Shoulder Pain?
Halifax Health Offers New Option for Shoulder Replacement Surgery
An MRI showed the 80-year-old Edgewater resident had severe rotator cuff damage. Arthroscopic surgery seemed like it might be an option — but Patton was told the damage was beyond repair.
Still, he didn’t give up. “The ability to use my arm and shoulder is really important to me,” he said.
Patton went to see orthopaedic surgeon Richard Rhodes, MD, who recommended a Reverse® Shoulder Prosthesis. In the past, people had to travel to Gainesville or Tampa for this procedure. But Srinivasa Sridhar, MD, Dr. Rhodes’ partner at Atlantic Orthopaedics, offered to perform the surgery at Halifax Health. That meant Patton could stay close to home for his shoulder replacement.
Pain Relief, Improved Quality of Life
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles surrounding the ball of the shoulder joint, and damage is more likely with age. “People are living longer, and we continue to see more rotator cuffs that cannot be repaired or repairs that would not last,” said Dr. Sridhar, an orthopaedic surgeon.But the Reverse shoulder replacement — a new kind of artificial joint — was designed specifically for people with severe shoulder arthritis and rotator cuff damage. The innovative design offers new hope to patients who previously would have had limited options.
Dr. Sridhar replaced Patton’s shoulder with the Reverse, and “my shoulder has healed well so far,” Patton said. “Having better mobility without the pain definitely makes a difference in my everyday life.”
“It really improves quality of life and helps patients take care of themselves by providing greater range of motion and relief from pain,” Dr. Sridhar explained.
“The nurses and staff at Halifax Health were wonderful from the moment I came in until I was discharged. It was a really good experience,” Patton said. “I have never been treated better.”
