Medical Disclaimer
The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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Shoulder Arthrodesis (Shoulder Fusion Surgery)
Shoulder arthrodesis is a salvage surgery that permanently fuses the shoulder joint to eliminate pain when all other treatment options have failed - it's reserved for severe end-stage shoulder problems like failed shoulder replacements with massive bone loss, irreparable rotator cuff tears causing pseudoparalysis in young patients, or chronic shoulder infections, achieving 80-90% pain relief but eliminating shoulder movement and forcing reliance on scapular (shoulder blade) motion for arm positioning.
đWhat is Shoulder Arthrodesis (Shoulder Fusion Surgery)?
Shoulder arthrodesis is a salvage surgery that permanently fuses the shoulder joint to eliminate pain when all other treatment options have failed - it's reserved for severe end-stage shoulder problems like failed shoulder replacements with massive bone loss, irreparable rotator cuff tears causing pseudoparalysis in young patients, or chronic shoulder infections, achieving 80-90% pain relief but eliminating shoulder movement and forcing reliance on scapular (shoulder blade) motion for arm positioning.
đŦWhat Causes It?
- Failed shoulder replacement (arthroplasty) with massive bone loss making revision impossible
- Irreparable massive rotator cuff tear with pseudoparalysis in young manual laborers (reverse shoulder not ideal long-term)
- Brachial plexus injury causing flail shoulder (nerve damage eliminating muscle function)
- Chronic shoulder infection destroying joint with insufficient bone for arthroplasty
- Severe post-traumatic arthritis with bone loss in young patients unsuitable for joint replacement
â ī¸Risk Factors
You may be at higher risk if:
- Previous failed shoulder arthroplasty requiring multiple revision surgeries
- Chronic shoulder infections not responding to debridement and antibiotics
- Massive irreparable rotator cuff tears in young heavy manual workers
- Brachial plexus injuries (motorcycle accidents, birth trauma)
- Severe shoulder trauma with bone loss
đĄī¸Prevention
- âOptimize initial shoulder surgeries to reduce failure risk (experienced surgeons, appropriate implant selection)
- âPrompt treatment of shoulder infections to prevent chronic bone destruction
- âCareful selection of patients for shoulder arthroplasty (some patients better served with alternative treatments)
- âAvoid high-risk activities after shoulder replacement (heavy lifting, high-impact sports increasing failure risk)