Shoulder Replacement in Indianapolis, IN
Aptiva Health provides comprehensive shoulder replacement care in Louisville — from the first evaluation through imaging, conservative treatment, surgery, and rehabilitation — anchored by board-certified orthopedic surgeons and a team of orthopedic advanced practice providers. We treat shoulder arthritis at every stage, prioritizing conservative care first and offering anatomic total, reverse total, and partial shoulder replacement when joint replacement becomes the right answer. With on-site imaging, on-site physical therapy, and an in-house orthopedic team, the entire shoulder replacement pathway happens under one roof.
Medically reviewed by Shawn Price, MD and J. Steve Smith, MD. Last reviewed: May 2026.
Schedule your appointment today!
What Is Shoulder Replacement Surgery?
Shoulder replacement surgery — also called shoulder arthroplasty — resurfaces a shoulder joint worn down by arthritis. When the smooth cartilage that caps the ball of the upper arm bone and lines the shoulder socket wears away, bone rubs against bone, producing pain, stiffness, and lost mobility. Shoulder replacement removes the damaged surfaces and replaces them with precisely fitted metal and plastic implant components that restore a smooth, gliding joint.
There are three main types — and the difference between them is one of the most important decisions in shoulder surgery:
Anatomic total shoulder replacement keeps the ball and socket in their normal positions and depends on an intact rotator cuff to power the arm.
Reverse total shoulder replacement switches the ball and socket positions, allowing the deltoid muscle to lift the arm. It is the procedure of choice when the rotator cuff is torn beyond repair.
Partial shoulder replacement (hemiarthroplasty) replaces only the ball side of the joint and is used in select cases.
The right choice depends on the state of the rotator cuff, the pattern of arthritis, and the patient.
Conditions That Lead to Shoulder Replacement
Shoulder replacement is most often the endpoint of a shoulder problem that has progressed beyond what conservative care can control:
Shoulder osteoarthritis — the most common reason for shoulder replacement. Age-related "wear and tear" gradually erodes the joint cartilage.
Rotator cuff tear arthropathy — shoulder arthritis combined with an irreparable rotator cuff tear. This is the classic indication for reverse shoulder replacement.
Rheumatoid arthritis — an inflammatory arthritis that damages the joint lining and cartilage.
Post-traumatic arthritis — arthritis that develops years after a shoulder fracture or dislocation.
Complex shoulder fractures in older adults, particularly fractures of the upper end of the humerus that cannot be reconstructed.
Avascular necrosis — loss of blood supply to bone in the shoulder, leading to joint collapse.
The common thread is the same: a shoulder joint that no longer moves without pain.
Types of Shoulder Replacement
Anatomic total shoulder replacement
In an anatomic total shoulder replacement, the worn ball of the upper arm bone is replaced with a metal ball, and the worn socket is resurfaced with a plastic socket — each in its natural anatomic position. The rotator cuff is what holds the new ball in the new socket and powers the arm, which is why anatomic replacement requires an intact, functioning rotator cuff. For patients with shoulder arthritis and a healthy cuff, anatomic replacement reliably relieves pain and restores motion close to normal.
Reverse total shoulder replacement
In a reverse total shoulder replacement, the positions of the ball and socket are switched: the metal ball is attached to the shoulder blade and the plastic socket is attached to the upper arm bone. This change shifts the mechanics of the joint so the deltoid muscle — the large muscle on the outside of the shoulder — can lift the arm, even when the rotator cuff is irreparably torn.
Reverse shoulder replacement was originally developed for rotator cuff tear arthropathy — shoulder arthritis combined with a massive, irreparable rotator cuff tear — and it remains the procedure of choice for that condition. It is also used for select complex shoulder fractures in older adults, for failed prior shoulder replacements, and for patients whose rotator cuff is too weak to power an anatomic replacement. It is one of the fastest-growing orthopedic procedures because it solves a problem no other operation can.
Partial shoulder replacement (hemiarthroplasty)
In a partial shoulder replacement, only the ball side of the joint is replaced — the worn upper arm bone surface is resurfaced, but the shoulder socket is left alone. It is used in select cases, including certain fractures and some younger patients with arthritis limited to one side of the joint. Your surgeon discusses whether this is an option in your situation.
Anatomic vs. Reverse — Which Is Right for You?
This is the most important decision in shoulder replacement surgery, and it is driven primarily by one factor: the condition of your rotator cuff.
