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Almost all mammals possess some basic biological characteristics like movement and locomotion. Our human shoulders are of great help to us in our day-to-day activities and without them, one would undergo major difficulties.

Our shoulders have a humeral head that fits into the shoulder socket called a glenoid and is connected together by the rotator cuff. However, complications that are unavoidable such as inflammation, injuries, and infections involving them can arise.

Reverse shoulder replacement can help eliminate discomforts that arise due to tears of the rotator cuff or even shoulder arthritis.

Shoulder arthritis is usually a condition or disease caused by inflammation. It prevents smooth motion of the shoulder, humeral head, and the socket in which it fits.

A radiograph or x-ray can detect most of the shoulder defectives. Any extreme tear can cause damage to shoulder parts like the rotator cuff and socket.

A shoulder replacement can solve shoulder problems, reduce pain, and handle any other infections. Shoulder replacement is actually a surgical procedure that requires orthopedic experts to undertake it.

It involves the incision of tissue between the deltoid and pectoralis of the shoulder and sometimes between tendons and bones. An anesthetic is used to manage pain during the two-hour procedure.

The replacement removes some tissues or the inflammation parts leading to the problem.  This process involves fitting a metallic stem with a ball into the shoulder.

Some of the advantages of performing a shoulder replacement include:

PROS:

1. It’s a quick operation: Shoulder replacement is usually a fast surgical procedure that takes less than three hours to complete.

2. Has shown a positive response in most patients: Over the years, more than seventy percent of patients who take the replacement experience a positive response. It, therefore, has a high success rate.

3. Restores comfort to the patient: If successful, painful shoulders get to heal, hence the patient resumes a normal life.

4. Most complications are easy to deal with: Skilled doctors can take care of any complications arising from the surgery; although the complications are not that persistent.

5. Restores motion of the shoulder: Removal of muscles that may be restricting motions can lead to some level of motion.

6. Relatively cheap: Though the cost of most of the surgical equipment and drugs might have a punch on the patient’s finances. The surgery procedure is relatively cheap when compared to other complicated surgical procedures.

7. Pain relievers and antibiotics are administered: After the surgery, doctors usually prescribe a suitable antibiotic to curb various infections. For example, the use of pain relievers to reduce pain.

8. Most hospital recommends follow-up visits: The hospital will in most cases recommend after-surgery follow-up examination to ensure fast and safe healing.

9. Quick healing: Due to the high success rate of the procedure, healing takes place as soon as the replacement has been done.

10. Most hospitals have skilled shoulder replacement experts: In each and every hospital, this is a common procedure that is performed by the most experienced medical staff. Having it in a good hospital should, therefore, relieve you from the stress of incompetence.

CONS:

1. Possible risks of infections: Patients who undergo this surgical procedure can face various bacterial or fungal infections. Antibiotics can help ease infections.

2. Possible nerve or vessel injury: Precision should be given first priority to avoid rapture or injury of critical and extremely important arteries and nerves found on the shoulder. This can lead to excess bleeding or disconnection of the nervous system hence blood loss and loss of perception of stimuli respectively. We all know how human blood is important and the limitations that come along with excessive blood loss.

3. Adverse side effects of the anesthesia: Most patients develop clotting and adverse and hypersensitive reactions to the chemical components that make up the anesthesia. This is a great challenge to both the patient and the surgery team.

4. Experienced medical experts required: Only skilled medical experts are authorized to carry out the procedure.

5. Surgery complications can eventually lead to death: Extreme complications may sadly lead to the patient succumbing to death.

6. Surgery is not an assured success: Not all patients will respond positively to the surgery. This is one of the worst fears that involve this surgery. If your body rejects the shoulder replacement then it is going to be too bad for the patient.

7. Muscles around the shoulder can loosen: Without proper surgery, tissues around the shoulder can become too much enlarged. Hence become loose to even hold the shoulder muscles together as expected. Fractures during the first surgery can necessitate a second surgery.

8. Surgery is not for everyone: Doctors usually restrict this operation being done to those who suffer from a damaged deltoid, obesity, depression as well as hard drug addicts.

9. Take long-time heal: Some patients encounter prolonged periods of unhealed surgery wounds which are sometimes painful.

10. Restriction from vigorous activities just after the replacement: One cannot enjoy his or her daily work or activities so soon. Healing must first take place to ensure that everything is as expected.