Revision of Shoulder Fusion Treatment in India

Myra Williams, a 62-year-old retired elementary...

Myra Williams, a 62-year-old retired elementary school teacher and avid gardener, had a shoulder fusion 15 years ago following a severe motorcycle accident. While the original fusion eliminated her debilitating pain, the fixed position (arm at 45 degrees) has increasingly limited her life. She can no longer reach overhead to prune her beloved roses, struggles with basic hygiene, and experiences constant, deep aching in her neck and back from compensating. Her orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Evans, explained that the fusion was in a non-functional position and was causing secondary arthritis in adjacent joints. He recommended a revision to carefully take down the old fusion, clean out the arthritic joint, and re-fuse it in a more functional 30-degree position. Myra was terrified of another major surgery and the long recovery, fearing she might lose even more mobility. The surgery was complex but successful. After 12 weeks in a rigid brace, followed by intensive physical therapy, Myra's new arm position felt remarkably natural. The compensatory neck pain vanished. While her overhead reach is still limited, she can now easily wash her hair, dress herself, and tend to her garden at waist level. Emotionally, she moved from a state of resigned frustration and dependence to one of regained autonomy and joy in her daily activities, calling the revision 'a gift of simple dignity.'