Shoulder Arthritis
The shoulder joint is made of three bones:
- the head of the upper arm bone called the humerus
- the shoulder blade, called the scapula
- the collarbone, called the clavicle
There are four joints in the shoulder. While osteoarthritis commonly affects the AC and GH joint, it may also affects the SC joint.
- The glenohumeral joint (GH) is a ball and socket joint made of the head of the humerus (the ball), which sits in the socket, called the glenoid, which is part of the shoulder blade (scapula).
- The Acromioclavicular joint (AC joint) is made of the space where the clavicle where it meets the acromion, or tip of the shoulder.
- The Sternoclavicular joint (SC joint) is located where the clavicle meets the breastbone or sternum. It supports the shoulder and connects the arm to the body. Shoulder osteoarthritis in this area is common, occurring in about 90% of people over 60. While common, shoulder osteoarthritis in this joint generally causes no symptoms.
- The Scapulothoracic joint (ST joint) is not a true joint but does provide stability for up and down arm movement. It is generally affected by bursitis. Bursitis is inflammation of the bursa that cushions and protects the area between the scapula and the chest wall from friction.
Shoulder osteoarthritis is a progressive destructive joint disease, often called “wear and tear” arthritis. It causes the gradual wearing away of the protective articular cartilage at the ends of the bones due to chronic inflammation. Cartilage prevents two bones from rubbing directly against each other. Loss of the articular cartilage creates joint friction, resulting in pain and stiffness and eventually reduced or lost mobility and function. Shoulder osteoarthritis can significantly impair quality of life. Shoulder osteoarthritis is a leading cause of pain and disability in one in three people over the age of 50. Still, it can affect younger individuals who have suffered a traumatic injury to the shoulder.
Shoulder osteoarthritis is often genetically determined and is age-related. Women are affected more often than men. Post-traumatic shoulder osteoarthritis is the result of a previous injury from sports, occupational, or accidental injury or the result of repeated dislocation, infection, and rotator cuff tears. This would be termed, “post-traumatic osteoarthritis). Shoulder arthritis can also be caused by inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
When shoulder osteoarthritis affects the AC joint, the pain is on the top of the shoulder and can radiate down the side of the neck or front of the arm. If the GH joint is affected, the pain is most felt in the back of the shoulder as a deep ache. Shoulder osteoarthritis can also cause tenderness, a grating sensation, swelling, and interference with function. It also commonly causes pain at night and difficulty sleeping As noted, osteoarthritis of the SC joint usually does not cause symptoms. AC joint osteoarthritis can commonly affect patients as young as their 30’s and up, whereas GH joint osteoarthritis more typically affects older patients (60’s and up).
Shoulder surgeon Dr. Daniel Kaplan will listen to your concerns and symptoms, review your medical history and all past and current shoulder injuries, and thoroughly examine your shoulder joint, testing your range of motion and strength. He will look for signs that indicate arthritis, including tenderness in the joint, swelling, and crepitus (grating sensation). X-rays will show bone changes, such as narrowing joint space and bone spurs. An MRI will be ordered to assess the health of the rotator cuff and other soft tissues.
Schedule an orthopedics consultation today.
If you’re suffering from shoulder osteoarthritis, schedule an orthopedic consultation today with Brooklyn’s leading shoulder surgeon, Dr. Daniel Kaplan. Dr. Kaplan is an Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center in Manhattan and Brooklyn. He is also the chief of sports medicine at Bellevue Hospital and the chief of sports medicine at the VA hospital in Manhattan. He is a Sports Medicine and Shoulder fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in diagnosing and treating shoulder conditions. You’re in expert hands.
At a Glance
Dr. Daniel Kaplan
- Fellowship-trained Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgeon
- Expertise in Complex Shoulder Hip and Knee minimally-invasive reconstruction procedures
- Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at NYU
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