Surgery

What does this mean?
Surgery tries to hold the bone in better alignment with a plate and screws placed through an incision (figure). Some fractures are treated by replacing the shoulder joint with a metal and plastic prosthesis. After surgery you will wear a sling for 1 or 2 weeks.

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Figure: surgery with a plate and screws.

Advantages

  • Surgery can improve the shape of the bone.
  • You can start using your arm as soon as you are comfortable, but it usually takes 2 to 4 weeks.

Disadvantages

  • A scar.
  • The discomforts and inconveniences of a surgery.
  • Every surgery has risks. We call this a complication:
    • About 9 out of 100 people having this surgery have an unplanned secont operation due to major problem such as loosening of implants of infection.1,2
      Population: 9%