Key facts to plan your treatment: how long it takes, your hospital stay, anaesthesia, risks and recovery.
Duration of surgery/treatment
Approximately 2 hours
For shoulder replacement in general
Days admitted
2 to 3 days
For shoulder replacement in general
Anesthesia
General of Regional Anesthesia
For shoulder replacement in general
Recovery
- The patient’s shoulder may be strapped to a continuous passive motion (CPM) machine, which helps in reducing stiffness of the joint and easing pain.
- A drainage tube may be used to drain excess fluid after the surgery.
- A sling is used to hold the patient’s arm at rest. This should be worn at night for 4 to 6 weeks.
- The patient will be able to perform light activities like eating and grooming within a couple of weeks after the surgery.
- The patient will be able to drive a car within 6 weeks after the surgery.
- The patient is required to undergo a rehabilitation program starting on the day after the surgery.
- The patient may take 6 months to 1 year to fully recover.
For shoulder replacement in general
Risks
Risks of anesthesia include:
- Breathing difficulty
- Allergic reaction to medication
Risks of shoulder replacement are:
- Humerus fracture during the surgery
- Breakage of tendons
- Shoulder instability
- Loosening of the glenoid implant
- Joint dislocation
- Injury to a nerve or blood vessel
- Bleeding
- Blood clotting
- Infection
For shoulder replacement in general
After care
- The patient is required to continue the rehabilitation program for many months. A physical therapist will help the patient with some exercises that will improve the shoulder’s strength and stability.
- The patient needs to visit the doctor at intervals of 6 weeks for 5 to 6 months during which the doctor will monitor the patient’s progress.
- The patient is required to take antibiotics after any surgical or invasive procedures to prevent infection. This includes dental procedures.
The doctor should be informed immediately if the following symptoms occur:
- High fever
- Excessive drainage from the incision wound.
- Redness and swelling at the incision area
- Severe pain
For shoulder replacement in general
Hospitals in Georgia offering Shoulder Replacement
These hospitals list Shoulder Replacement in Georgia; ask any of them to quote Minimally Invasive Shoulder Replacement for your case. The order reshuffles every hour so each gets equal exposure.