Reverse Shoulder Replacement Surgeon in San Diego, CA

For some patients, shoulder arthritis combined with a severely torn rotator cuff—referred to as “cuff tear arthropathy”—can make traditional shoulder replacement surgery less effective. In these cases, the standard shoulder replacement procedure, which replaces the ball-and-socket components with prosthetic ones, may not provide the desired results. Patients with this condition often experience pain and limited mobility after surgery, as the rotator cuff muscles are essential for the proper functioning of traditional implants.

In these situations, reverse shoulder replacement can be a more suitable option to restore joint function and alleviate pain. Unlike traditional shoulder replacement, where the ball and socket components are replaced with prosthetics, reverse shoulder replacement involves reversing the positions of these components. The damaged humeral head is removed and replaced with a socket component, while a metal ball is secured to the glenoid fossa (the shoulder socket).

This reversal of components changes the mechanics of the shoulder joint, allowing it to rely on different muscles, particularly the deltoid, to move the arm. This makes reverse shoulder replacement a better option for patients with significant rotator cuff damage. Traditional shoulder replacement relies heavily on the rotator cuff muscles for movement, so patients with severe tears typically experience pain when attempting to use those muscles. Reverse shoulder replacement bypasses this issue by shifting the workload to the deltoid muscle, improving the patient's ability to move the arm without pain.

This alternative approach allows many patients to regain greater mobility and comfort, even when traditional options aren't viable.