Shoulder arthritis: Osteoarthritis, Chondrolysis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Degenerative joint disease, and arthritis after shoulder surgery.
Edited By: Frederick A. Matsen III, M.D., Winston J. Warme, MD
Last updated Wednesday, October 28, 2009
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shoulder arthritis – normal joint
shoulder arthritis – arthritic glenoid
shoulder arthritis – arthritic humeral head
Shoulder arthritis – X ray evaluation of the joint
Shoulder arthritis – A-P x-ray of osteoarthritis
axillary x-ray of osteoarthritis
shoulder arthritis – ream and run
shoulder arthritis – total shoulder arthroplasty
shoulder arthritis – reverse total shoulder
About
Basics of shoulder arthritis
Diagnosis and treatment of shoulder arthritis
In shoulder arthritis,
the smooth cartilage that normally covers the surfaces of the ball (humeral
head) and socket (glenoid) is
lost. The result is that there is bone on bone rubbing between these two joint
surfaces.
This bone-on-bone
contact produces pain, stiffness, difficulty sleeping and the inability to
do activities of daily living, work and sports.
Shoulder arthritis may result from wear and tear,
osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, rotator cuff tears or may follow surgery for recurrent dislocations.
Chondrolysis is a severe type of shoulder arthritis in which the cartilage of the joint is abruptly lost after shoulder arthroscopy. Chondrolysis may be associated with the use radiofrequency heat to shrink the shoulder capsule and with the use of pain pump catheters placed in the joint after arthroscopy for post-operative administration of local anesthetic, such as Marcaine (bupivacaine) or Xylocaine (lidocaine).
Shoulder
arthritis can be diagnosed by a careful history and physical examination along
with properly done x-rays
A shoulder surgeon experienced in joint
replacement can find out if arthritis is the cause of the problem and if
surgery would be helpful. Patients are most likely to benefit from this surgery
if they are well motivated and in good health.
The goal of shoulder replacement
arthroplasty is to restore the best possible function to the joint by removing
scar tissue, balancing muscles, and replacing the destroyed joint surfaces with
artificial ones.
Shoulder joint replacement arthroplasty is a highly
technical procedure and is best performed by a surgical team who performs this
surgery often. Such a team can maximize the benefit and minimize the risks. The
two-hour procedure is performed under general (or nerve block) anesthesia.
Immediate medical attention
There are a few medical emergencies with shoulder arthritis. Generally
this is a chronic condition. If the shoulder is hot and swollen,
infectious arthritis may be present, and immediate evaluation is needed.Facts and myths
Many individuals do not know that arthritis can affect the shoulder.
Although the shoulder is less likely to be involved with arthritis than
the hip or knee, shoulder arthritis is actually quite common. While in
the past there were no effective surgical procedures for shoulder
arthritis, now advanced techniques in surgical reconstruction can help
restore comfort and function to the shoulder.
Articles of interest in the Management of Shoulder Arthritis (PDF) (2.04 MB)
Surgery for Shoulder arthritis at the University of Washington, Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Seattle, Washington
If you are interested in making an appointment to discuss this procedure in Seattle, you can request an appointment using our online referrals website. To request a referral online, please click here. You can also call 206-598-BONE (2663) to make an appointment. Our clinical center is located in Seattle Washington, USA
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