Shoulder Replacement

Your shoulder is a ball and socket joint. Normally, the head of your upper arm (humerus), which is the ball, fits into the socket on your shoulder blade (scapula). During shoulder replacement surgery, also known as shoulder arthroplasty, surgeons replace damaged portions of your shoulder joint with plastic and metal parts. These parts allow your joint to move more easily.

There are several types of replacement surgery. Doctors determine which is best for you based on your unique needs.

• Partial shoulder replacement — Surgeons replace the top portion of your humerus with a metal stem topped by a ball. They simply reshape your natural socket rather than replacing it.
• Total shoulder replacement — Surgeons replace the top portion of the humerus. They also place a plastic shell into the scapula. The shell forms a new socket into which the new ball fits.
• Reverse shoulder replacement — Surgeons replace both the ball and socket of your shoulder joint. However, the ball is placed into the socket area. The new socket is attached to your humerus. This option can be preferable, such as when you have a torn rotator cuff and your shoulder joint is not stable.

When you’re planning shoulder replacement surgery, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

We teach you what to expect before surgery and how to plan your care, whether you’ll be spending the night in the hospital or having an outpatient procedure. You are strongly encouraged to join our shoulder replacement pre-operative virtual class. Designed for you and those caring for you at home, the class provides specific details about your operation. 

Additional pre-surgical education may help answer other questions you have. This information is available in English and Spanish.

Just as we prepare you before surgery, we help you learn what to expect after surgery. Over several months, you are gradually able to do more with your new shoulder. However, it may take up to a year to fully recover from your surgery. Physical and occupational therapists will help with your rehabilitation.

Your team at New England Baptist Hospital is ready to guide you through the treatment and recovery process. You are the center of that team. By taking an active role in your care, you can have a more satisfying experience and achieve better results.

This video series will prepare you for your shoulder replacement. We’ll give you a glimpse of the process ahead, and provide you with important details to make your surgical experience as comfortable as possible. From pre-screening and preparation, through your surgery day, hospital stay, and recovery, we want you, and those around you, to feel confident in the process and be prepared for what lies ahead.

• Welcome To New England Baptist Hospital (Video)
• Preparing for Your Surgery: A To-Do List (PDF)
• Shared Decision Making at NEBH (PDF)
• Smoking and Surgery: Recommendations to Reduce Complications (PDF)
• Alcohol and Surgery (PDF)
• Your Shoulder Replacement (Video)
• Nutrition Recommendations for Before and After Surgery (PDF)
• What to Bring to Your Appointment (PDF)
• Your Surgery Day (Video)
• What to Bring to the Hospital (PDF)
• General Anesthesia (PDF)
• Spinal Anesthesia (PDF)
• Care Transitions (PDF)
• Your Hospital Recovery (Video)
• Managing Your Pain (PDF)
• Preventing Falls (PDF)
• Leaving New England Baptist Hospital and Heading Home (Video)
• Airport Travel (PDF)
• Caring for Your Surgical Incision (PDF)
• Caring for Your Surgical Incision During the Summer (PDF)
• Preparing Your Home (PDF)
• Safe Disposal of Your Prescription Medication (PDF)
• When to Call Your Surgeon (PDF)

Usted y su cirujano han decidido que es momento de someterse a una cirugía, y debe sentirse seguro al saber que ha elegido uno de los mejores hospitales del país para su atención ortopédica. Esta serie de videos lo/a preparará para su próxima operación, le dará una idea del proceso por delantado y le brindará detalles importantes para que su experiencia quirúrgica sea lo más cómoda posible.

**Esta serie de videos se filmó antes del COVID-19. Algunas cosas hoy, pueden verse diferentes a como se muestra en los videos. Le sugerimos a usted y a su acompañante que vean los videos, ya que contienen información importante y útil sobre su cirugía.

• Bienvenido a New England Baptist Hospital (Vídeo)
  (Welcome To New England Baptist Hospital)
• Preparación para la Cirugía: Su Listado de Tareas (PDF)
  (Preparing for Your Surgery: A To-Do List)
• Fumadores y Cirugías Recomendaciones para reducir las complicaciones (PDF)
  (Smoking and Surgery: Recommendations to Reduce Complications)
• Alcohol y Cirugía (PDF)
  (Alcohol and Surgery)
• Tu cirugia de hombro (Vídeo)
  (Your Shoulder Replacement)
• Nutrición Peri-operatoria (PDF)
  (Nutrition Recommendations for Before and After Surgery)
• Preparación para su visita de chequeo previo al ingreso (PDF)
  (What to Bring to Your Appointment)
• Su dia de cirugia (Vídeo)
  (Your Surgery Day)
• Qué traer al Hospital (PDF)
  (What to Bring to the Hospital)
• Anestesia General: Qué Debe Saber (PDF)
  (General Anesthesia)
• Anestesia Espinal: Qué Debe Saber (PDF)
  (Spinal Anesthesia)
• Gestión de casos y cómo podemos brindarle asistencia (PDF)
  (Case Management)
• Su recuperacion hospitalaria (Vídeo)
  (Your Hospital Recovery)
• Tratamiento del Dolor (PDF)
  (Managing Your Pain)
• Riesgo de Caídas (PDF)
  (Preventing Falls)
• Dejar el New England Baptist Hospital e ir a casa (Vídeo)
  (Leaving NEBH and Heading Home)
• Viajar en Avión (PDF)
  (Airport Travel)
• Cuidados de su Incisión Quirúrgica (PDF)
  (Caring for Your Surgical Incision)
• Preparar el Hogar (PDF)
  (Preparing Your Home)
• Desechar de Manera Segura los Medicamentos Recetados (PDF)
  (Safe Disposal of Your Prescription Medication)
• Cuándo llamar al Cirujano (PDF)
  (When to Call Your Surgeon)