Types of Shoulder Replacement

There are two main types of total shoulder replacement:
Anatomic Total Shoulder Replacement (TSA) replaces the humeral head with a metal ball and resurfaces the glenoid (socket) with a polyethylene component. It replicates normal anatomy and is used for shoulder arthritis with an intact rotator cuff.
Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement (rTSA) inverts the ball and socket, the ball is placed on the glenoid and the socket on the humerus. This design enables the deltoid to power shoulder elevation in the absence of a functional rotator cuff, and is used for rotator cuff arthropathy, irreparable rotator cuff tears, and failed anatomic replacement.

Who Needs Shoulder Replacement?

Shoulder replacement is recommended for:

  • Severe shoulder osteoarthritis unresponsive to conservative treatment
  • Rheumatoid arthritis affecting the shoulder
  • Rotator cuff arthropathy
  • Complex proximal humerus fractures
  • Failed previous shoulder surgery

The Procedure

Surgery is performed under general anaesthetic, typically with an interscalene nerve block for post-operative pain control. The operation takes 1.5–2 hours. Dr Yu uses modern implant systems with a focus on accurate component positioning, soft tissue balancing, and restoring natural shoulder kinematics.

Recovery

The arm is in a sling for 4–6 weeks post-operatively. Passive physiotherapy (pendulum exercises) begins immediately; active physiotherapy starts at 6 weeks. Most patients achieve significant pain relief within 6 weeks. Full recovery in terms of strength and function takes 4–6 months for anatomic replacement and up to 12 months for reverse replacement.

Shoulder replacement is highly effective — over 90% of patients experience significant pain relief, and most regain functional shoulder movement for everyday activities.