Most medical facilities take a piecemeal approach to administering health care, extending one’s recovery time, making it difficult to access a full spectrum of treatment, and adding to the stress that patients are already experiencing. 

If you’re seeking treatment for a shoulder or elbow condition, seeking comprehensive care will provide you with a full spectrum of patient care services through each stage of your treatment and recovery. At MidAmerica Orthopaedics, for instance, the comprehensive care offered means patients receive the attention they need at the onset of their injury. From evaluation and diagnosis to treatment, therapy, and follow-up care, every aspect of your treatment can take place under the same roof.

A wide range of on-site services might be necessary to treat your elbow or shoulder injury: 

• Occupational Medicine Program 
• Orthopaedic Immediate Care 
• On-Site Imaging Services 
• Physical/Occupational Therapy 
• Ambulatory Surgery Center 

And the accessibility of these services can help you recover more quickly from a wide range of injuries. Here are some common procedures that can be performed using this holistic, patient-focused approach: 

Minimally Invasive Arthroscopy 

Arthroscopy is a very common type of surgery typically done on an outpatient basis. It involves inserting an arthroscope – a small, pencil-thin instrument with a camera attached – into the body so that the surgeon can examine the injured area and determine the best way to proceed. Because they consist of multiple bones held together by ligaments, arthroscopy is often necessary to enable doctors to visualize what is happening within the joint. 

For example, when undergoing minimally invasive shoulder surgery, or shoulder arthroscopy, the surgeon will typically start by making two or more small incisions in your shoulder through which small surgical tools can be inserted. The camera broadcasts the procedure onto a screen, which helps guide the surgeon to make any necessary repairs.  

Revision (Shoulder & Elbow) Surgery 

Sometimes more than one surgery is necessary to rectify a traumatic injury. A patient may seek help from the specialists at MidAmerica to repair a joint after a previous shoulder or elbow operation that took place at a different facility. Joints in particular can need adjustments after the primary surgery. Some rotator cuff patients undergo a graft augmentation to strengthen a tendon and improve healing. Known as revision surgery, there are various reasons this might be necessary, including: 

• Aseptic loosening – a loosening of the joint, sometimes associated with inflammation or bone resorption 
• Periprosthetic infection – possibly caused by bacteria entering a wound during or after joint replacement surgery 
• A fracture – when a bone breaks near a replaced joint 

Furthermore, a successful joint replacement will often last ten years or more, but it may eventually loosen or wear out. A second “revision” surgery will sometimes be recommended to ease the symptoms. The type of revision surgery will depend on the root cause of the problem. If you think you are a candidate for revision surgery, speak with one of our specialists to get the proper diagnosis so you can work together to determine the best way forward.

Bone Preserving Shoulder Replacement 

Patients want to feel reassured that, if a damaged joint is going to be replaced, they will retain as much healthy, functioning bone in the surrounding area as possible. Thanks to recent advances in medical technology, your orthopaedic physician can see that minimal bone is needed for the implantation of new components in your shoulder or elbow. An example of a high-performance procedure might be a bone-preserving shoulder arthroplasty implant, in which the damaged part of your shoulder joint is replaced with implants made of metal and plastic. 

Another benefit of comprehensive care is having access to a team of specialists who collaborate with you throughout your journey. Seeking care from highly qualified shoulder and elbow surgeons at MidAmerica such as Doctor Aimee Bobko can help improve your outcome post-surgery, as well. 

Visit MidAmerica’s Hand to Shoulder Clinic for Direct-to-Specialist Care 

The Hand to Shoulder Clinic is a subspecialty division within MidAmerica Orthopaedics devoted exclusively to treating patients with injuries and conditions of the upper extremities. Common problems treated include: 

1. For the shoulder: rotator cuff tear, shoulder dislocation, and shoulder impingement syndrome 
2. For the elbow: elbow tendonitis and dislocated elbow 

With a direct-to-specialist approach, patients can be seen immediately by an orthopaedic specialist who is on site at the time of the injury. Because of this, many treatments can be provided on the same day or as soon as possible, reducing the time needed for a full recovery. 

Our services take place at one location, meaning no more shuffling between facilities. Since care is provided in the same place, patient info is easily accessed by all involved specialists, eliminating the costly repetition of services. 

The team of shoulder and elbow specialists at MidAmerica is made up of award-winning physicians who are experts at the top of their field, offering solutions from non-surgical treatment to arthroplasty. Give us a call at (708) 237-7200, or request an appointment online today.