Orthopedic surgeons in the Sutter Health network use the latest technologies to perform partial and total shoulder replacement surgeries. These surgeries take about two to four hours, and most people can go home one to three days after surgery.

If you have severe arthritis or a shoulder injury and nonsurgical options aren’t working, these common surgeries can help ease pain, heal injury and restore movement. You’ll need to wear a sling for two to six weeks after surgery, and it’s best to avoid driving during this time. Most replacements last at least 15 to 20 years.

Total Shoulder Replacement

Doctors recommend this surgery if you have intact rotator cuffs and bone-on-bone arthritis. During a conventional total shoulder replacement, the orthopedic surgeon replaces the arthritic surfaces of the shoulder joint with a metal ball attached to a stem. This stem fits into your humeral bone if the bone is strong or is cemented into place with bone cement. A socket made of polyethylene plastic is cemented into the joint so the ball can rotate and move naturally as you move your arm and shoulder. 

Reverse Shoulder Replacement

This surgery is often best if you have torn rotator cuffs. During surgery, the socket and metal ball are switched. The orthopedic surgeon attaches the ball to the shoulder bone and the plastic socket to the arm bone. This lets you use your deltoid muscle to lift your arms instead of your rotator cuff.

Partial Shoulder Replacement (Stemmed Hemiarthroplasty)

This surgery is a good option if the head of your humeral bone is damaged and the socket is normal, because the surgeon replaces just the head of your upper arm bone with a metal ball and stem. However, research shows that partial shoulder replacements aren’t as effective at easing pain as total shoulder replacements, so you’ll want to talk to your orthopedic specialist about the best procedure for you.