Shoulder replacement surgery requires the damage joint be replaced with a prosthesis device. Some patients undergo both the ball and socket (glenoid) replacement, while other patients have only the ball of the humerus bone replaced. During a total shoulder replacement, a short-stemmed humeral prosthesis is used for patients that exhibit good bone quality. The devices are attached by cement free anchorage and the head of the device is made of ceramic or metal. A report published in the Journal of Shoulder & Elbow Surgery indicated a high percentage of bone loss has been detected when patients had undergone short-stem shoulder replacement surgery. Furthermore, the report indicated a higher rate of device loosening that required revision surgery.
Devices implanted for shoulder replacement surgery have been recalled because of the following severe complications, including additional surgery:
- Significant Bone Loss
- Instability and Weakness
- Fractures
- Metal Toxicity
- Device Failure
- Shoulder Replacement Risk
