The shoulder delivers more range of motion than any other joint. In a total shoulder replacement procedure, the surgeon substitutes the arthritic joint surfaces with a polished metal ball and a plastic socket.
In a partial shoulder replacement procedure, also called hemiarthroplasty, the surgeon substitutes the ball, while preserving the patient’s original socket.
Just how common is a shoulder replacement? According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), nationwide, the number of total and partial shoulder replacements increased from about 18,000 in 2000 to more than 45,000 in 2013. Today, about 53,000 people in the U.S. have shoulder replacement surgery each year.
It is important for patients to understand numerous conditions can cause shoulder pain and disability. Eventually, this may lead patients to contemplate shoulder joint replacement surgery.
That said, what are the most common injuries and diseases that can lead to shoulder replacement?
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