How much does a shoulder replacement cost?

Introduction

The shoulder joint is a Ball and socket joint and it allows you to move your arm. Any damage to the shoulder joint can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling.

Shoulder replacement surgery is a procedure in which the damaged parts in the shoulder joint are replaced with a prosthesis (artificial implant). The main goal of performing shoulder replacement surgery is to relieve your pain, improve your strength, increase your range of motion and enable you to use your shoulder and arm. The most common conditions that cause shoulder replacement surgery include osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tear arthropathy, avascular necrosis or rheumatoid arthritis.

According to 2022 global data, the total number of shoulder replacement procedures performed in India was 5,460 in 2022.

(https://www.globaldata.com/store/report/india-shoulder-replacement-procedures-market-analysis/) The shoulder replacement cost varies depending on several factors such as the type of surgery done, the hospital you choose to carry out the surgery, the surgeon’s fee, duration of hospital stay, underlying medical conditions, price of medicines given after surgery as well as the insurance coverage you have. 
 

What is shoulder replacement surgery?

A shoulder replacement surgery is a surgical procedure used to replace the damaged or injured parts in the shoulder joint with artificial implants.  This helps to relieve pain, improve joint strength, and increase your range of motion. 

Why is shoulder replacement surgery performed?

Your healthcare provider plans a shoulder replacement surgery for you if you have severe pain in your shoulder area that limits your ability to move your arm. The following are the condition that leads to shoulder replacement:

• Osteoarthritis
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Fractures
• Rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions
• Osteonecrosis
• Poor results from a previously done shoulder surgery
• Tumor in and around the shoulder
• A badly broken arm in the bone near your shoulder
• Severely damaged or torn tissues in the shoulder

Indications for shoulder replacement surgery:

Your doctor will ask you to take medications and to do physical therapy to manage your shoulder pain. Even after this, your pain persists and limits your ability to move your arms, your doctor might recommend surgery for you. Your doctor will advise shoulder replacement surgery for you if you have the following symptoms.

• Severe shoulder pain that struggle you to do regular activities such as washing, cleaning, dressing etc as well as the pain that disturbs your sleep
• Limited or loss of motion in your shoulder
• Weakness in shoulder 
• Severe pain and difficulties even after taking medicines and doing physical therapy
• You have prior arthroscopic surgery, rotator cuff or fracture repair that failed to relieve your symptoms.

Contraindications for shoulder replacement surgery:

• Your doctor may not recommend shoulder replacement surgery if you have:
• History of infection which can spread to the replaced joint
• Severe mental illness
• Unhealthy skin around your shoulder area
• Very weak muscles around the shoulder that can not be fixed with surgery

What are the different types of shoulder replacement procedures?

Following are the different types of shoulder replacement procedures:

• Partial shoulder replacement procedures: It is a surgical procedure in which only the shoulder end of the humerus bone is replaced with implants.
• Reverse shoulder replacement procedures: In this procedure, the prosthesis for the damaged humeral and the glenoid component of the shoulder are reversed. Both the ball and socket in the shoulder joint are replaced, with the implants reversed. This option typically is preferred if the rotator cuff is severely damaged.
• Revision shoulder replacement procedures: In this technique, a previously failed shoulder prosthesis is replaced with a new prosthesis
• Shoulder resurfacing procedures: In this procedure, the damaged top of the humeral head is replaced with a hemispheric metallic head which provides a new surface to the ball of the joint while allowing much of the natural bone to remain as it is.
• Total or primary shoulder replacement procedures: In this procedure, both the diseased or damaged ball and socket joint of the shoulder are replaced with artificial prosthesis.

Risks or complications of shoulder replacement surgery:

The following are the complications that may result from shoulder replacement surgery:

• Bleeding, blood clots or infection
• Dislocation of the artificial joint
• Loosening of the implant or prosthesis over some time
• Allergic reactions to the artificial implant
• Damage to the blood vessels and nerves during surgery
• Breakage of bone during surgery
• Fracture

How much does a shoulder replacement cost?

The shoulder replacement cost varies depending on several factors such as the type of surgery done, the hospital you choose to carry out the surgery, the surgeon’s fee, duration of hospital stay, underlying medical conditions, price of medicines given after surgery as well as the insurance coverage you have. In India, the shoulder replacement surgery cost varies from INR 230000 to INR 495000, based on the data from 7 various cities. 

Shoulder replacement surgery recovery:

The recovery period varies from person to person based on the type of surgery performed and the symptoms you were experiencing before. The shoulder replacement surgery relieves pain and stiffness for most people and you should be able to resume your normal daily activities without much problem. Usually, you should be able to use your arm for waist-level activities on day one following surgery. You should dress and feed yourself within the first week after surgery.  Be careful with driving. Only resume driving when you’re certain that you can do so safely.
 

Conclusion:

Shoulder joints provide a wider range of motion to your arms and they are the most flexible part of the joint in your body. Eating a well-balanced diet and performing stretching and exercising as your healthcare provider recommends helping you to keep your shoulder joints healthy.

If you are experiencing severe pain and stiffness in your shoulder joint that limits your ability to move your hands, your doctor will recommend shoulder replacement surgery for you. The cost of the surgery varies according to the hospital you choose for surgery, the doctor's fee, the durability of the hospital stay and the insurance coverage you have. After surgery, give adequate time to heal. The recovery period may vary from person to person depending upon the type of surgery you had. It is recommended you have a detailed discussion with your doctor regarding the mobility objectives and desired activities following a shoulder replacement surgery.

Experience personalized care in joint restoration from Dr ISHWAR Bohra, a senior orthopedic surgeon in Delhi. Book your appointment today.

FAQs

Q: How long does it take to recover from shoulder replacement?

A: The recovery depends upon how much care you have given while performing rehabilitation exercises. In general, you can resume normal activities after 3-4 weeks following surgery but do not strain too much. It may take 6 months for a full recovery.

Q: Is shoulder replacement surgery covered by insurance?

A: Most of the insurance plans do cover shoulder surgery costs. It is recommended you choose the insurance plan that provides extensive benefits at an affordable price.

Q: Which shoulder replacement is the best?

A: Reverse shoulder replacement surgery is considered the best. It helps to improve joint function and reduce pain, especially if the joint is affected by arthritis.