Shoulder Replacement · Shoulder arthroplasty
Pyrocarbon hemiarthroplasty
Shoulder Arthritis — Pyrocarbon Humeral Head Replacement
The condition
Shoulder arthritis is the wearing away of the smooth cartilage that covers the ball (humeral head) and socket (glenoid). In some shoulders the socket wears unevenly and the ball drifts off center. This causes deep aching pain, grinding, stiffness, and trouble sleeping and reaching.
The surgery
Only the worn ball is replaced, through an incision at the front of the shoulder, with a pyrocarbon head—a very smooth, material that is gentle on the socket. Keeping your own socket saves bone, which suits younger, active patients. The new ball can recenter the shoulder and help an uneven socket remodel. A front tendon is opened and repaired, so the shoulder is protected early on. While this procedure is durable and retains much of your own shoulder, it often requires revision to a full replacement at some point, years down the line, especially when done in young patients.
Recovery at a glance
- Sling
- Worn for 6 weeks, removed only for hygiene and therapy exercises. Gentle assisted motion begins right away.
- Daily life
- For 6 weeks: no lifting or pushing up from a chair with the surgical arm; then no more than 1–2 lb until 12 weeks. No reaching behind your back for 8 weeks. No driving while taking narcotic pain medication.
- Lifting & overhead
- Strengthening begins at 12 weeks with light weights. Most patients can reach overhead by ~3 months; strength keeps improving for a year or more.
- Activity
- Light recreation (such as golf chipping) ~4 months and full activity at 6 months. No long-term restrictions are placed.
A general guide. Your restrictions and timeline may change based on what is found and done at surgery.
Risks & benefits
Benefits: Most patients have major pain relief and better motion, while keeping their own socket bone for the future. Risks are uncommon and include infection, blood clots, socket wear over time (which may later need conversion to a total shoulder replacement), implant loosening, failure of the tendon repair, instability, fracture around the implant, injury to nearby structures (such as nerves or blood vessels), stiffness, persistent pain, and the need for further surgery. These will be reviewed with you in detail before surgery.
Patient Surgical Information
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Before & after every surgery