Netcare Sunninghill Hospital
Tel: 011 257 2179
Mediclinic Sandton Hospital
Tel: 011 463 8830
or 011 463 8833
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Netcare Sunninghill Hospital
Tel: 011 257 2179
Sandton MediClinic Hospital
Tel: 011 463 8830 | 011 463 8833
Normal anatomy of the shoulder
The shoulder is made up of three bones: The upper arm bone (humerus), the shoulder blade (scapula), and the collarbone (clavicle).
The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint: the ball, or head, of the humerus fits into a shallow socket (glenoid) in your shoulder blade.
The head of the humerus and the glenoid socket are covered by articular cartilage which is smooth and, together with the joint fluid, act to reduce friction between the 2 surfaces during movement.
The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles that come together as tendons to form a covering around the head of the humerus. The rotator cuff attaches the humerus to the shoulder blade and helps to lift and rotate your arm. The rotator cuff also helps to secure the humeral head within the shoulder socket.
There is a lubricating sac called a bursa between the rotator cuff and the bone on top of your shoulder (acromion). The bursa allows the rotator cuff tendons to glide freely when you move your arm.
Arthritis is an age related degenerative condition which results in the cartilage covering the humeral head and glenoid socket to wear out. This leaves a rough joint surface with the formation of bony spurs. End-stage arthritis is painful and can cause stiffness and a grinding or grating feeling in your shoulder.
Due to similar age related ‘wear and tear’, the rotator cuff tendons surrounding the joint may also tear resulting in weakness of the shoulder joint.
In some patients arthritis may develop early as a result of an autoimmune arthritis, such as Rheumatoid, or following a fracture of the shoulder joint.
Unfortunately this condition is not reversible and worsens over time. Mild to moderate arthritis is typically managed with non-surgical management, however severe arthritis is best managed with a joint replacement.
The risk of having another shoulder dislocation on the same shoulder depends on:
There are 2 different types of shoulder replacements available. A conventional ‘anatomical’ total shoulder replacement and a reverse total shoulder replacement
For more information please read the booklet below
Netcare Sunninghill Hospital
Tel: 011 257 2179
Mediclinic Sandton Hospital
Tel: 011 463 8830
or 011 463 8833
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