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Shoulder replacement, or shoulder arthroplasty, is a type of orthopedic surgery that removes a damaged shoulder joint and places a new, artificial joint in the socket. Shoulder replacement surgery can be very beneficial if you have shoulder pain or disability from an injury or chronic joint condition.
If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of shoulder replacement surgery in the Bay Area, meet with one of our experienced and knowledgeable doctors at Dignity Health. To request an appointment with a provider near you, Find a Doctor online or call (888) 510-7331 for a referral to a location near you:
Your doctor may recommend a joint replacement for your shoulder if you have one or more of these symptoms:
Joint injuries, infections, and arthritis that haven’t responded to physical therapy, steroid injections, and medications can often be relieved with shoulder arthroplasty.
For this procedure, you’ll be in a Dignity Health hospital or outpatient surgery center in the Bay Area and under general anesthesia. Your surgeon will make an incision in your shoulder to remove the damaged joint and replace it with an artificial one. In most cases, this will be a total joint replacement. Some conditions may warrant a partial joint replacement.
Once surgery is complete, you may need to spend a few days in the hospital to recuperate. Some people also need rehabilitation before they safely return home. You’ll need to wear an arm sling for two to four weeks to keep your shoulder stable while it heals.
Most people find that shoulder replacement gives them more freedom to pursue things they used to do, but couldn’t do before surgery. Your doctor and physical therapist will give you special instructions for how to care for your new shoulder joint while it heals. This may include:
Together with a provider at a Dignity Health hospital in the Bay Area, you can create a personalized recovery strategy that meets the goals of your physical therapy program.
Dignity Health's Bay Area hospitals offer quality shoulder replacement in San Francisco, Santa Cruz, and Redwood City.