High Tech Spot - Dr. Meadows talks about Reverse Shoulder Replacement – The new procedure relieving pain and restoring function for those previously not a candidate for shoulder replacement!
"I’VE HAD SHOULDER PAIN FOR YEARS, AND I’VE RECENTLY HEARD ABOUT SOMETHING CALLED REVERSE SHOULDER ARTHROPLASTY. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT CAN HELP MY PAIN AND WEAKNESS?"
Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty is a relatively new procedure that can bring a substantial decrease in shoulder pain and significant increase in function to your shoulder, if it is right for you. There are not many doctors in South Florida who perform this procedure, because it is necessary to receive specialized training. It has existed in France , where it originated, for about 14 years and has been popularized in the United State in the last five years. I have been performing traditional shoulder replacements (arthroplasty is the medical term for replacement) for 15 years, and I was excited to specialize in this useful procedure.
A Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty can be of benefit for you if you are suffering from long-standing rotator cuff degeneration that makes it difficult to lift your arm. Reverse arthroplasty is necessary when degeneration is caused by a lack of a functioning rotator cuff over time. This state can often be diagnosed with a simple X-ray.
Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty differs from traditional shoulder replacements in that the “socket” of the shoulder is replaced with the “ball,” and vice versa, allowing the intact muscles around the shoulder to lift the arm. In effect, we are bypassing the non-functioning rotator cuff and relying on the deltoid muscle to lift the arm.
This can provide substantial improvement in function and reduction in pain that, in this case, a traditional procedure could not. Within weeks, my Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty patients report less pain and better function than they've experienced in quite some time.
For more information about Reverse Shoulder Replacement, or to find out if you are a candidate, call our office for a consultation with Dr. Meadows at (561) 496 – 6622 . To learn more about Dr. Meadows, click here.