84-year-old woman undergoes advanced shoulder surgery in Jalandhar

Proving that age is no barrier for living pain-free, an 84-year-old woman has successfully been operated upon to regain her shoulder mobility after undergoing an advanced total reverse shoulder arthroplasty at the Patel Hospital, Jalandhar.

The patient, wife of a Air Commodore (retd) Surjit Singh VM, had been suffering from massive chronic rotator cuff arthropathy, which left her with sleepless nights and complete loss of shoulder movement. Despite her active lifestyle, her shoulder movement was severely restricted, until now.

An expert team, led by Dr Atul Rai Sharma, senior joint replacement surgeon, performed the procedure using the latest modular glenoid system. Doctors said that Patel Hospital was the first in Jalandhar to offer this cutting-edge prosthesis. Intra-operative tests showed immediate improvement, and within just 12 hours after surgery, she already demonstrated shoulder mobility.

Explaining the condition, Dr Atul Rai Sharma shared that such cases are often due to chronic rotator cuff tears, rheumatoid arthritis or old fractures. Unlike standard shoulder replacement, a reverse prosthesis reverses the natural anatomy — placing the ball on the socket side of the joint and the socket on the arm bone. This innovative approach ensures better stability and pain relief, even when the rotator cuff is irreparably damaged.

“Reverse shoulder replacement is a proven technique, offering excellent pain relief and restoring good shoulder motion in about 85-90 per cent of patients,” said Dr Atul Rai Sharma.

Recovery typically takes about three-four months with proper rehabilitation, he added.

Dr Sharma said, “The surgery marks a significant medical milestone and serves as an inspiration for patients everywhere, proving that it is never too late to reclaim mobility and live pain-free.

Air Commodore (retd) Surjit Singh said, “My wife has had a procedure conducted to aide mobility of her shoulder. She is recovering well and undergoing post-surgery physiotherapy at home. We convey our thanks and best wishes to Dr Atul Rai Sharma and his team.”