If your rotator cuff is intact and functioning, an anatomic total shoulder replacement is usually the right choice. It restores the joint to its normal anatomy and typically gives motion closest to a normal shoulder.
If your rotator cuff is torn beyond repair, an anatomic replacement will not work — there is no cuff to power the arm. A reverse total shoulder replacement is the right choice, because it lets the deltoid muscle do the lifting.
If your shoulder has been fractured in a complex way that the bone cannot be reconstructed reliably, reverse replacement is often the most predictable solution.
If you are a younger patient with arthritis on only one side of the joint, a partial shoulder replacement may be considered.
Imaging — usually an X-ray, MRI, and sometimes a CT scan for surgical planning — confirms which type fits your shoulder. At Aptiva Health, your surgeon reviews your imaging and your symptoms and recommends the option that fits your shoulder, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
The Aptiva Stepped-Care Approach to Shoulder Arthritis
Shoulder replacement is rarely a first-line treatment. Our Louisville shoulder team follows a stepped-care approach that gives every patient the best chance of controlling shoulder arthritis without surgery — and makes sure that, for patients who do need replacement, the timing is right.
Step 1 — Activity modification, medication, and self-care. Anti-inflammatory medication, ice and heat, and adjusting the activities that aggravate the shoulder.
Step 2 — Physical therapy and strengthening. Shoulder-specific strengthening and mobility work that takes load off the arthritic joint and can meaningfully reduce pain.
Step 3 — Shoulder injections. Corticosteroid injections to calm inflammation, administered by our orthopedic PA and APRN, often providing months of relief.
Step 4 — Anatomic, reverse, or partial shoulder replacement when conservative care no longer controls the pain and imaging confirms advanced arthritis.
Many patients control their symptoms at Step 2 or Step 3 for years. For the patients who do reach Step 4, the stepped-care evaluation confirms that replacement is the right answer.
Signs You May Be a Candidate for Shoulder Replacement
Shoulder replacement is worth discussing with an orthopedic surgeon when shoulder arthritis is genuinely limiting your life. Common signs include:
Shoulder pain that limits everyday activities — difficulty reaching overhead, dressing, grooming, driving, or carrying.
Shoulder pain at rest or at night — pain that persists when you are not using the shoulder, or that wakes you up.
Stiffness and loss of motion — a shoulder that no longer rotates, reaches, or lifts as it used to.
Pain that conservative care no longer controls — physical therapy, medication, activity modification, and injections have stopped providing enough relief.
Imaging that shows advanced arthritis — X-rays demonstrating significant cartilage loss or bone-on-bone changes.
A shoulder you can no longer lift — particularly when combined with arthritis, a sign that the rotator cuff may be involved and reverse replacement may be appropriate.
You do not have to wait until the shoulder is unbearable. An evaluation simply tells you where you stand and what your options are.
How Shoulder Replacement Surgery Is Performed
During shoulder replacement, the surgeon removes the worn cartilage and a thin layer of bone from the damaged surfaces and resurfaces them with implant components. The specific approach depends on whether the replacement is anatomic, reverse, or partial, and on the patient's anatomy. Aptiva Health uses minimally invasive techniques whenever the anatomy allows, and many shoulder replacements are performed on an outpatient or short-stay basis at the appropriate surgical center.
Surgical planning is informed by X-ray, MRI, and — for many cases, particularly reverse replacement — a pre-operative CT scan that lets the surgeon plan implant positioning precisely.
Recovery After Shoulder Replacement
Recovery from shoulder replacement is an active process, and physical therapy is central to the result.
The arm is protected in a sling for roughly four to six weeks while the shoulder begins to heal. Physical therapy then progresses in stages — first restoring motion, then rebuilding strength. Substantial recovery takes about three to six months, with strength and motion continuing to improve for up to a year.
Reverse shoulder replacement and anatomic shoulder replacement follow slightly different rehabilitation paths — reverse rehab focuses on deltoid activation rather than rotator cuff strengthening — but the overall timeline is similar.
Aptiva Health coordinates post-operative physical therapy in-house, so the surgical team and the therapy team share the same plan — which keeps rehabilitation on track and recovery moving.
Why Patients Choose Aptiva Health for Shoulder Replacement in Louisville
One shoulder team, one care pathway. From the initial evaluation through imaging, conservative care, surgery, and post-operative rehab, the patient stays inside one organization. The surgeon, the orthopedic PA and APRN, the physical therapist, and the imaging center all share the same chart and the same plan.
