Shoulder Replacement · Shoulder arthroplasty
Revision shoulder replacement
Loose, worn, unstable or infected implants
The condition
Most shoulder replacements last for many years, but some need to be redone. Common reasons include infection, loosening or wear of the implants, the shoulder becoming unstable, rotator cuff failure after an anatomic replacement, a fracture around the implant, or ongoing stiffness or pain.
The surgery
Revision surgery is planned around the reason the first replacement failed, starting with a careful review of your history, X-rays and often a CT scan, along with testing for infection. Without infection, revision is usually done in one surgery, often by converting to a reverse shoulder replacement or exchanging worn or loose parts; rehab then follows the reverse or anatomic shoulder replacement protocol. When infection is present, treatment usually takes two surgeries: the implants are removed and a temporary antibiotic spacer is placed, followed by a course of antibiotics and then a new replacement. Your plan and recovery timeline will be reviewed with you in detail at your visit.
Patient Surgical Information
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Before & after every surgery