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Shoulder arthritis

Edited By: Frederick A. Matsen III, M.D., Winston J. Warme, MD
Last updated Thursday, April 03, 2008

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Diagnosis and evaluation

Diagnosis

A physician diagnoses shoulder arthritis by taking a good history of the problem, performing a thorough physical examination of the shoulder and neck, and taking precise X-rays to evaluate the status of the joint. In osteoarthritis, X-rays typically show loss of the normal joint space, bone spurs (osteophytes), and loss of centering of the ball in the socket (click here for more about "Total shoulder joint replacement")

Diagnostic tests

Laboratory tests, other than routine blood and urine tests, are usually not necessary. In special cases additional tests, such as an MRI, CT scan or lab tests may be helpful.

Effects

The tests are not usually uncomfortable or invasive. Sometimes the shoulder is so stiff that positioning the arm for the X-rays is painful.

Health care team

Shoulder arthritis can be diagnosed by any physician who has experience in evaluating shoulder conditions. This may be an orthopaedic surgeon, physiatrist, rheumatologist, or primary care physician.

Finding a doctor

Determining the best treatment for an individual with shoulder arthritis requires substantial experience. Because shoulder arthritis is much less common than knee or hip arthritis and because many fewer surgeries are performed for shoulder arthritis than hip or knee arthritis, there are many fewer experienced shoulder surgeons than knee and hip surgeons. Patients considering shoulder joint replacement (total shoulder arthroplasty) should consult with an individual who performs these surgeries frequently. A list of fellowship trained shoulder surgeons can be obtained by consulting the website of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons.

Surgery for Shoulder arthritis at the University of Washington

If you are interested in making an appointment to discuss this procedure, you can request an appointment using our online referrals website. To request a referral online, please click here. You can also call 206-598-7416 to make an appointment.

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