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 Thursday, July 17, 2008
AboutBasics of shoulder arthritis Diagnosis and treatment of shoulder arthritisIn 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. It has been noted to follow shoulder arthroscopy. While the cause is not known, chondrolysis may be associated with the use radiofrequency heat to shrink the shoulder capsule and the use of pain pump catheters placed in the joint after surgery for post-operative administration of local anesthetic, such as Marcaine (bupivacaine) or Xylocaine (lidocaine) and epinephrine.
Treatment of shoulder arthritis may include exercises, a ream and run procedure, a total shoulder, or a reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.
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.
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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