Shoulder Prosthesis (Replacement)
Candidates for procedure:
This procedure is used in patients complaining severe pain due to severe arthritis or a comminuted fracture where the bone breaks into multiple pieces.
Treatment Summary:
The ball, or the head of the upper arm bone, is replaced with a cemented or cementless joint prosthesis. In more severe cases, a complete shoulder replacement surgery where both the ball and socket are changed may be considered. A reverse shoulder replacement is also an option in patients suffering due to muscle atrophy and/or massive rotator cuff tears.
Shoulder prosthesis are 3 types:
Partial
Candidates for Procedure:
We only replace the humeral head with a titanium head and stem; cemented or non-cemented.
Recovery time:
Approximately 6 weeks with high success rates.
Risks and Side Effects:
Infection and deep vein thrombosis are major complications but with very low rates.
Total Shoulder Prosthesis
Candidates for Procedure:
Preferred in patients with severe arthritis of the shoulder. Head and stem are same as in partial type, however we change the socket with a titanium metal back and a polyethylene liner.
Recovery time:
Approximately 6 weeks with high success rates.
Risks and Side Effects:
Infection and deep vein thrombosis are major complications but with very low rates.
Reversed shoulder prosthesis
Candidates for Procedure:
Sophisticated operation which we replace the titanium prosthesis head in the natural socket with several screws. The new socket will be in the humeral bone on a stem. That is why it is called “reverse”
Recovery time:
About 3 months with low complication rates. This technique is preferred in severe unrepairable cuff tears and arthropathies in which the head contacts to collar bone causes severe pain. In some selected cases with 4-part head fractures, we also prefer the “reverse”.
Risks and Side Effects:
Infection and deep vein thrombosis are major complications but with very low rates.
Total Hip Prothesis (Replacement)
Candidates for Procedure:
Total hip replacement is the procedure of replacing damaged bone and cartilage with prosthetic components. This procedure may alleviate chronic hip pain and disability due to different forms of arthritis and/or fractures. Before considering total hip replacement surgery, more conservative forms of therapy should be explored.
Treatment Period:
Local or general anesthesia may be administered for the surgery.
Recovery Time:
Most patients will be discharged from the hospital within 3 days.
Success Rates:
First performed in 1960, hip replacement surgery has a very high success rate.
Risks and Side Effects:
Although complication rates are extremely low, these may include infection, blood clots, leg length inequality, dislocation and/or loosening of the hip prosthesis.
Knee Prothesis (Replacement)
Success Rates:
Total knee replacement procedures have been performed for the past 50 years with significant success rates. The advancement, improvements and techniques have greatly increased its effectiveness.
Candidates for Procedure:
The most common cause of chronic knee pain and disability is arthritis due to chronic inflammation, wear and tear due to age or serious injury.
Treatment Period:
Once all other options have been exhausted, knee replacement surgery should be considered to alleviate the pain and discomfort and resume normal activities. The most common types of anesthesia used in this procedure are general anesthesia, spinal, epidural or regional nerve block anesthesia.
Recovery Time:
The procedure itself may take 1-2 hours and most patients begin exercising their knees on the next day. Stitches will be removed usually after 2 weeks and normal daily activities should be resumed 3-6 weeks after surgery.
Risks and Side Effects:
Although complication rates are low, they do include leg swelling, stiffness, bleeding, infection and deep venous thrombosis.
