Western Orthopaedics in Denver Blends Innovative Techniques to Provide a Spectrum of Sho...(l bone resection. When I was ab...),Health

"When I was about 23 years old, I had two arthroscopic shoulder procedures by another surgeon," said Tyler Van Eps. "Although my shoulder felt a little better for a short time, I quickly started to lose my range of motion. By the time I called Dr. Hatzidakis, I could barely lift my arm," continued Van Eps. "Dr. Hatzidakis explained everything fully so I always felt well informed. Through the resurfacing procedure, he made the roughened arthritic ball of my shoulder smooth again. Thanks to him, I have near full range of motion and I'm now in the police academy."

Another procedure, called reversed shoulder replacement, is used on patients with severely torn rotator cuffs due to injury, aging, overuse, or severe arthritis. Typically performed on patients with more advanced shoulder problems, this procedure is a total joint replacement and allows patients the use of their deltoid muscle to lift their arm again.

"I've had six shoulder surgeries over the last 35 years and significant pain from my traumatic injuries and procedures. By the time I was referred to Dr. Hatzidakis, my shoulder was infected and in very bad shape," says Dr. Robert Scaer. "As a physician myself, I certainly was aware of the complexities of my condition. I had a totally detached rotator cuff and all the worst things that go along with it. Dr. Hatzidakis took an aggressive approach treating my infection first," says Dr. Scaer. "It's now been about 10 months since my reversed shoulder procedure. I'm exercising regularly and my range of motion and strength are improving daily. I'm now riding my bicycle regularly and I'm looking forward to skiing again."

About Shoulder Conditions

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year nearly 14 million people seek care for shoulder problems. Many of these shoulder conditions are typically caused by repetitive motion, trauma and arthri
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