tearof the tendon, arthritis or fractures, requiring medical
and sometimes surgical intervention. If you experience pain or severe
discomfort in your shoulders it is advisable to see a doctor at the earliest.
After thorough examination, he/she will decide the course of action – from
medication and home care to surgery, depending on the severity of the
issue. 

In case of a major injury or severe
arthritis, you would be advised surgery. Here is all you
need to know about the types, and their techniques.

Total
/ Partial Shoulder Replacement

Total Shoulder Replacement needs to be done
if both sides of the shoulder joints are severely affected by arthritis. In
Total Shoulder Replacement, the damaged end of the upper arm bone is replaced
by a stem with a metal head. The diseased part of the socket is replaced by a
plastic shell in which the metal head sits. In case only one part is affected,
partial shoulder replacement can be done.

Shoulder
Resurfacing

In Shoulder Resurfacing, the surface of the
bony end is made smooth and the diseased part is removed in the process. After
this, a metal cap shaped to fit into the socket is fixed on the end of the
bone.

Bilateral and Revision Shoulder
Replacements can also be extremely helpful. Some shoulder surgeries can also be
performed using minimally-invasive techniques.

Shoulder
impingement

Shoulder impingement can be a problem with
tennis players, swimmers and cricket bowlers. The repeated action of the arm
going up or coming down can lead to this, especially when players do more than
their usual, by trying to increase their training intensity before or during
their tournaments.

The person usually complains of pain with
the arm coming down, as in during a tennis serve or a bowling action. There is
a tendon called the Supraspinatus tendon that gets pinched between two bony
prominences at the shoulder, leading to pain and discomfort.

Precautions
to be taken

• Avoid sudden increase in
  training level
• Adequate in-between rest
  periods
• Proper training techniques

Most of the patients benefit from judicious
rest and rehabilitation. A minority will end up requiring an Arthroscopic (Key
Hole) procedure for effective treatment of their symptoms and return to sport.