Minimally Invasive Shoulder Surgery

If your doctor has recommended a shoulder replacement as the best option to relieve shoulder pain from arthritis, you may be a candidate for a minimally invasive approach to shoulder surgery.

The Rotator Cuff Sparing Method for Total Shoulder Replacement is a new approach developed and first performed by R. Michael Greiwe, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon from OrthoCincy Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine practicing at St. Elizabeth Healthcare.

This approach may be right for you if you have:

• Pain
• Difficulty moving the arm
• A grinding sensation inside the shoulder
• An ache in the shoulder that radiates down the arm
• Difficulty bathing, reaching, lifting, performing household chores or picking up children
• Trouble playing sports, such as golf, tennis or anything that involves throwing a ball
        

How the Minimally Invasive Approach to Shoulder Replacement is Different

The traditional approach to shoulder replacement requires an incision in front of the shoulder. To reach and replace the shoulder joint, the surgeon must cut the muscles or tendons in the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff sparing method allows the surgeon to access your shoulder joint through an incision at the back of your shoulder, which eliminates the need to cut any of the muscles or tendons of the rotator cuff. Because there’s no tendon repair along with the joint replacement, you heal faster with fewer restrictions and less pain. 

Benefits of the rotator cuff sparing shoulder replacement method include:

• Significantly less pain after surgery
• Less time on prescription pain medication
• Quicker return to work and family obligations
• Less physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Faster total recovery time

Contact Us

If you are suffering from shoulder pain, we can help. Call our affiliated orthopaedic surgeons at OrthoCincy Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine at 859-301-BONE (2663) for more information on this revolutionary procedure or to schedule an appointment.