Most patients who undergo shoulder replacement are in their 60s or 70s due to aging’s effects on the joints, but there is not a formal age limit for patients who remain a good candidate for the surgery. Many of the patients who have shoulder replacement at a younger age require surgery because of a sports injury.
Because shoulder replacements can eventually wear out, some younger patients decide to postpone surgery. Ultimately, the timing of the surgery is usually dictated by the amount of physical discomfort the patient is experiencing. While a patient who has shoulder replacement in his or her 40s is more likely to require a revision surgery a couple decades later, that is preferable to grappling with shoulder pain each day.