Reverse shoulder placement is an effective treatment for relieving shoulder pain. It is a specific type of shoulder surgery that promotes smooth joint movement. During the surgical procedure, the surgeon removes damaged portions of the shoulder and replaces them with artificial joints. Your doctor may recommend this surgery as a first line of treatment to restore your shoulder’s functionality.

What is Reverse Shoulder Placement?

Our shoulder joint is made up of shoulder blades and upper arm bone. Since the rounded end of your upper arm bone is fitted into a shallow socket in the shoulder blade, your shoulder can move smoothly. While doing reverse shoulder placement, your surgeon will reverse the normal ball-and-socket structure. They will attach an artificial blade to the shoulder blade. Then, they attach an artificial socket to the top of the arm bone. This way, the large deltoid muscle that covers the shoulder functions again to move the joint smoothly and freely

When is Reverse Shoulder Placement Recommended?

Often, doctors recommend reverse shoulder placement when severe shoulder pain interferes with daily activities. It can be an option if you encounter severe weakness in the shoulder and are not able to move it freely. Additionally, your doctor may advise you if you do not get relief in your symptoms from other treatments, such as physical therapy, injections, and medications

Reverse Shoulder Placement Performed in Which Shoulder Conditions?

• Very often, doctors recommend reverse prosthesis when there is arthritis pain in the joint.
• It is essential when rotator cuff tendons are torn or damaged.
• Doctors may advise the treatment of reverse shoulder placement as an ultimate option in conditions like fractures, osteoarthritis, etc.
• You may need to undergo this surgical procedure when there are some fractures in your shoulder area. These are especially those fractures when the ball attaches to the shaft of the arm bone. In some cases, the ball or bone is broken into several parts.
• If there is a tumour in the proximal humerus, your healthcare provider may recommend the reverse shoulder placement surgery.

Who Should Not Undergo a Reverse Shoulder Placement?

Check out the following cases when your doctor will never recommend you to undergo a reverse shoulder placement:

• Sometimes, the socket bone of the shoulder blade or scapula is severely damaged. It is not in the condition of the screw fixation of the component base plate. However, in some instances, your surgeon can implant a bone graft during the surgery. This makes it possible to the screws and component base plate.
• Patients with an ongoing infection in the shoulder can not be treated with reverse prosthesis. In this situation, your doctor will treat the infection before proceeding with the surgical procedure. However, the after-surgery infection rate remains higher in such patients. If this happens to you, it should be discussed with the surgeon.

Dr. Banarji B.H – Leading the Way in Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine

Dr. Banarji B.H is widely acclaimed as one of the best orthopaedic surgeons, with a specialisation in arthroscopy and sports medicine. With his extensive expertise, he offers advanced treatments like reverse shoulder replacement, an essential procedure for patients who haven’t found relief through medications, injections, or physical therapy. Under the skilled hands of Dr. Banarji, patients can expect world-class care tailored to restore mobility and improve quality of life.