Shoulder fracture surgery
We have the expertise to treat complex surgical cases, including fracture non-union or malunions (broken bones that haven’t healed or haven’t healed in proper alignment) and other serious traumatic shoulder fractures.
We regularly treat injuries that require multiple surgeries at the same time. Penn shoulder pain specialists are experts in performing bone-grafting procedures, as well as muscle and ligament reconstruction or repair.
For certain shoulder fractures with extensive damage to the surrounding skin and muscles, we collaborate with plastic surgeons who have specialized training in helping reconstruct soft tissues in the shoulder. We consistently combine highly advanced surgical specialties that ensure the best possible outcome for more serious shoulder fractures. Penn surgeons are actively working on techniques and technologies to make shoulder surgeries faster and easier for patients.
Because there are many different types of shoulder bones, treatment for shoulder fractures will vary depending on which area of the shoulder has been injured and the severity of the fracture.
Types of shoulder fracture surgeries we perform include:
If the bones are displaced or there is an open fracture (where the bone has come through the skin), surgery is necessary to repair the fracture and any damaged ligaments, tendons and muscles. To lock the bones back into the correct position, orthopaedic surgeons will use specialized hardware such as plates, screws or pins. In some cases, surgeons will perform bone grafting and repair of soft tissues such as ligaments and tendons. In some severe fracture cases, the shoulder will require a joint replacement.
If you suffer from a severe shoulder fracture, you may require a partial shoulder replacement. For this procedure, a conventional shoulder replacement device, made up of a metal ball and stem, replaces the damaged ball and upper portion of the arm bone. Individuals who receive a partial shoulder replacement experience less pain, improved function and increased range-of-motion that allows for a greater quality of life.
In some cases a severe shoulder fracture will require a reverse total shoulder replacement. In a reverse total shoulder replacement, the socket and the metal ball are switched: The metal ball is attached to the socket and the plastic cup is fixed to the humerus. Individuals who undergo a reverse total shoulder replacement experience reduced pain and improved function and range of motion.
A non-union is a broken bone that did not heal properly. A malunion is a broken bone that has healed in the wrong position, often causing a deformity. Treatment may involve surgery to remove an infection (if present), to better stabilize the fracture or to stimulate bone growth with a bone graft. Our orthopaedic surgeons work closely with specialists from the Penn Orthoplastic Limb Salvage Center to repair the most complex non-union and malunion cases.
Penn orthopaedic surgeons perform complex non-union surgical repair with vascularized bone grafting. Vascularized bone grafts allow living bone tissue to be transplanted to replace damaged bone tissue. Penn is one of the few medical centers in the nation that perform vascularized bone grafting.