Shoulder Replacement
Partial Shoulder Replacement in Surat
Shoulder hemiarthroplasty at Vedaant Orthopaedic Center, Surat — replacing only the humeral head, in selected fractures and where the socket is preserved.
In short: A partial shoulder replacement, or hemiarthroplasty, replaces only the ball at the top of the arm bone and leaves the natural socket in place. Its main use today is in complex fractures of the upper humerus in older patients, and in younger patients where the socket cartilage is still healthy.
A procedure with a narrowing role
Hemiarthroplasty was once the standard shoulder replacement. Its role has narrowed considerably, for two reasons that are worth understanding.
First, anatomic total replacement produces better and more predictable pain relief in arthritis, because a metal head articulating against arthritic socket cartilage remains a source of pain. Second, reverse replacement now handles the fracture and cuff-deficient cases that hemiarthroplasty used to be stretched to cover, and handles them more reliably in older patients.
What remains is a genuine but narrower set of indications, and being straightforward about that is more useful than presenting it as an equal alternative.
When it is used
- Complex fractures of the upper humerus where the head cannot be reconstructed
- Avascular necrosis of the humeral head with a preserved socket
- Younger patients where preserving socket bone matters for future options
- Severe socket bone loss making a socket component unfeasible
- Cases where a shorter, less demanding operation is safer for the patient
The trade-off to understand
The socket keeps its own cartilage, which is an advantage while that cartilage is healthy and a liability once it is not. A metal head bearing against natural cartilage gradually wears it, a process called glenoid erosion. Where it develops, pain returns and conversion to a total or reverse replacement may be needed.
This is why the decision hinges on the socket. If its cartilage is already worn, hemiarthroplasty leaves the painful half of the problem in place.
Compared with the alternatives
| Partial (hemi) | Total (anatomic) | Reverse | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is replaced | Ball only | Ball and socket | Ball and socket, reversed |
| Rotator cuff needed | Preferably intact | Yes | No |
| Main use today | Selected fractures, preserved socket | Arthritis with intact cuff | Cuff-deficient, complex fractures |
| Pain relief in arthritis | Less predictable | Good | Good |
| Long-term concern | Glenoid erosion | Socket loosening | Notching, dislocation |
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Shoulder fracture or arthritis needing assessment?
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Recovery
| Stage | What to expect | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Week 0–4 | Sling worn. Where the operation followed a fracture, healing of the tuberosities dictates the pace. | Elbow, wrist and hand exercises. Passive shoulder movement as instructed. |
| Week 4–8 | Sling weaned; movement improving gradually. | Active assisted movement; light tasks at waist height. |
| Month 2–4 | Strength beginning to return. | Progressive strengthening under supervision. |
| Month 6–12 | Final result emerges slowly, particularly after fracture. | Normal daily activity; heavy overhead loading discouraged. |
Where hemiarthroplasty is done for fracture, the result depends heavily on whether the tuberosities — the bony attachments of the rotator cuff — heal in the right position. That is the main determinant of movement afterwards.
Risks
- Glenoid erosion, the characteristic long-term issue, causing returning pain.
- Tuberosity non-union or malunion after fracture cases, limiting movement.
- Rotator cuff failure over time, causing the head to ride upward.
- Stiffness, common where movement was restricted early.
- Infection and nerve injury, both uncommon.
Frequently asked questions
Why replace only half the joint?
Where the socket cartilage is healthy there is no benefit in replacing it, and preserving socket bone keeps future options open. In fractures it also makes for a shorter, less demanding operation.
Will I still have pain afterwards?
Pain relief is less predictable than with a total replacement, because the metal head still articulates against your own socket. If that socket is already arthritic, pain may persist.
Can it be converted later?
Yes. If socket erosion develops, conversion to a total or reverse replacement is possible, and preserved socket bone makes that conversion easier.
Why is it used less than it once was?
Total replacement gives better pain relief in arthritis, and reverse replacement handles fracture and cuff-deficient cases more reliably in older patients. Hemiarthroplasty retains a narrower set of indications.
How much movement will I regain?
Variable, and after fracture it depends largely on whether the tuberosities heal in a good position. Pain relief is generally more reliable than movement.
Related treatments
Visit the clinic
Vedaant Orthopaedic CenterUG/9B Galloping Corridor, GD Goenka School Road
(Canal Road – VIP Road)
Surat, Gujarat 395007
| Monday | 10:00 am – 8:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10:00 am – 8:00 pm |
| Wednesday | 10:00 am – 8:00 pm |
| Thursday | 10:00 am – 8:00 pm |
| Friday | 10:00 am – 8:00 pm |
| Saturday | 10:00 am – 8:00 pm |
| Sunday | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm |
Medically reviewed by Dr Dev Padia, MS Ortho (USA)
Orthopaedic & Joint Replacement Surgeon, Vedaant Orthopaedic Center, Surat.
Last reviewed:
The information on this website is for general guidance and does not replace a personal medical consultation. Please consult a qualified doctor about your own symptoms.