Shoulder Surgery in Ventura County

Putting an End to Chronic Shoulder Pain

You can only shrug off chronic shoulder pain for so long. Your range of motion is increasingly limited. Basic activities like taking a shower, getting dressed, or reaching for something on a high shelf become a daily ordeal. If the pain is severe, it can even wake you up in the middle of the night and rob you of much-needed sleep.

Anatomy of the Shoulder

Of all the joints in your body, the shoulder has the greatest range of motion. The shoulder is a ball and socket joint is made up of three bones:

• The upper arm bone (humerus) is the ball part of the joint
• The shoulder blade (scapula) includes the glenoid, the socket the humerus fits into
• The collar bone (clavicle)

In a healthy shoulder, the ball and socket are covered with articular cartilage that helps them to move easily. The synovial membrane makes synovial fluid that lubricates the cartilage and muscles. Tendons surrounding the shoulder provide stability and support. A problem with any of these structures can lead to pain and movement limitations.

Causes of Shoulder Pain

Community Memorial orthopedists offer advanced treatment for shoulder pain, from medication, physical therapy, or cortisone injections, to total shoulder replacement. Unfortunately, shoulder issues tend to be progressive, and there may come a point when non-invasive treatments no longer work for you. Conditions that may require shoulder replacement include:

• Osteoarthritis: Age-related wear and tear
• Rheumatoid Arthritis: An inflammatory immune disorder that affects the synovial membrane
• A large, longstanding rotator cuff tear
• Avascular Necrosis: A disruption to the shoulder’s blood supply that causes bone cells to slowly die off
• Accidents: A recent severe fracture, damage to tendons and ligaments, or post-traumatic arthritis can all lead to the need for a new shoulder

According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, about 53,000 people in the U.S. have a shoulder replacement each year.

While less common than knee or hip replacement procedures, shoulder replacement is every bit as effective in restoring mobility and relieving pain. In shoulder replacement surgery, the damaged parts of the shoulder are replaced with a man-made prosthesis. Depending on the type and amount of damage, it may be possible to replace just the humerus, but the glenoid is often replaced as well. There are two approaches to shoulder replacement: conventional and reverse.

Types of Shoulder Replacement Surgeries

Conventional Shoulder Replacement

In conventional shoulder replacement, the new humerus (ball) is attached to the upper arm bone through a stem anchored into the bone. The new glenoid (socket) is attached to the shoulder blade. This set-up functions like the human shoulder, with the ball at the end of the arm bone and the socket on the shoulder blade.

Reverse Shoulder Replacement

This surgery was developed for people who don’t have a functioning rotator cuff. The ball and socket arrangement is “reversed,” with the ball is attached to the shoulder blade, and the socket is attached to the top of the arm bone.

Other Shoulder Procedures

Our orthopedic surgeons perform a full range of shoulder procedures for conditions affecting the bones, ligaments, tendons, and synovial membrane. Wherever possible, our surgeons operate using minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques.