I’m reading up on shoulder replacement surgery. I think I might take the plunge and have one myself. What does it mean when it says, “the patient crossed over”?

Don’t worry…it’s not as serious as it might sound. The patient hasn’t crossed over from this life into the next. It refers to a second surgery to remove a partial shoulder replacement and put in a total shoulder replacement.

A partial joint replacement is called a hemiarthroplasty. With a partial implant only half of the shoulder joint is removed and replaced. Usually the socket is the side replaced. Sometimes the head of the humerus is more the problem.

Complications and problems after a hemiarthroplasty may lead the surgeon to suggest a total joint replacement. There could be a crack or fracture in the implant, an infection, or continued severe pain.