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Home « Clinical Services « Shoulder & Elbow

Shoulder arthritis

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

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About

What is shoulder arthritis?

Shoulder arthritis is a clinical condition in which the joint that connects the ball of the arm bone (humeral head) to the shoulder blade socket (glenoid) has damaged or worn out cartilage (click here to read more). Normally the ends of the bone are covered with hyaline articular cartilage, a surface so smooth that the friction at the joint is less than that of an ice skate on ice. In arthritis, this cartilage is progressively lost, exposing the bone beneath. Shoulder arthritis is characterized by pain, stiffness, and loss of function and often by a grinding on shoulder motion.

For patients with severe shoulder arthritis that does not respond to non-operative treatment, shoulder surgery can be very helpful. Depending on the condition of the shoulder and the specific expectations of the patient, surgical options include total shoulder joint replacement arthroplasty, 'ream and run' (humeral hemiarthroplasty with non prosthetic glenoid arthroplasty, and reverse (Delta) total shoulder joint replacement arthroplasty.

What symptoms indicate that shoulder arthritis needs 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.

What are some common misconceptions (common misunderstandings or myths) about shoulder arthritis?

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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