Reverse Shoulder Replacement (Delta joint replacement) for arthritis: Surgery with a reverse prosthesis can lessen shoulder pain and improve function in shoulders with failed surgery or combined arthritis, rotator cuff tears and instability.

Edited By: Winston J. Warme, MD, Frederick A. Matsen III, M.D.
Last updated Friday, June 20, 2008

Recovering from surgery

How much pain do patients usually have after reverse shoulder for reverse shoulder and what medications are used to manage it?

Recovery of comfort and function after humeral prosthetic arthroplasty with a cuff tear arthropathy head is progressive after the surgery. Often the benefits become apparent to the individual after two to six weeks.

This partial joint replacement procedure is a major surgical procedure that involves cutting of skin, tendon and bone and removal of scar tissue, as well as resuturing of tendon back to bone. The pain from this surgery is managed by the anesthetic and by pain medications. Immediately after surgery, strong medications (such as morphine or Demerol) may be given by injection and by mouth as needed. Within a day or so, oral pain medications (such as hydrocodone or Tylenol with codeine) are usually sufficient. On the other hand, some individuals need surprisingly little pain medication after this procedure. In older individuals it is often safer to use relatively less pain medication.

How are medications after reverse shoulder for reverse shoulder administered? How long will they be needed?

Initially after surgery pain medication can administered by mouth, in the vein (intravenously), or in the muscle (intramuscularly). Sometimes patient controlled analgesia (PCA) is used to allow the individual to administer the medication as it is needed. Hydrocodone or Tylenol with codeine are taken by mouth. Intravenous pain medications are usually needed only for the first day or two after the procedure. Oral pain medications are usually needed only for the first two weeks after the procedure. Some individuals need surprisingly little pain medication after this procedure. In older individuals it is often safer to use relatively less pain medication.

How does pain medication usually affect pain and comfort following reverse shoulder for reverse shoulder?

Pain medications can be very powerful and effective. Their proper use lies in the balancing of their pain relieving effect and their other, less desirable effects (such as slowed breathing, sleepiness, nausea, constipation, or difficulty urinating). Good pain control is an important part of the postoperative management.

What are the most frequent and most serious side effects of taking pain medication after reverse shoulder for reverse shoulder?

After reverse shoulder for reverse shoulder, what happens in the hospital and when is the patient usually discharged?

After surgery the individual spends an hour or so in the recovery room. A drainage tube is usually used to remove excess fluid from the surgical area. The drain is usually removed on the second day after surgery. Bandages cover the incision. They are usually changed the second day after surgery. Individuals are discharged as soon as the incision is dry, the shoulder is comfortable with oral pain medications, the individual can care for the shoulder, and the home support systems for the individual are in place. Discharge is usually on the third or fourth day after surgery.

What is the recovery from reverse shoulder for reverse shoulder? What type of rehabilitation is started in the hospital?

Early protected and restricted motion after shoulder replacement with a reversed (reverse Delta) prosthesis helps achieve the best possible shoulder function. The surgeon will provided detailed information on the optimal program after the particular surgical procedure.

During the hospitalization, the individual learns a simple rehabilitation program that will be used at home after discharge. The arm is kept in a sling for several weeks after surgery to allow for early healing.

After reverse shoulder for reverse shoulder, what happens at hospital discharge and what are the patient's limitations at that time?

At the time of discharge, the individual should be relatively comfortable on oral medications, should have a dry incision, should understand their exercises and should feel comfortable with the plans for managing the shoulder. For the first month or so after this procedure, the operated arm may be less useful than it was immediately beforehand.

The specific limitations can be specified only by the surgeon who performed the procedure. It is important that the reconstructed shoulder not be challenged until it has had a chance to heal. Usually the individual is asked to lift nothing heavier than a cup of coffee for six weeks after the surgery.

Management of these limitations requires advance planning to accomplish the activities of daily living during the period of recovery.

What type of help do patients need after reverse shoulder for reverse shoulder and for how long? Can they go home or do they require a convalescent facility?

Individuals usually require some assistance with self-care, activities of daily living, shopping and driving for at least six weeks after surgery. They usually go directly home after this surgery, especially if there are people at home who can provide the necessary assistance, or if such assistance can be arranged through an agency. In the absence of home support, a convalescent facility may provide a safe environment for recovery.

Recovery of comfort and function after shoulder arthroplasty continues for many months after the procedure. Improvement in some activities may be evident as early as six weeks. With persistent effort, individuals can make progress for as long as a year after surgery.

Surgery for Reverse Shoulder at the University of Washington

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