Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.

Get Started

Free

E-Newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer

Image

Shoulder replacement

Illustration showing artificial shoulder joint positioned during shoulder replacement surgery for osteoarthritis

Shoulder replacement surgery may be one option for shoulder osteoarthritis. During shoulder surgery, the surgeon removes the head of the upper arm bone (humerus) and replaces it with a prosthesis. The cup-like surface of the shoulder blade (glenoid cavity) is then smoothed and fitted with a prosthesis.

IM01861

© 1998-2010 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.


Text Size: smaller largerlarger