Shoulder Osteoarthritis

Shoulder arthritis causes pain, work problems, disabilities or disabilities for a large number of our fellow humans.

There are two joints in the shoulder:

1. The joint of the clavicle with the acromion: Acromioclavicular joint2. The joint of the arm with the shoulder blade: Glenobrachioarticular joint

Causes of shoulder arthritis

The main causes of arthritis in the shoulder are three:

1. Osteoarthritis: The Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disorder due to the progressive destruction of the outer covering of the bones that form a joint, namely the cartilage. It is a condition that occurs mainly in people over 50 years of age, due to the wear and tear caused by the function of the joint, over time. Osteoarthritis more often affects the acromioclavicular joint than the glenohumeral joint2. Rheumatoid arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis is a generalized inflammatory disorder, meaning it affects not only the shoulder joints, but also other systems of the body. In rheumatoid arthritis, the membranes of the joints are affected. The condition occurs in people of any age and usually affects many joints on both sides of the body3. Post-Traumatic Arthritis : Post-traumatic arthritis is a form of osteoarthritis that develops after an injury, such as a fracture, dislocation, or muscle tear.

Symptoms and Signs

The main symptoms and signs of shoulder arthritis are:

1. Pain
2. Limited shoulder movement
3. A creaking sound heard during shoulder movement
4. Inflammation in the joint area (redness, swelling, local heat increase, pain)

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is based on the history, clinical examination and complementary tests.

X-rays of the shoulder joint are the tests usually performed when shoulder arthritis is suspected. When shoulder arthritis is present, the radiographic findings show narrowing of the joint space, bone changes and osteophytes.

Treatment

Initially, treatment is based on medications and other palliative measures such as:

1. Rest
2. Modifying certain movements of the patient,
3. Physiotherapy
4. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory or antirheumatic drugs by mouth
5. Some patients may need local injections of corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid
6. Special nutritional supplements that are reported to be useful in the treatment of arthritis.

Shoulder osteoarthritis

Surgical treatment

If non-surgical treatment fails in shoulder arthritis, there is the possibility of surgical treatment.

For glenohumeral arthritis, a total shoulder joint replacement may be necessary. A total shoulder arthroplasty or replacement of the upper part of the humerus (hemiarthroplasty) may be recommended.

For acromioclavicular arthritis, the most common operation performed is the resection of approximately 5mm of the distal end of the clavicle, which leaves a gap, which is later filled with healing tissue.

Surgical treatment of shoulder arthritis is generally very effective in reducing pain and restoring shoulder function.

Shoulder Osteoarthritis