Shoulder replacement surgery involves removing damaged areas of your shoulder and replacing them with artificial parts. The procedure is performed to relieve pain and improve mobility.

You might need a shoulder replacement if you have severe arthritis or a fracture in your shoulder joint.

Shoulder replacement surgery is usually recommended for people who have severe pain in their shoulder and have found little or no relief from more conservative treatments.

Some conditions that may require a shoulder replacement include:

• Osteoarthritis. This type of arthritis is common in older people. It occurs when the cartilage that pads bones wears away.
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). With RA, your immune system mistakenly attacks your joints, causing pain and inflammation.
• Avascular necrosis. This condition happens when loss of blood to a bone occurs. It can cause damage and pain in the shoulder joint.
• A broken shoulder. If you badly break your shoulder bone, you might need a shoulder replacement to repair it.

People who have good results with shoulder surgery commonly have:

• weakness or loss of motion in the shoulder
• severe pain in the shoulder that interferes with everyday life
• pain while resting or during sleep
• little or no improvement after trying more conservative therapies, such as medications, injections, or physical therapy