If I need surgery will you be doing the operation?
Yes.
I am responsible for every aspect of your case and only allow resident/ trainee participation under my direct supervision. As of the updated writing of these FAQs, we occasionally have orthopedic residents in the OR but it is rare.
Do you do minimally invasive surgery?
I do utilize minimally invasive techniques in many circumstances. In my practice I do many procedures in the shoulder and elbow using arthroscopy a minimally invasive technique. Many shoulder and elbow conditions can be treated with minimally invasive techniques, and I have extensive training and continue to teach about minimally invasive surgical techniques.
When you are having surgery, there are other important considerations that have a direct impact on the long-term outcome of your procedure however, that should never take a back seat to incision length. These include implant positioning, tissue handling and visualization. Like everything else there is a right place for minimally invasive techniques and a wrong place for them. The most important consideration for your surgery is that the maximally EFFECTIVE technique be used. And this must be chosen on a case-by-case basis.
What is arthroscopy?
Arthroscopy is a form of minimally invasive surgery within joints like the shoulder or elbow. It involves making a few small incisions each about a centimeter in length and using a fiber optic camera and a series of instruments that are about the size of a pencil to repair damaged tissues inside joints. Most people can go home on the same day as their arthroscopic procedure.
I often use the example of building a ship in a bottle to help people visualize what arthroscopy is like. The surgeon accomplishes all the same goals as open surgeries but with small, specialized instruments designed specifically to work through narrow openings.
How long will my surgery take?
Every surgery is different. If you are the one having surgery, you will feel like the surgery takes no time at all because you will be asleep. For your family members in the waiting room, their perception will be much different.
When you go to surgery you will usually wait in a “holding area” with your family member for an hour or so, depending on the time of day or whether the operating rooms are running on time. Like airport terminals, operating rooms tend to run on time in the morning but may run late as the day progresses. At least one nurse and the anesthesiologist will see you while you are in the holding area. This is where you will get an IV and be checked in. You may also get regional anesthesia (pain blocks) here.
When you go the OR your loved ones will wait in a waiting room. The surgery does not start right away. It usually takes a little time for you to get general anesthesia and for positioning and draping to occur. Similarly, when the surgery is done the anesthesiologist must wake you and then take you to recovery.
The actual surgery time varies depending on the case. The short answer is that any surgery should take as long as necessary to get the job done correctly.
How long does it take to recover from surgery?
Every surgery is different. I encourage you to browse some of the FAQs that are specific to the surgery that you may be having. Not all of them are represented in these FAQs, but they may give you a good starting point.
A word of caution with regard to shoulder surgery: it is not always possible to know ahead of time what your recovery timeline will be. Sometimes findings at the time of surgery will dictate how fast your therapy and recovery will progress. Therefore, we will often give you some general guidelines before surgery and then narrow them down after your surgery is done.
Recovery times vary for different people depending on factors such as overall health, type of procedure, physical fitness, and whether the surgery is a revision surgery or first-time surgery.
Recovery for the same operation can be different for different people but usually falls within a general range for any given procedure. We can discuss your unique circumstances at our office visit.
If I have hardware placed in my body, does it have to come out?
It really depends of why you had hardware placed.
Certain types of hardware are intended to stay in for life: joint replacements, many plates and screws for fracture fixation.
Other hardware is meant to come out: pins that are placed temporarily through the skin to hold fractures in place while they heal.
Occasionally an implant such as a plate will need to come out because of tissue irritation or infection. However, most implants that are placed in your body tend to stay there permanently. They are typically made from inert materials such as stainless steel or titanium making them compatible with biological tissues. It’s very rare for your body to “reject” an implant.
But if you do have a rare metal allergy such as nickel, be sure to inform your doctor.