Shoulder Joint The structure of the shoulder joint is a ball-and-socket joint, like the hip joint. It is a joint formed between the head at the upper end of the humerus (upper arm bone) and the socket part of the scapula (scapula) called the glenoid.

It has a wider range of motion than any other joint in our body. The muscle and ligament tendons surrounding the shoulder joint support the joint and move the joint. Shoulder prosthesis is used to reduce or eliminate pain, restore joint range of motion and improve the quality of life in patients with high levels of pain and movement restriction due to arthrosis (cartilage wear, calcification) in the shoulder joint. It is a type of prosthesis made for The shoulder joint is one of the most frequently moved joints in the human body. The aim of shoulder surgery is; The patient is able to get rid of his pain and return to daily life activities without any problems. The first treatment methods usually applied for shoulder problems are medication, intra-articular needle treatments and physical therapy.

Surgical treatment is a treatment technique that comes into play when the pain of patients who have to live with this disease increases significantly. Patients who need treatment must not be responding to all other treatments. While the pain usually occurs with movement at first, it can also occur during rest in the future and can even be seen as pain that wakes you up from sleep. As damage to the shoulder progresses, swelling and loss of function occur in the joint. In advanced cases, the ability to move the shoulder joint may be completely lost. In this case, the type of prosthesis that the doctor deems appropriate must be determined and surgery must be performed. What are the Types of Shoulder Prosthesis? Full Shoulder Prosthesis: In this shoulder prosthesis, a plastic polyethylene socket (socket) is attached to the bone with a special adhesive (cement) used in prosthesis surgeries. On the lower side, a metal head is placed on the handle part placed inside the humerus (upper arm) bone canal. In order for this prosthesis to be made, the fibers surrounding the patient's shoulder joint (rotator cuff) must be intact and functional  Reverse Shoulder Prosthesis In this type of prosthesis, the prosthetic parts are metal and plastic, but they are reversed. The metal head part is attached to the joint socket. A plastic polyethylene socket is attached to the upper end of the humerus bone on a metal handle. In cases where the shoulder fibers are torn and non-functional in older patients, the prosthesis provides movement and function to the joint with the strength of the muscles around the shoulder. The design logic of the reverse shoulder prosthesis is as follows; With reverse shoulder prosthesis, the orientation of the shoulder is changed. It is the reverse version of normal anatomy. In this way, the shoulder working mechanism is changed and the muscles become more functional and advantageous. The patient can move his arm much higher.

How Does the Process Proceed in the Post-Prosthesis Period?

The patient must wear a sling to protect and support his shoulder for 2 to 4 weeks after prosthesis surgery.  The stitches will be removed a few weeks after the procedure. Until then, the wound should be protected from water and irritation should be prevented. It is important to keep the stitch scar bandaged to prevent infection. Most patients can perform simple activities such as eating and dressing within 2 weeks after surgery. Shoulder pain, which may be relieved with painkillers, is common in the few weeks after surgery. It is recommended not to drive for 2 to 4 weeks after surgery. Postoperative exercise is a critical point of home care, especially during the first few weeks after surgery. It is necessary to strengthen the muscles again by following the exercise plan recommended by the surgeon under the guidance of a physiotherapist.