Shoulder Joint Replacement
You know when your vehicle is out of alignment. Your car movement doesn’t feel right and your tires produce uneven wear, requiring you to need a new set. Joints in the body – especially shoulder joints – work the same way. Sometimes the issue can be fixed with rehabilitation or treated with medication. And sometimes a total replacement of the joint is necessary.
Our Orthopedic Care team, together with the Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine, bring together years of experience, highly skilled physicians and the latest technologies to provide unparalleled care in shoulder replacement procedures.
Why do I need shoulder replacement surgery?
Typically, shoulder replacement surgery is recommended to relieve debilitating shoulder joint pain caused by a shoulder condition or injury that interferes with daily life, such as:
- Severe shoulder fractures or other serious shoulder injuries
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Avascular necrosis
- Rotator cuff injury resulting in joint arthritis
How is the shoulder replacement surgery performed?
Total shoulder replacement is a complex procedure in which the shoulder joint is replaced with an artificial implant. During this procedure, proper placement and alignment of the implant is critical to the implant’s overall longevity and function.
We have invested in the latest surgical technology to provide our surgeons with real-time visual guidance and alignment information in total shoulder surgery. ExactechGPS pairs surgeon expertise with an advanced computer system to perform shoulder surgery with a goal of improved accuracy and precision.
Similar to a navigation device in a car, this advanced technology provides a visual map of the patient’s joint on a screen, allowing surgeons to combine preoperative planning with computer-assisted technology during the surgery, aligning the surgery to each patient’s individual needs and anatomy.
The benefits of guided personalized surgery for shoulder replacements include:
- The preoperative planning tool is designed to help surgeons understand their patient’s anatomy prior to surgery and plan the surgery through a virtual simulation.
- Surgeons can execute their plan in real time during the surgery based on the 3-D anatomical model of the patient’s shoulder, making adjustments as needed.
- The technology gives greater visibility to the shoulder anatomy, allowing for more consistent and accurate implant placement.
To learn more or schedule an appointment, please call our Orthopedic Clinic at 504.988.2177.