Shoulder Replacement Alternatives

Are there alternatives to shoulder replacement surgery?

The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the human body and is used constantly throughout the day, making it susceptible to injury, stiffness, weakness, instability and pain. Active individuals, athletes and the older population often experience shoulder pain as a symptom of osteoarthritis. A wear and tear condition of the shoulder, osteoarthritis is caused by deterioration of the articular cartilage which eventually leads to shoulder pain, swelling, stiffness, grinding, and bone-on-bone wear. Osteoarthritis of the shoulder is traditionally treated with surgical measures such as a total shoulder replacement, or arthroplasty.  These treatments address the mechanical source of a patients pain and loss of function.  More recently, however, there is data that suggests biological treatment may be beneficial for patients with early forms of osteoarthritis. The shoulder specialists at The Shoulder Clinic of Idaho can discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this innovative approach for select patients with shoulder arthritis in Boise, Meridian, Nampa, and the surrounding communities of the Treasure Valley.

Are you experiencing shoulder pain?

There are two ways to initiate a consultation with the Shoulder Clinic of Idaho:

You can call our office and schedule an appointment with one our shoulder specialists.

You can schedule an office consultation with a member of our shoulder team.

What are biologic treatments for the shoulder?

The human body is remarkably resilient. When there is an injury, the body tries to heal itself.  During this process, at the initial injury, the rupture of tissues will cause fluid to be released from injured cells.  The body responds by growing new blood vessels and sending new cells which remove the damaged tissue and stimulate new tissue growth. This tissue is called collagen and it is formed to repair and replace the damaged tissue at the site of the injury. Over time, other signals from the body, such as chemical changes and cells, induce a maturation process to turn the immature healing tissue into mature, strong replacement tissue.

Biologic treatments for the shoulder mimic the body’s natural healing process by accelerating the maturation of the healing tissue. The orthopedic specialists at The Shoulder Clinic of Idaho can help your body respond faster to an injury and can discuss an array of biologic treatments for the shoulder. Some of these treatments include:

What injuries or conditions can be treated with biologic therapy?

It’s important for patients in Boise, Meridian, Nampa, and the surrounding communities of the Treasure Valley to consult with orthopedic specialist who have experience in administering biologic treatments as an alternative to shoulder surgery. The physicians at The Shoulder Clinic of Idaho are available to help patients decide the best treatment option for their specific shoulder injury. Some of the shoulder conditions which patients seek biological treatment for are the following:

  • Rotator Cuff Tears
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Tendonitis
  • Tendon Tears
  • Partial tendon tears
  • Soft tissue injuries or defects
  • Shoulder joint pain and inflammation

To learn more about shoulder surgery alternatives and biologic therapy as an alternative to shoulder replacement surgery, please contact the orthopedic shoulder specialists at The Shoulder Clinic of Idaho, serving patients in Boise, Meridian, Nampa, and the surrounding communities of the Treasure Valley.