Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery in Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Recreating the Ball and Socket, Keeping the Natural Mechanics
A total shoulder replacement is usually advised when shoulder arthritis causes constant pain, disturbed sleep and stiffness, the rotator cuff is still intact and working, and treatment without surgery has not helped. Both worn surfaces are replaced: a metal head on a stem takes the place of the ball of the arm bone, and a polyethylene component is fixed into the socket. Because it copies the shoulder’s natural design, it is also called an anatomic shoulder replacement. At PMG Hospital in Gota, Ahmedabad, the usual hospital stay is about two to three days. The arm rests in a sling for three to four weeks, and comfortable overhead use commonly returns between three and six months.
The choice
Anatomic or Reverse: Why the Cuff Matters
In an anatomic replacement, the rotator cuff still has two jobs: holding the new head steady against the socket and helping to lift the arm. When the cuff is torn beyond repair, the ball drifts upwards, the socket part can loosen and the arm still cannot be lifted well. For that situation, a reverse replacement, in which the deltoid muscle does the lifting, is used instead.
| Feature | Anatomic total replacement | Reverse replacement |
|---|---|---|
| Usually used for | Arthritis with an intact rotator cuff | A cuff that cannot be repaired, cuff tear arthropathy or a failed implant |
| Rotator cuff | Intact and working | Torn or not working |
| How the arm is lifted | The cuff centres the ball and helps lift the arm | The deltoid muscle does the lifting |
| Design | Copies the natural joint | Ball and socket positions are swapped |
If your rotator cuff cannot be repaired, the reverse replacement page explains that option.
Who it suits
Is a Total Shoulder Replacement Likely to Suit You?
It is usually considered when there is:
- Shoulder arthritis, either wear-and-tear (osteoarthritis) or rheumatoid
- An intact, working rotator cuff on an MRI or ultrasound scan
- Pain at rest and at night that limits daily activities
- Loss of overhead reach despite physiotherapy
X-rays, an MRI scan of the rotator cuff and often a CT scan of the socket show whether an anatomic replacement is suitable or whether a reverse replacement is the safer choice.
The operation
Total Shoulder Replacement Operation in Ahmedabad: Main Steps
If a total shoulder replacement operation in Ahmedabad is planned for you, these are the main steps at PMG Hospital:
- 1Planning: an MRI checks whether the rotator cuff is healthy, and a CT scan measures how worn the socket is.
- 2The shoulder is opened at the front, through the natural gap between the deltoid and chest muscles, so that the deltoid is not cut.
- 3The worn humeral head is removed, and a metal head on a stem is fixed in the arm bone.
- 4The socket is resurfaced with a polyethylene component, and the movement and stability of the joint are checked before closing.
Expectations
What a Total Shoulder Replacement Can and Cannot Do
| It can | It cannot |
|---|---|
| Usually relieve arthritis pain, including pain that disturbs sleep | Promise that every bit of pain will go |
| Improve turning of the arm for dressing, eating and reaching behind the back | Restore the full range of a young, healthy shoulder |
| Keep the shoulder’s natural mechanics when the rotator cuff works | Work well if the rotator cuff fails |
| Allow a gradual return to daily activities with physiotherapy | Last forever; the socket part can loosen or wear over the years |
Recovery
Recovery Timeline After a Total Shoulder Replacement
| When | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| Weeks 0–2 | The arm rests in a sling, while gentle swinging and assisted movements begin early to keep the joint from stiffening |
| Weeks 2–6 | Use of the sling is reduced, and assisted movement is increased under a physiotherapist’s guidance |
| Weeks 6–12 | You start moving the arm on your own, then light strengthening; driving usually becomes possible |
| Months 3–6 | Strengthening continues, and overhead use returns step by step |
| Months 6–12 | The shoulder reaches its final result |
Looking After the Shoulder Long Term
Heavy lifting, and sports or work that put sudden loads through the arm, should be avoided permanently to protect the implant. Everyday activities such as dressing, cooking, writing and light housework are usually comfortable once recovery is complete.
