What Are the Main Symptoms of Failed Shoulder Surgery?
Failed shoulder surgery refers to any procedure that doesn’t meet the patient’s or medical team’s expectations. The failure rate for common shoulder surgeries, like open or arthroscopic surgery, ranges from 5% to 30%. However, there are some symptoms of a failed shoulder surgery that can help you identify if you need a revision surgery.
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How Do I Know If My Shoulder Replacement Is Failing?
If your shoulder replacement is failing, you can tell with the help of the following signs:
- Persistent Pain: Ongoing pain in the shoulder that doesn’t improve with rest or medication. It may feel like the pain before surgery or occur in new areas.
- Decreased Range of Motion: Difficulty moving the shoulder freely, making it hard to lift your arm or do everyday tasks.
- Swelling: Ongoing swelling around the shoulder joint, which could suggest inflammation or problems from the surgery.
- Noises (Popping, Clicking, or Grinding): Strange sounds when moving the shoulder, which could indicate mechanical problems, like improper healing or scar tissue.
- Muscle Weakness or Atrophy: Weak shoulder muscles or muscle loss if the joint isn’t working properly after surgery.
- Joint Instability: A feeling that the shoulder might dislocate or isn’t stable, which could mean the surgery didn’t work as expected.
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Potential Causes of a Failed Shoulder Surgery
Failed shoulder surgery can happen for several reasons, which can affect the outcome of the procedure. Understanding these causes is important for both patients and doctors when planning for recovery or possible re-surgery. The following are the main reasons for failed shoulder surgery:
- Technical Errors
Mistakes during surgery can cause problems. Common issues include:- Wrong Placement of Anchors: Incorrect placement of anchors can lead to instability or poor fixation.
- Too Few Anchors: Using too few anchors can affect the repair.
- Suture Problems: Bad stitching can result in loss of joint stability.
- Not Assessing Bone Damage Properly
Not correctly checking for bone damage, like glenoid bone loss, can lead to surgery failure, especially in people with shoulder instability or those who play contact sports. - Not Addressing Loose Joint Tissue
If the shoulder’s surrounding tissue (capsule) is too loose and isn’t treated during surgery, it can cause repeated dislocations and instability. - New Injuries
Additional trauma after surgery can lead to failure, especially in younger patients who return to activities that put stress on the shoulder. - Infection
Infections after surgery can slow healing and cause more pain, leading to a failed outcome. - Nerve Damage
Nerve injury during surgery can cause weakness, pain, or loss of function in the shoulder, making recovery harder. - Poor Candidate Selection
Choosing the wrong patient for a specific surgery can lead to poor results. Factors like age, activity level, and pre-existing conditions should be carefully considered before surgery. - Not Following Rehabilitation
Not sticking to post-surgery rehabilitation plans can lead to poor healing and bad results. Physical therapy is key to recovery. - Unnoticed Other Problems
If other issues like rotator cuff tears or labral injuries aren’t treated during surgery, they can cause continued problems and lead to failure. - Patient Factors
Individual factors like age, smoking, and general health can affect how well someone heals. For example, older patients may take longer to heal or have other health issues that complicate recovery.
What Our Patients Are Saying
From appointment scheduling, receptionist, nurse, xray to Dr. Barrett Brown, all friendly and professional. Thank God that Dr. Brown wants to try physical therapy instead of jumping to surgery. I am well pleased!!
Shelia Briggs
Dr Brown was very professional and explained everything. He helped me with decisions of my care. Highly recommend him.
Cathy Arroyo
I had the best experience with Doctor Brown and staff They are so Thorough and nice. He did amazing job on my shoulder I would recommend him And his staff any day thank you so much Doctor Brown.
Karen Larocca
Dr. Barrett Brown is a very fine physician. He is also a friend. While he is a surgeon he said this about my horribly painful shoulder. First we will try an injection performed by our specialist using ultra sound. (It was painless.) If that does not relieve your pain we will do a cat scan to evaluate the rotator cuff.
Lynn Russell
Highly recommend Dr Brown!!! He took time to answer all questions without rushing. I called his office in severe pain and received the in- office MRI and Dr appt the next day then Dr Brown explained my condition and I was booked for surgery with their on-site hospital days later. The surgery went great and I was treated great by all staff. They have valet service as well. Thanks Dr Brown and all staff!!!
Kimberley Gomez
I had the best experience with Doctor Brown and staff They are so Thorough and nice. He did amazing job on my shoulder I would recommend him And his staff any day thank you so much Doctor Brown.
Karen Larocca
I had a rotator cuff repair with Dr. Brown. Everyone at this hospital from the registration staff, pre-op nurse, surgery staff, recovery room nurse, the anesthesiologist, and of course, the surgeon, Dr. Brown were all professional and caring.
Mary Isern
I have, unfortunately, been a frequent visitor to the Fondren Orthopedic clinic as I cannot seem to stay on my feet 😅. My most recent experience with Dr. Brown has been nothing short of excellent. From the initial exam to surgery and then the follow up and discussion of how I am healing have been extremely thorough and communication has been a 10. I would definitely recommend.
Jenna Hunter
Wrapping Up
There are a number of things that can go wrong during the post-surgery recovery period. When it comes to shoulder surgery, recognizing the symptoms of a failed shoulder surgery can help you seek timely care.
Contact our sports medicine & shoulder specialist, Dr. Brown, at Barrette S. Brown, MD. Our doctor is an expert in both arthroscopic and open reconstructive surgeries for the shoulder and knee, including shoulder replacements. Dial (346) 247-2531 to book a consultation.