Orthopaedics Menu Orthopaedics Shoulder & Elbow Patient Education Materials Dislocated Shoulder Elbow Pain Elbow Pain Treatment Options Elbow Surgery Minimally Invasive Shoulder Surgery Shoulder Arthritis Shoulder Pain Shoulder Replacement Reverse Shoulder Replacement Shoulder Replacement Recovery Shoulder Replacement - FAQs Shoulder Treatment Minimally Invasive Shoulder Surgery If your doctor has recommended a shoulder replacement as the best option to relieve shoulder pain from arthritis, you may be a candidate for a minimally invasive approach to shoulder surgery. The Rotator Cuff Sparing Method for Total Shoulder Replacement is a new approach that was developed locally, and helps you heal faster with less pain. This approach may be right for you if you have: Pain Difficulty moving the arm A grinding sensation inside the shoulder An ache in the shoulder that radiates down the arm Difficulty bathing, reaching, lifting, performing household chores or picking up children Trouble playing sports, such as golf, tennis or anything that involves throwing a ball How the Minimally Invasive Approach to Shoulder Replacement is Different The traditional approach to shoulder replacement requires an incision in front of the shoulder. To reach and replace the shoulder joint, the surgeon must cut the muscles or tendons in the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff sparing method allows the surgeon to access your shoulder joint through an incision at the back of your shoulder, which eliminates the need to cut any of the muscles or tendons of the rotator cuff. Because there’s no tendon repair along with the joint replacement, you heal faster with fewer restrictions and less pain. Benefits of the rotator cuff sparing shoulder replacement method include: Significantly less pain after surgery Less time on prescription pain medication Quicker return to work and family obligations Less physical therapy and rehabilitation Faster total recovery time Contact Us If you are suffering from shoulder pain, we can help. If surgery is necessary, our physicians can provide a referral to one of our affiliated orthopaedic surgeons. For more information on surgical options, please contact us at askortho@stelizabeth.com. Meet Your Shoulder Surgeon Raymond Greiwe, MD Brandon Kohrs, DO John Larkin, MD Robert Pettit, MD