Open Surgery

All of the open procedures require an incision to be made. The correct prosthesis is then inserted and depending on the procedure, fixated with screws.

Postoperative

After surgery, you will stay in the recovery room for +-1 hour before being returned to the ward. Nurses will monitor your responsiveness and provide pain medication if needed.

At Home

With more extensive surgery like shoulder replacements or fractures, it may take several weeks before your pain subsides. Ice will help relieve pain and swelling. Pain medication have been prescribed to you to control the pain you may experience.

Although it does not affect how your shoulder heals, lying flat may pull on your shoulder and cause discomfort. Some patients are more comfortable sleeping in a reclining chair or propped up in bed during the first days after surgery.

Complications

As with any surgery there are some risks. These include but is not limited to infection, stiffness and loss of range of motion, non-union, malunion, damage to the muscles, nerve damage and palsy, tendonitis, chronic pain associated with plates, screws, and pins, compartment syndrome, deformity, audible popping and snapping, and possible future surgeries to remove the hardware.

Your surgeon will discuss the possible complications with you before your operation.

Long-Term Outcomes

Because patients have varied health conditions, complete recovery time is different for everyone.

It takes longer to recover from extensive surgery. Full recovery may take several months up to a year. Although it can be a slow process, following Dr Strobos’s guidelines and rehabilitation plan is vital to a successful outcome.