Shoulder replacement surgeries have been performed throughout the years. At the present, the procedure is utilized to manage rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, post-traumatic and other shoulder conditions.
Surgical procedures on the shoulder are not quite common though and usually performed once an individual could no longer function or complete activities of daily living using the shoulder. Once the conservative treatments fail to work, a shoulder replacement surgery is often required.
Blood clot
A blood clot might form after a shoulder replacement procedure. A clot involves hardening of blood in a vessel that can occur after the surgery since damage to the blood vessels in the shoulder or arm can make blood clotting likely to occur.
A blood clot that forms in the shoulder is considered dangerous since it has the tendency to travel through the body up to the brain, heart or lungs and cause stroke, heart attack or pulmonary embolism. Remember that these are serious health risks can even result to death if not treated. The indications of a blood clot include the following:
- Swelling
- Redness in the shoulder joint
- Intense pain
Once any of these symptoms are present, it is vital to seek immediate medical attention.
Artificial joint reactions
The body might erratically react to the presence of the artificial joint implant. Once there is a foreign body such as the implant that is inserted, the individual might have an abnormal immune response to it. As a result, the body triggers an overly active response of the immune system in which it rejects the shoulder joint implant unless anti-rejection medications are started right away.
Another surgery might be required to remove the shoulder joint and even insert another one that has different materials. The indications of a reaction to an artificial shoulder joint include the following:
- Fever and chills
- Night sweating
- Intense pain in the shoulder joint
If any of these symptoms are present, he/she should seek immediate medical care.
Loose shoulder implant
The loosening of the shoulder implant over time can occur after the shoulder replacement surgery. Always bear in mind that this occurs due to the use of the shoulder over time which might allow the implant to loosen up in the shoulder and upper arm bone.
In such cases, another surgical procedure is required to replace the artificial shoulder implant. The indications of an artificial shoulder implant that loosens up include weakness, excessive pain and swelling in the shoulder. The individual should not hesitate to consult a doctor if these are present.