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Mercer-Bucks Orthopaedics, in conjunction with Mercer County Surgery Center, offers total shoulder and reverse total shoulder replacement surgery in the outpatient setting.
Outpatient shoulder or reverse shoulder replacement is a new pathway for certain, select patients to be able to undergo shoulder replacement surgery in the ambulatory surgery center and be discharged home the same day.
You will know you need a total shoulder replacement once you have failed all conservative measures, continue to have a diminished quality of life, have been evaluated by an experienced shoulder replacement surgeon and then have decided along with your surgeon that it is the best option for you.
A traditional shoulder replacement imitates the normal anatomy of your shoulder. A plastic cup is attached into the glenoid (shoulder socket), and a metal ball is attached to your humerus (upper arm bone). In a reverse total shoulder replacement, the parts are reversed. The metal ball is attached to the socket and the plastic cup is attached to the upper end of the humerus.
A traditional shoulder replacement candidate has failed all conservative measures such as physical therapy, medications, injections etc. Their main problem is shoulder joint destruction, such as seen with arthritis.
A reverse shoulder replacement candidate would only consider a reverse shoulder replacement if you have a compromised rotator cuff that would not support a conventional shoulder replacement, a failed conventional shoulder replacement or a fracture that required a reverse shoulder.
Outpatient shoulder replacement surgery should only be performed on patients who are healthy enough to be a candidate for this surgical setting. Patients with significant medical problems should not undergo shoulder replacement in an outpatient setting. Patients also need to be comfortable with the idea of going directly home on the day of surgery and have an appropriate living situation and an appropriate home support system to be available to help them after the surgery.
There is no difference in the surgery itself when shoulder replacement is performed in the outpatient setting. A more strict protocol for pain control is what differentiates outpatient shoulder replacement from traditional shoulder replacement performed in the hospital. Further, a dedicated, multi-disciplinary team, including specialized nursing staff, anesthesiologists and physical therapists are necessary to safely complete outpatient surgery. All of these are now available through Mercer Bucks Orthopaedics and Mercer County Surgery Center.
The major advantage of outpatient joint replacement is that there is no need for a hospital stay, which could lead to a decreased risk for hospital acquired infections, as well as increase in overall patient satisfaction. Further, rapid recovery programs have been shown to decrease complications such as blood clots after surgery. Some possible disadvantages include the possible need for admission to the hospital if a complication occurs at home, or difficulty with postoperative pain management at home. However, in most available studies, the outcomes for outpatient joint replacement patients have been overwhelmingly positive with extremely low complication rates and very high patient satisfaction.
Dr. Armbruster is an orthopaedic surgeon with advanced specialty training in hand, upper extremity and microvascular surgery. He joined MBO in 2010 after having practiced in Bucks County since 2007.
Dr. Armbruster was born in Atlantic City and grew up at the Jersey Shore. He attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, receiving his B.S. in Chemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology. He then studied at the Boston University School of Medicine, earning a Master of Arts in Medical Sciences. There he researched the molecular basis of arthritis and connective tissue disorders in the Department of Rheumatology at their National Arthritis Laboratory.
Dr. Armbruster returned to our area to attend the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, earning a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. He completed his Internship and Orthopaedic Surgery Residency training at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) – School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford, New Jersey. During this time he served at Cooper University Hospital for Level I orthopaedic trauma care, as well as A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, DE for pediatric orthopaedic care. He also served as Assistant Team Physician to the Camden Riversharks Professional Baseball Organization for the 2003 through 2007 seasons.
Dr. Armbruster completed advanced fellowship training at UMDNJ – New Jersey Medical School in Newark, New Jersey in Hand, Upper Extremity and Microvascular Surgery. He is board-certified in Orthopaedic Surgery and earned a Certificate of Added Qualification in Surgery of the Hand (CAQSH). Dr. Armbruster has been elected to full active membership in the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH), recognized as the premier medical society dedicated to upper extremity care, research and education. He brings to our practice advanced treatment modalities in the non-operative and surgical care of hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder afflictions.
Dr. Armbruster continues to contribute to advancing the science of orthopaedic care through writing scholarly articles and lecture presentations. He regularly lectures at national orthopaedic meetings.
Dr. Armbruster sees patients in our Langhorne office location in Pennsylvania and our Freehold, Hamilton, Lawrenceville and Princeton office locations in New Jersey.
Dr. Armbruster sees patients in our Langhorne office location in Pennsylvania and our Freehold, Hamilton, Lawrenceville and Princeton office locations in New Jersey.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Armbruster, please call 855.896.0444 or click here to request an appointment online.
