| Joint arthritis is a problem affecting millions of | | | | compared with 107,000 hip replacements and nearly |
| Americans from all walks of life, and arthritis of the | | | | 200,000 knee replacements. While these numbers |
| shoulder is no different. But, while we frequently hear | | | | would suggest that hip and knee replacements are |
| about knee replacement and hip replacement, it is | | | | most effective because they are most popular, it is |
| very rare for a similar treatment to be suggested for | | | | interesting that patients in the study who had |
| the shoulder. | | | | shoulder surgery, had far fewer in hospital |
| However, it is not because of a huge difference | | | | post-surgical complications compared to those who |
| between the hip or knee from the shoulder that this | | | | had their hips and knees replaced. Additionally, despite |
| is the case. The primary reason that shoulder | | | | the fewer numbers compared to the knee and hip, |
| replacements are so rare is because there is a simple | | | | the shoulder replacement surgery (also called |
| lack of expertise in such procedures. On top of this, | | | | arthroplasty) was less expensive, according to the |
| it has been cited that shoulder surgery has more risk | | | | researcher. Shoulder replacements total cost on |
| than a similar surgery for the hip or knee. | | | | average were just over $10,000 where hip |
| Thanks to a recent study, it appears that this | | | | replacement was $15,000 and knee replacement |
| common understanding was false. A study by the | | | | nearly $15,000. |
| John Hopkins Department of Orthopedics led by | | | | What it really comes down to is that shoulder |
| Edward McFarland, MD, director of the division of | | | | replacement surgery should be performed more |
| adult orthopedics at Johns Hopkins Hospital analyzed | | | | frequently than comparative surgeries in the knee |
| a series of hip replacement versus knee replacement | | | | and hip. This fact is that the surgery is cheaper, more |
| versus shoulder replacement procedures. After | | | | effective, and has equal, if not more, of a demand |
| studying the way the patients recovered and the | | | | from American patients. The effectiveness of |
| extent of effectiveness of the surgery, researchers | | | | shoulder replacement surgery cannot be ignored, as |
| concluded that comparatively, total shoulder | | | | 99% of people who have had shoulder replacement |
| replacement was just as safe and effective as other | | | | for arthritis, find pain relief after the surgery and say |
| types of joint replacement. | | | | they wish they had done it sooner. As indicated by |
| According to a nationwide 2003 Medicare figure, 6700 | | | | the John Hopkins study, there may be little reason to |
| people had shoulder joints replaced that year | | | | wait. |