Conservative care first, surgery when it's right. Most shoulder arthritis can be managed for years without surgery. Our team recommends shoulder replacement only when conservative care no longer controls the pain and imaging confirms it.
Same-week shoulder evaluations. Aptiva Health Louisville offers same-week orthopedic appointments — patients do not wait months to be seen.
On-site imaging and therapy across Louisville. With on-site imaging and in-house orthopedic and physical therapy services, the scan, the diagnosis, the surgery, and the rehab all happen close to home.
When to See a Doctor - Call Now!
You should be evaluated by an orthopedic specialist if you have:
Shoulder pain that has limited your daily activities for months
Shoulder pain at rest or at night
Stiffness that keeps the shoulder from reaching overhead, behind your back, or across your body
Shoulder arthritis that conservative care no longer controls
A shoulder you cannot lift, especially after a known rotator cuff tear
A prior shoulder surgery or fracture and a shoulder that has gradually worsened
For non-emergency shoulder evaluation, Aptiva Health Louisville offers same-week appointments — patients do not wait months to be seen.
Schedule your appointment today!
Meet the Louisville Shoulder Replacement Team
J. Steve Smith, MD — Director of Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Dr. Steve Smith is the Director of Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine at Aptiva Health and a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. He graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, trained at the University of Rochester, and completed a sports medicine fellowship at the renowned Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles, where he served on the medical staff for the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Anaheim Ducks. Fun Fact: Dr. Smith performed the first reverse shoulder replacement surgery in Louisville, Kentucky.
Shawn Price, MD — Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Shawn Price is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon whose clinical focus includes arthritis care, minimally invasive joint replacement, and the treatment of a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions. For shoulder patients, Dr. Price evaluates and treats shoulder arthritis and performs anatomic total, reverse total, and partial shoulder replacement — including for patients whose rotator cuff tear is too large to repair and is accompanied by arthritis. He completed his Sarcoma Advanced Research and Clinical Fellowship at the University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute under the mentorship of Drs. R. Lor Randall and Kevin B. Jones.
Michael Gilbert, PA-C — Orthopedic Physician Assistant Orthopedic physician assistant for 30 years. For shoulder patients, Michael provides same-week new-patient evaluations, conservative-care coordination, shoulder injections, and post-operative follow-up.
Rebecca Kostyo, APRN — Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner Advanced practice registered nurse who works directly with the Aptiva Health shoulder team to evaluate, diagnose, and manage shoulder conditions, including conservative care, shoulder injections, and pre- and post-operative coordination.
Schedule a Shoulder Replacement Consultation in Louisville — Schedule Now
Louisville locations serving shoulder patients:
Louisville East — 10100 Linn Station Road, Suite 1A, Louisville, KY 40223 — Tel: 502-909-0772
Louisville Downtown — 300 South 13th Street, Louisville, KY 40203 — Tel: 502-909-0772
Louisville Imaging — 3615 Newburg Road, Suite 106, Louisville, KY 40218 — Tel: 502-909-0772
Louisville Middletown — 401 N English Station Road, Suite 1A, Louisville, KY 40223 — Tel: 502-290-2717
Concussion & Sports Medicine Institute (on-site MRI) — 3611 Newburg Road, Louisville, KY 40218 — Tel: 502-909-0772
Elizabethtown and Mt. Washington locations also serve orthopedic patients:
Aptiva Health Orthopedics — Elizabethtown — 529 Westport Road, Suite 2, Elizabethtown, KY 42701 — Tel: 270-506-4888
Aptiva Health Orthopedics — Mt. Washington — 737 N Hwy 31e Bypass, Suite 2, Mt. Washington, KY 40047 — Tel: 502-909-0772
Insurance accepted: Most major medical insurance, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, most Kentucky Medicaid plans, workers' compensation, auto injury coverage (PIP and MedPay), and cash-pay.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shoulder Replacement in Indianapolis
What is the difference between anatomic and reverse shoulder replacement?
An anatomic total shoulder replacement keeps the shoulder’s ball-and-socket relationship in its normal position and typically relies on a functioning rotator cuff to help move the arm. A reverse total shoulder replacement changes the position of the ball and socket so the deltoid muscle can play a greater role in lifting the arm.
The condition of the rotator cuff, the amount of arthritis, your symptoms, and other individual factors help your orthopedic surgeon determine which approach may be appropriate.
Who may be a candidate for reverse shoulder replacement?
