Total & Reverse Shoulder Replacement in the Lehigh Valley
When shoulder arthritis or a massive irreparable rotator cuff tear disrupts sleep, reach, and daily function despite conservative care, shoulder replacement is an established surgical option. Dr. Michael Hendel, MD, PhD trained in shoulder arthroplasty during his residency and fellowship at Hospital for Special Surgery.
Dr. Hendel is the first author of a randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery comparing patient-specific instrumentation with standard instruments for positioning the glenoid component. He has also published technique work on managing the challenging biconcave (B2) glenoid.
Anatomic or Reverse Replacement
- Anatomic total shoulder replacement — for arthritis with an intact rotator cuff; resurfaces the ball and socket to restore natural mechanics
- Reverse total shoulder replacement — for cuff tear arthropathy and massive irreparable tears; the deltoid takes over so the arm works without a cuff
- Hemiarthroplasty and fracture arthroplasty — for complex proximal humerus fractures
- Revision shoulder replacement — for painful or failed prior implants
For younger, active patients whose underlying problem is shoulder instability rather than arthritis, joint-preserving stabilization surgery is usually the better first path.
Recovery follows a structured path: a sling with protected motion for the first weeks, active motion by 6–12 weeks, strengthening after 3 months, and return to low-impact recreation — golf, swimming, gardening — as comfort allows. For a fuller picture of what to expect after shoulder surgery, see the recovery guide.
As with any joint replacement, risks include infection, instability, component loosening, nerve injury, and fracture; these are reviewed in detail before surgery.