Complications
All medical procedures have their own benefits and risks. Unexpected complications can compromise the outcomes. In shoulder replacement surgery, the most common include:
1. Infection: Wound infection is always a possibility after surgery. This is the most likely complication, especially if you don’t follow instructions in terms of wound cleaning and taking antibiotics. In most cases, they are minor infections that are treated with antibiotics. In severe cases, the inflammation can even compromise the outcome of the surgery and damage the prosthetic joint.
2. Prosthesis problems: The prosthesis can also loosen or wear down. In some cases, they could even dislocate or fall out of place. These complications are more common if you’re not careful with the activity recommendations the doctor gives you after surgery. A revision procedure can solve the problem in most cases.
3. Nerve damage: Doctors are very careful when performing shoulder replacement surgery. However, many structures go through the shoulder joint, and sometimes patients have anatomical variations that increase the risk of nerve damage or another type of tissue damage. Patients can experience different motor and sensory abnormalities when nerves are damaged during surgery.