Reverse shoulder replacement may be considered for people with advanced shoulder arthritis combined with significant rotator cuff damage. It may also be used for certain complex fractures, previously unsuccessful shoulder replacements, or other conditions in which an anatomic replacement may not provide the desired function.
Your Aptiva Health Indianapolis orthopedic surgeon will review your symptoms, physical examination, imaging, and overall health when discussing treatment options.
How do I know if I need a shoulder replacement?
Shoulder replacement may be considered when arthritis or another advanced shoulder condition causes persistent pain, stiffness, or loss of function that interferes with everyday activities and has not improved enough with non-surgical treatment.
Treatment often begins with options such as physical therapy, activity modification, medications, or shoulder injections, when appropriate. Your orthopedic surgeon can help determine whether continued conservative care or surgery makes sense for your individual situation.
How long does a shoulder replacement last?
Shoulder replacement implants are designed for long-term use, but implant longevity varies from person to person. Factors such as activity level, overall health, the condition of the surrounding muscles and tendons, and the type of replacement can all play a role.
Your Aptiva Health Indianapolis orthopedic surgeon can discuss what to expect based on your individual circumstances.
How long is recovery after shoulder replacement surgery?
Recovery after shoulder replacement is different for every patient and depends on the type of procedure performed and your individual health and rehabilitation needs.
Recovery generally includes a period of protecting the shoulder followed by a progressive physical therapy program. Strength, comfort, and motion typically improve gradually over time. Aptiva Health Indianapolis offers physical therapy as part of its coordinated orthopedic care services.
Will I get my range of motion back after shoulder replacement?
The amount of motion a person regains after shoulder replacement varies based on the condition of the shoulder before surgery, the type of replacement performed, rotator cuff function, rehabilitation, and individual healing.
The goal of treatment is to improve pain and functional use of the shoulder. Your surgeon will discuss realistic expectations based on your condition and treatment plan.
Is shoulder replacement an outpatient surgery?
Some shoulder replacement procedures may be performed on an outpatient or short-stay basis for appropriately selected patients.
Whether outpatient surgery is appropriate depends on factors such as your overall health, the type of procedure, and your individual needs. Your Aptiva Health surgical team will discuss the appropriate setting with you before surgery.
Can I avoid or delay a shoulder replacement?
In many cases, non-surgical care is considered before joint replacement. Options may include physical therapy, activity modification, medications, and corticosteroid or other targeted shoulder injections, when appropriate.
Aptiva Health Orthopedics provides both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic care in Indianapolis, allowing your care team to recommend treatment based on your symptoms, goals, and individual needs.
Am I too young for a shoulder replacement?
Age is only one factor considered when evaluating shoulder replacement. Your symptoms, activity level, imaging, prior treatments, overall health, and how much the condition affects your daily life are also important.
For younger or more active patients, your orthopedic surgeon can discuss joint-preserving treatments, conservative options, and the potential benefits and considerations of shoulder replacement.
What are the risks of shoulder replacement surgery?
As with any surgery, shoulder replacement has potential risks and benefits. Risks can vary depending on the type of procedure, your overall health, and your individual shoulder condition.
Your Aptiva Health Indianapolis orthopedic surgeon will discuss the potential risks, benefits, alternatives, and expected recovery with you before you decide whether surgery is right for you.
Who performs shoulder replacement surgery at Aptiva Health Indianapolis?
Shoulder replacement care at Aptiva Health Indianapolis is provided by D. Philip Stickney, MD, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with more than 25 years of experience in general orthopedic care.
Dr. Stickney treats shoulder conditions ranging from rotator cuff and labral injuries to arthritis and joint replacement. His surgical experience includes shoulder replacement as well as other orthopedic procedures involving the shoulder, knee, hip, and hand.
Aptiva Health Indianapolis also provides access to imaging and physical therapy services, helping coordinate evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation in one location.
Aptiva Health Indianapolis
6801 Gray Road
Indianapolis, IN 46237
Phone: 463-303-0501
Does Medicare and insurance cover shoulder replacement?
Coverage for shoulder replacement depends on your individual insurance plan, medical necessity, benefits, and authorization requirements.
Aptiva Health works with many major medical insurance plans, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, workers’ compensation, auto-injury coverage, and other payment options. Because participation and coverage can vary, patients should contact Aptiva Health Indianapolis at 463-303-0501 to verify benefits and any authorization requirements before treatment.