Partial and Total Shoulder Replacement
Partial Shoulder Replacement
If the humeral head or soft tissue is damaged but the glenoid is not, sometimes only the ball is replaced:
- The humeral head is removed and the arm bone is prepared to hold the stem. The stem may be cemented into the bone. Then the metal ball is secured to the new stem.
- If your shoulder has been fractured, the tuberosities are fixed to the new stem and to the bone around it.
When both the humeral head and the glenoid are worn, your surgeon may replace both the ball and the socket:
- First, the worn humeral head is removed and the arm bone is prepared to hold the stem.
- Then the glenoid is prepared. Usually the plastic cup is cemented in place.
- Finally,the stem is inserted into the arm bone and the metal ball is secured to the new stem.