Shoulder Replacement Overview
Orthopaedic surgery is a dynamic field of medicine with new techniques and innovations emerging every year. Some of most exciting medical and technological advances have made outpatient shouler replacement surgery possible for many patients.
As an experienced Chicago orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Anthony Romeo is at the leading edge of these innovations, and has performed many safe, convenient, and effective outpatient shoulder replacement procedures.
Difference between Inpatient and Outpatient Shoulder Replacement
In the past, shoulder replacement meant a prolonged stay in the hospital. Often a patient was immobilized and in traction for days after surgery. Advancements in medical devices, techniques, anesthesia, and pain management have made outpatient shoulder surgery a safe and realistic option for many patients. Beyond the obvious appeal of recovering at home, outpatient shoulder surgery lowers your risk of infection, which is more likely to be spread in a hospital environment. The outpatient approach is also cost-effective, as you will go home the day of your surgery, avoiding the expense of a hospital stay.
Who is Not an Outpatient Candidate?
There are a few complicating factors that may rule out this option for some patients. For instance, some insurers, such as Medicare, do not currently cover outpatient shoulder replacements. Furthermore, if you have heart disease or other serious medical conditions, you should have your surgery in a hospital for safety’s sake. Obese patients and those over 65 also may not be good candidates for an outpatient procedure. Dr. Romeo can help identify if outpatient shoulder surgery is the right choice for you.
How Outpatient Shoulder Replacement Works
Shoulder replacement surgery has a high satisfaction rate among patients. It effectively targets the pain and loss of function that once prevented sufferers from enjoying life fully. The outpatient option has made this procedure more convenient than ever.
The essential part of all shoulder replacement surgery is to remove the damaged area and replace it with a shoulder prosthesis (artificial joint). To access the joint, an incision is made on the front of the shoulder. The damaged ends of the bone are removed.
Then the bone is prepared for the placement of the artificial joint. The artificial joint is made of metal—usually a titanium or a cobalt-chrome alloy. The stem is placed inside the humerus bone and bone cement may be used to secure it.
Some patients benefit from a glenoid component, made of a special plastic, also being added during surgery. The final decision to use a glenoid component is made during the surgery. Patients with osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis generally benefit from the placement of a glenoid component.
After all the components are in place, the shoulder joint is checked to make sure that the shoulder is stable and has the potential for good motion after rehabilitation.
How to learn More about Outpatient Shoulder Replacement
For more information about outpatient shoulder replacement, please request an appointment with experienced Chicago orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Anthony Romeo. Call our office today to schedule your visit.
Want to know more? Here’s some of Dr. Romeo’s recent medical journal articles about outpatient shoulder replacement:
- Same-Day Discharge Following Total Joint Arthroplasty: Examining Trends, Discharge Depositions and Complications Over Time (Orthopedics)
- Outpatient vs. inpatient reverse total shoulder arthroplasty: outcomes and complications (Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery)
- Outpatient shoulder arthroplasty: outcomes, complications, and readmissions in 2 outpatient settings (Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery)
- Safety and patient satisfaction of outpatient shoulder arthroplasty (JSES Open Access)
- Comparative outcomes of outpatient and inpatient total shoulder arthroplasty: an analysis of the Medicare dataset (Bone Joint J.)
Anthony Romeo, MD
Dr. Anthony Romeo is one of the nation’s leading orthopaedic surgeons specializing in the management and surgical treatment of shoulder and elbow conditions. His state-of-the-art practice employs minimally-invasive arthroscopic techniques to accelerate the recovery process for a range of challenging conditions.
