The Kennedy Center has gained a stellar reputation for hip and knee replacements, but in recent years, they’ve also become a premier center for shoulder repair and reconstruction.
As people age, their shoulders often begin to hurt for a variety of reasons: The rotator cuff may tear, arthritis can develop, an injury can happen or years of accumulated activity start to take their toll.
If it hurts to lift your arms overhead, sleep on your shoulder, wash your hair or reach into your back pocket, then it might be time to see one of our outstanding surgeons at the Kennedy Center.
Our talented doctors will listen to your concerns and then develop an appropriate treatment plan specifically for you. We take pride in our progressive approach to shoulder pain, in our excellent surgical results and the continued faith and loyalty of our patients.
Contact us to learn more about our shoulder procedures.
Most rotator cuff tears are the result of muscles and tendons simply wearing out through overuse and age. Patients explain that they don’t remember any one injury or event that caused the shoulder pain but, instead, they experience a gradual onset of pain. Pain increases when reaching overhead, reaching away from the body, reaching behind your back or sleeping on your shoulder.
The surgeons at the Kennedy Center lead the way in using arthroscopic surgery for rotator cuff repair. We use the latest arthroscopic techniques to limit muscle injury during surgery and reduce post-operative pain.
Because arthroscopic surgery results in less post-operative pain, patients need less narcotic drugs. They can also return to normal activities like driving and working quicker. The goal of our physicians is to make the shoulder more stable so patients have a better quality of life.
Many rotator cuff injuries can be successfully treated non-surgically with rest, ice, heat, low-resistance exercise, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen. Often physical therapy combined with sports-specific rehabilitation can strengthen the muscles surrounding the shoulder joint and make it more stable.
Throughout most people’s lives, their shoulder, which is a ball and socket joint, works beautifully. But as we age, degenerative arthritis can seriously damage the cartilage in your shoulder joint causing pain and limited function. An injury caused by a fall or other accident can traumatically break the bones themselves or tear the ligaments that hold the bones in place.
If you experience continual pain that no longer responds to conventional treatment, like physical therapy or cortisone shots, then it’s time to contact the shoulder specialists at the Kennedy Center. If you have a sudden shoulder injury or accident, contact the professionals at the Kennedy Center immediately or go to Emergency Services.
After falling on the ice and breaking her shoulder, Kathy sought out expert help from the Kennedy Center.
“They have an outstanding reputation and I trusted that they would take good care of me.”
Read more of Kathy’s shoulder replacement story.
We realize having a total shoulder replacement is a serious decision between you and your surgeon; that’s why it’s important that you understand what the surgery entails.
During the surgery, the humeral ball is replaced with a metal ball that has similar contours to your own natural one. The socket is cleaned of all arthritis and a plastic liner inserted. These implants are sized to your own joint and mimic the natural motion of your shoulder for years to come.
Patients who choose a total shoulder replacement report that, after surgery, their pain level is significantly reduced and experience enhanced arm mobility.
The reverse total shoulder replacement is an innovative technique designed for people who previously had no other good surgical options.
Appropriate patients include those with:
The major benefit of a reverse total shoulder replacement is the patient’s ability to lift their arm overhead without pain, which in turn means a better quality of life. Patients normally have less pain and more strength in the shoulder, leading to improved function.
Although shoulder replacement surgery isn’t as common as hip or knee replacement, it can be an excellent solution for people with severe shoulder pain. Partial shoulder replacement surgery was developed for people with degenerative shoulder arthritis or a shoulder injury.
When your shoulder socket is intact with good cartilage that doesn’t need replacing, your surgeon may recommend a Copeland or a Hemi shoulder replacement. During surgery, the affected joint of the humeral head of the shoulder is resurfaced by replacing it with a similarly shaped metal implant.
The primary benefits of a partial shoulder replacement are pain relief and a return to more normal activity. Because the surgery retains functional bone, a successful total shoulder procedure can still be done in the future if the socket wears out.
Shoulder resurfacing is a revolutionary surgery for people with arthritic shoulders who, in the past, had only a total shoulder replacement as an option.
Patients with a resurfaced shoulder can live a more normal, less restricted lifestyle after surgery and recovery. Shoulder resurfacing preserves the bone and provides a secure fit for the new bone to grow into the implant. Also, patients can still have a total shoulder replacement later in life.
Shoulder impingement syndrome occurs fairly commonly in athletes who participate in sports requiring repeated use of their arms overhead. These can include tennis players, baseball players, gymnasts, and volleyball players. It also is fairly common in people whose work involves overhead activities like carpenters, masons, and painters.
This syndrome typically produces mild to severe pain in the shoulder or upper arm and limits a patient’s range of arm motion. People often have trouble lifting their arms overhead or away from their body and have general weakness in the arm. The syndrome can be characterized as bursitis, inflammation, or a bone spur formation. This can progress into a tear in the rotator cuff.
Shoulder impingement or decompression surgery is an arthroscopic procedure to widen the space between the rotator cuff attached to the ball of the shoulder socket and the part of your shoulder blade known as the acromion.
Impingement surgery can be performed to relieve chronic or severe tendonitis that hasn’t responded to non-surgical techniques like physical therapy.
Healthy patients with a good support system may have the option of going home the same day whether they’re having a shoulder replacement or rotator cuff repair.
The Kennedy Center surgeons utilize muscle-preserving techniques, advanced pain management options, and the same dedicated surgical teams and suites for both inpatient and outpatient orthopedic surgeries.
This means that many patients who are good candidates for a same day shoulder replacement can recover in the comfort of their own homes. For those patients who may require an overnight hospital stay, they can rest assured that they are in one of the finest hospitals in the area. The American Hospital Association rates Ascension Mercy Hospital as a 5-star hospital offering the highest level of care available. The Kennedy Center is proud to partner with them in providing excellent care to every patient.
We encourage you to talk to one of our surgeons about what procedure is most appropriate for you. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Davis Tsai, MD
Knee Replacement, Knee Resurfacing, Sports Medicine, Shoulder and General Orthopedics
Kenneth Schaufelberger, MD
Hands, Elbows and Upper Extremities Including Shoulders, Sports Medicine and General Orthopedics
