Each year, 53,000 people in the United States elect to have shoulder replacement surgery – also called total shoulder arthroplasty. Those who experience chronic shoulder pain may have the option to undergo shoulder replacement surgery after conservative treatment options, like medications and physical therapy, no longer provide relief from pain.

People with high levels of pain that limit their abilities and can negatively affect their lives, may be candidates for shoulder replacement surgery.

Types of Shoulder Replacement Surgeries

  • Total Shoulder Replacement – The typical total shoulder replacement involves replacing the damaged part of a shoulder to mimic the natural contours of the bones in a healthy shoulder.
  • Partial Shoulder Replacement – A partial shoulder replacement consists of replacing only the ball of the shoulder joint. This removes the need for a plastic socket and requires the removal of less bone.

When a patient needs a total shoulder replacement, the ExactechGPS® Shoulder Application system can be used to partner with a surgeon’s expertise to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction.

The system produces a real-time GPS map for all the surgical steps, from the removal of the bone, to the ideal placement and alignment of the shoulder implants.

The technology is the only globally launched shoulder navigation technology available today. There also is currently only one hospital in Los Angeles County offering ExactechGPS® for shoulder replacement surgery, and it’s right here in Long Beach.

Benefits of ExactechGPS®

  • Improved pre-operative planning that allows surgeons to better visualize a patient’s unique anatomy and create a plan prior to surgery.
  • Real-time feedback during surgery based on a three-dimensional anatomical model of the patient’s shoulder, allowing for adjustments to be made immediately.
  • Surgical personalization for each patient with calculated key measurements and trackers placed on the patient’s bone.

The shoulder joint can be thought of as a golf ball balanced on a tee. ExactechGPS® allows surgeons to see the exact socket anatomy and place the implant for a perfect alignment. This precise shoulder implant placement and joint alignment leads to improved patient outcomes function and durability.

Following shoulder replacement surgery, a patient will have follow-up appointments with their surgeon to ensure the shoulder is healing properly. It is especially important to attend follow-up appointments as a key part of treatment and care. If recovery is progressing well, most patients resume their normal activities and regain full shoulder movement in as little as six weeks after surgery.

Hospitals in the Long Beach area offer advanced treatments using the latest technology for a variety of health conditions on par with academic medical centers, providing patients with the highest quality of care without having to leave their community. Local hospitals are continuously growing to meet the needs of the community by acquiring the latest, most advanced treatment options that result in faster recovery and improved outcomes for patients.