Resurfacing the shoulder joint is different then shoulder replacement. During shoulder resurfacing the natural anatomy of the humeral head and glenoid is maintained. The benefit of this procedure is for younger higher demand shoulders where restoration of natural kinematics and motion is desired for the purpose of achieving the greatest level of return to activity.

Shoulder replacement is designed for the treatment of advanced joint degeneration. The difference between shoulder resurfacing and replacement is the sacrifice of the humeral head head and reconstruction of the glenoid surface using an onlay implant. This procedure is recommended for cases with bone deformity, advanced contractures and when pain relief is the primary goal. 

Common diagnosis which may be an indication for shoulder replacement are:

Degenerative Joint Disease (Osteoarthritis)

Osteoarthritis is age-related arthritis arising from wear and tear on joints. Usually seen in people over 50.

Rotator Cuff Tear Arthropathy

If you have a long-standing, large rotator cuff tear, it could lead to secondary failure of the joint cartilage.

Post-Traumatic Arthritis

Shoulder injuries may lead to degeneration of the joint years following the event. 

Osteonecrosis

A painful disorder occurring when blood supply to the shoulder joint bones (or any other joint bones) is restricted, osteonecrosis (avascular necrosis) will eventually destroy the shoulder joint and cause severe arthritis. 

A total hip replacement is done to restore painless range of motion and function/gait. The procedure involves the placement of implants to restore a stable low friction joint surface. Implant selection will depend on anatomic characteristics of the joint. Robotics and/or computer navigation can be used to achieve highly precise implant sizing and placement for the benefit of achieving the best result as it relates to function and implant durability.

While most people diagnosed with severe knee arthritis will eventually need total knee replacement surgery, others may be candidates for a partial joint replacement procedure that does not require total removal of knee cartilage and other components. A partial joint replacement surgeon may be able to provide you with minimally invasive, partial joint replacement treatment.

Divided into three parts responsible for bearing most of your body’s weight, your knee consists of three compartments. When degenerative arthritis damages cartilage in all three compartments you will probably need a TKR, or total knee replacement. However, if only one or two compartments are affected by arthritis, you may be a good candidate for partial knee replacement (PKR).

Also called a unicompartmental or bicompartmental knee replacement, a partial knee replacement requires smaller incisions and reduced dissection of soft tissue. This permits your partial joint replacement surgeon to perform the surgery in an outpatient setting, with faster recovery times and less pain. In fact, most patients resume their normal activities with five to six weeks of having partial joint replacement surgery.

Total Knee Replacement, also called total knee arthroplasty, is a complete replacement of all 3 compartments of the knee using synthetic materials. This is an effective procedure for eliminating the pain and loss of function as a result of arthritis and related conditions. The procedure can be done using a variety of implant designs including custom implants. Custom implants are manufactured based off CT imaging of your knee to match exactly the existing anatomy. Other techniques including robotics and computer navigation can also be used to achieve highly precise sizing and implant placement.