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.
đ¨Emergency? If you have severe symptoms, difficulty breathing, or think it's an emergency, call 000 immediately.
Shoulder Replacement Complications
Shoulder replacement surgery complications occur in 5-15% of cases and include instability (dislocation - most common in reverse shoulder replacements), infection requiring implant removal, glenoid component loosening, nerve injury causing weakness, and periprosthetic fractures - while most patients have excellent outcomes, recognizing complications early and seeking prompt treatment is critical for salvage and preserving shoulder function.
đWhat is Shoulder Replacement Complications?
Shoulder replacement surgery complications occur in 5-15% of cases and include instability (dislocation - most common in reverse shoulder replacements), infection requiring implant removal, glenoid component loosening, nerve injury causing weakness, and periprosthetic fractures - while most patients have excellent outcomes, recognizing complications early and seeking prompt treatment is critical for salvage and preserving shoulder function.
đŦWhat Causes It?
- Instability/dislocation from deltoid weakness, component malposition, or inadequate soft tissue tension (5-10% of reverse shoulders)
- Infection from bacteria contaminating implant during surgery or spreading through bloodstream (1-2% deep infections)
- Glenoid component loosening from poor bone quality, excessive loading, or polyethylene wear (10-20% anatomic TSA at 10 years)
- Nerve injury (axillary, suprascapular) from surgical retraction, hematoma, or stretching (2-5%)
- Periprosthetic fracture around implant from trauma or component loosening (1-3%)
â ī¸Risk Factors
You may be at higher risk if:
- Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (higher instability risk 5-10% vs anatomic TSA 1-2%)
- Diabetes, immunosuppression, rheumatoid arthritis (higher infection risk)
- Poor bone quality (osteoporosis increases fracture and loosening risk)
- Previous shoulder surgery or infection (higher complication rates)
- Non-compliance with post-operative restrictions (increases dislocation and fracture risk)
đĄī¸Prevention
- âFollow post-operative restrictions strictly (no lifting, reaching behind back for 6-12 weeks reduces dislocation risk)
- âComplete prescribed physiotherapy program (strengthens muscles supporting replacement)
- âOptimize medical conditions before surgery (control diabetes, stop smoking - reduces infection risk)
- âAntibiotic prophylaxis for dental work or procedures (prevents bloodstream infections seeding implant)
- âPrompt treatment of any infections (skin, urinary, respiratory - prevents spread to implant)