There is a new surgery that is now benefitting everyday athletes, too.
For two years, Jan Graves couldn't do this… or this.
"One day, I woke up, and the pain was incredible. Any movement at all caused pain," Graves told Ivanhoe.
Graves tore her right rotator cuff. After surgery to fix it, she tore it again. Ten to 15 percent of repairs fail.
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Kevin Kaplan did biomechanical studies for a new arthroscopic repair called a Net Bridge.
Anchors, sutures and a special fibertape are used to create a net, to compress and hold tendon to bone.
"Much like a net on the side of a mountain holding rocks on the side of the mountain, we're actually compressing that part of the tendon down, capturing it like a net and protecting it while the patient is moving his or her shoulder," Dr. Kaplan explained.
The Net Bridge offers extra protection and strength. Five months after surgery, Graves can move pain-free. "Oh, it's like a new lease on life," Graves said. "You know, it's given me more energy than anything just knowing that I'm not going to be hurting."
Now, she's on target for an active, healthy future.
Most patients can resume active motion within six weeks, and there is a much lower risk of re-injuring the shoulder with the Net Bridge procedure than with traditional repairs.
The team physician for the L.A. Dodgers, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, originally developed the procedure.
If this story or any other Ivanhoe story has impacted your life or prompted you or someone you know to seek or change treatments, please let us know by contacting Melissa Medalie atmmedalie@ivanhoe.com
