Shoulder replacement surgery

In what consists shoulder replacement surgery?

Shoulder replacement surgery, or shoulder arthroplasty, consists of replacing the part of the damaged, worn or diseased bone and cartilages that are part of the shoulder joint (the articular part of the shoulder blade and the upper articular part of the humerus) with an artificial joint prosthesis, which has three elements:

• A hemispherical dome, which is placed in the cavity of the shoulder blade, or glenoid, which remains after the removal of the humerus head.
• A rod fixed to the interior of the upper end of the humerus in which it is fixed.
• A sphere that replaces the head of the humerus and is housed in the shoulder blade cavity.  This is the part of prosthesis that will really enable the movement of the shoulder.

When shoulder replacement surgery is necessary?

Shoulder replacement surgery is usually necessary when joint wear or damage to the shoulder causes reduced mobility and pain. The following are some of the reasons for shoulder surgery:

• Severe arthrosis
• Vascular necrosis of the humeral head
• Some shoulder injuries
• Certain types of fractures of the humerus.

Although this is a frequent surgery and at Vithas Xanit International Hospital it is performed using minimally invasive techniques, shoulder replacement surgery is still considered a major surgery, and normally is recommended only if other treatments like physiotherapy haven´t reduced pain or improved mobility.

Duration of the shoulder surgery and anesthesia

The shoulder surgery takes several hours and is carried out under general anesthesia.

Minimally invasive shoulder replacement surgery

Depending on the case, the shoulder replacement surgery can be performed using minimally invasive techniques (MIS), requiring smaller incisions and with a faster recovery time.

How long is the stay in the hospital after shoulder replacement?

The usual hospital stay after operation is between 5 and 10 days, depending on the particular case.

Rehabilitation after shoulder replacement surgery

The shoulder replacement is a surgery which requires an intensive rehabilitation for several weeks beginning from the day after the total shoulder prosthesis is fitted.

Postoperative follow-up shoulder surgery

To ensure that everything is ok, follow-up X-rays are recommended, 1, 2, 5, 7 and 10 years after the surgery. Additionally, a medical checkup is recommended every 2 years.

Shoulder replacement surgery in Costa del Sol, Spain

Vithas Xanit International Hospital is located in Benalmadena, at the heart of the Costa del Sol (Malaga, Spain), where you can benefit of the excellent quality/price ratio of the treatments in Spain, and recover from your shoulder surgery with the advantages of the Mediterranean climate.

Shoulder replacement surgery cost

If you are interested in the shoulder replacement surgery at Vithas Xanit International Hospital, please contact us for an estimation of the surgery cost for your particular case.