Alternative surgical approaches include replacing the entire shoulder joint with a prosthesis (total shoulder arthroplasty) or replacing the head of the humerus (hemiarthroplasty).

Shoulder resection arthroplasty is surgery performed to repair a shoulder acromioclavicular (AC) joint. The procedure is most commonly recommended for AC joint problems resulting from osteoarthritis or injury.

The goal of arthroplasty is to restore the function of a stiffened synovial joint and relieve pain. As a surgical procedure, it is usually performed when medical treatment has not improved function in the affected joint.

Patients may be prescribed such anti-inflammatory medications as aspirin or ibuprofen. Treatment also may include such disease modifying drugs as methotrexate, sulfasalazine and gold injections.

Elbow, shoulder, ankle, and finger joints are more likely to be treated with joint resection or interpositional reconstruction.