Orthopedic Surgeon
Hand - Elbow - Shoulder
Adult & Pediatric Care
Amy Birnbaum, MD
NYC: (212) 348-3636
NJ: (551) 369-1250
Shoulder Treatment
From everyday discomfort to complex injuries, Dr. Birnbaum specializes in treating a wide range of hand and wrist conditions. The following are a list of common reasons to seek a hand specialist and what to expect from Dr. Birnbaum's care
Approach
Dr. Birnbaum uses both conservative and surgical treatments to treat shoulder arthritis.
Conservative treatments can range from therapy to injections.
When conservative treatments are no longer providing relief, she performs one of two types of shoulder replacements depending on the patient.
She uses advanced technology to perform both a Total Shoulder Arthroplasty and a Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty.
Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Total shoulder arthroplasty, also known as a shoulder replacement, is a surgery to replace the damaged parts of the shoulder joint with artificial components.
This procedure is typically done to relieve pain and restore function in people with severe shoulder arthritis or joint damage. The shoulder joint is a ball-and-socket joint, and in this surgery, the damaged "ball" (humeral head) is replaced with a metal ball, and the damaged "socket" (glenoid) is replaced with a plastic socket.
Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
A reverse total shoulder arthroplasty is similar however the normal structure of the shoulder joint is reversed. This procedure is typically done for patients with severe shoulder arthritis or joint damage.
In a reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, instead of replacing the ball with a ball and the socket with a socket, the ball is placed on the shoulder blade, and the socket is placed on the upper arm bone. This is done to give your arm increased mechanical advantage when the rotator cuff tendons (which help control shoulder movement) are severely damaged.
The reverse structure allows other intact muscles to take over shoulder movement.
The above is not meant to be a comprehensive list. Please contact Dr. Birnbaum's office at 212-348-3636 for information about other conditions and treatments.