Medical Reports: Rotator Cuff Procedure

WSVN -- Dan and his black lab Kayla spend hours practicing for retriever competitions. That is until Dan fell and hurt his shoulder. The injury put them both on the sidelines.

Dan McMackin: "It sounded like a towel ripping. That was my rotator cuff. I couldn't move my shoulder at all, not even an inch."

Dr. Spero Karas, orthopedic surgeon: "When the rotator cuff is torn, that ball will tend to ride up out of the socket, and the other shoulder muscles can't raise the arm effectively."

Dr. Spero Karas is using a new technique to repair and stabilize injured shoulders. He secures the tendon to the bone at two sites instead of one.

Dr. Spero Karas: "It reconstructs normal anatomy. These repairs are stronger when you test them, so bio-mechanically, it is more difficult to pull the repair off."

Studies show better healing and less chance of re-injury. Six months after surgery, Dan is thrilled.

Dan McMackin: "It's wonderful. I've got full range of motion. I can throw fetching dummies for my dog."

The surgery got Dan and Kayla back into the game, and they are now making waves at the championship level of dog competitions.

In most cases, patients are able to begin rehab sooner with this surgery but full recovery takes about a year.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Spero Karas, M.D.
(404) 778-7204
www.atlantashoulder.com
www.emoryhealthcare.org/departments/sports/index.html