Risks
Risks and Implant Lifespan
- Infection around the implant
- Stiffness
- Instability or dislocation of the joint
- A tear or weakening of the rotator cuff after surgery
- The polyethylene socket part wearing or working loose in later years
- Injury to a nerve around the shoulder (uncommon)
- A break in the arm bone during or after surgery
A 2020 analysis of long-term studies and joint registries found that about 9 out of 10 total and reverse shoulder replacements had not needed further surgery 10 years after the operation. Information on longer periods is more limited.
Cost
Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery Cost in Ahmedabad
The cost of total shoulder replacement surgery in Ahmedabad depends mainly on:
- The implant chosen after the CT planning
- The room category and the number of days in hospital
- Scans before surgery, physiotherapy and follow-up visits
An anatomic total replacement uses fewer parts than a reverse replacement and usually costs less. PMG Hospital gives a written, itemised estimate after the assessment. Check your cover with your insurance provider.
Questions
Questions to Ask a Total Shoulder Replacement Doctor in Ahmedabad
Whichever total shoulder replacement doctor in Ahmedabad you consult, these questions help you make an informed decision:
- Has my rotator cuff been checked on a scan, and is it working?
- Is an anatomic or a reverse replacement better suited to my shoulder?
- How long will I need the sling, and when can I drive?
- Which movements and activities should I avoid long term?
- How long will physiotherapy continue?
The care team
Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery Doctor in Ahmedabad
Care before, during and after this operation is led by a total shoulder replacement surgery doctor in Ahmedabad, who is an orthopaedic surgeon with arthroplasty (joint replacement) training. An anatomic replacement depends on a working rotator cuff, so much of the early work goes into confirming the cuff’s condition, and the surgeon relies on a small team for this and for seeing you safely through the operation and rehabilitation.
| Stage | Who is involved | What they do |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment | Radiologist | Reads the MRI or ultrasound that shows whether the rotator cuff is intact, and the CT scan that shows how worn the socket is |
| Fitness for surgery | Physician or cardiologist | Advises on heart conditions, diabetes and blood thinners beforehand, particularly in older patients |
| Day of surgery | Anaesthetist | Combines general anaesthesia with a nerve block given near the neck; the arm may stay numb for several hours afterwards |
| Day of surgery | Orthopaedic surgeon | Replaces the ball with a metal head on a stem, resurfaces the socket with a polyethylene component, and stitches back the subscapularis, the cuff tendon at the front that is detached to reach the joint |
| First three months | Physiotherapist | Moves you on from assisted exercises in the sling to your own movement and then light strengthening, in line with the recovery timeline above |
On the day of admission, carry a list of your regular medicines and any recent blood test reports, so that the anaesthetist and physician have the details they need.
Surgeon
Who Performs the Operation
At PMG Hospital, Gota, total shoulder replacement is performed by:
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Surgeon | Dr. Hiren Patel |
| Qualifications | MBBS, MS (Ortho), International Fellowship in Joint Replacement |
| Medical college | B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad (MBBS and MS (Ortho)) |
| Role at PMG Hospital | Director & Head Joint Replacement Surgeon |
| Registration | Registered Medical Practitioner; Gujarat Medical Council Reg. No. G-20583 |
| OPD | Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM; Sunday by appointment |
Hospital
Where the Operation Takes Place
Total shoulder replacement is carried out at PMG Hospital, Gota, Ahmedabad. Services relevant to total shoulder replacement include:
- Orthopaedic OPD: Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM; Sunday by appointment
- Emergency and trauma care, available 24×7
- Physiotherapy at the hospital
FAQs
Common Questions
Related shoulder pages: Partial shoulder replacement (hemiarthroplasty)·Revision and reverse shoulder replacement·Shoulder replacement overview
Contact
Reaching PMG Hospital
Address
PMG Hospital (PMG Orthopedic Hospital)
3rd Floor, Athena Avenue, B/H Jaguar Showroom, Krishna Hardware Road, Nr. Eulogia Inn Hotel, S.G. Highway, Gota, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 382481
- Phone
- +91 96625 91666
- Phone and WhatsApp
- +91 96627 70141
- OPD
- Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM; Sunday by appointment
- Emergency and trauma care
- 24×7
Get in touch
Call or send your reports, or open the hospital’s location in Google Maps.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Hiren Patel, MS (Ortho.), Joint Replacement Surgeon, PMG Hospital, Ahmedabad.