Andrew Pastor M.D.

Orthopedic Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon. Engineer. Edmonds, Washington

Interesting case - Achilles tendon laceration from broken saw blade

I thought I would share this interesting case with you.

This patient had an unfortunate encounter with a stone cutting saw.  The blade broke and eventually made its way to the back of the ankle, lacerating the Achilles tendon.

The Achilles tendon is located on the back part of the ankle and is the major contributor to the ankle push off strength.

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Can I see an orthopedic specialist from my home?

Access to surgical specialists has become harder and harder over the past several years. The reasons for this are many.  With new technologies, however, access may be improving.  Telemedicine is defined as "the use of telecommunication and information technologies in order to provide clinical health care at a distance."  I can see patients from the convenience of their own home, primary care office, work, etc. with any phone, tablet, or computer that have a data connection.

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Is "selfie elbow" real?

selfie elbow

A new, catchy, condition has been making headlines: "selfie elbow".  The question is, is this a real condition?  Although the name sounds ridiculous, this condition is nothing new.  As an elbow specialist who takes care of a variety of elbow conditions, I see this type of injury routinely.  "Selfie elbow" is similar to other repetitive strain conditions that happen around the elbow.  I'm sure many of you have heard of tennis elbow or golfer's elbow.  "Selfie elbow", like those seen with tennis and golf, is an overuse injury.  Extending your elbow while keeping a firm grip on your phone puts excess stress on the tendons that attach to your elbow and control function in your hand and wrist.  Many who suffer from this type of condition have significant difficulties with use of the hand, especially with lifting and grasping activities.

tennis elbow

Luckily, this condition almost always improves without surgery.  They key to healing this type of condition is refraining from any activities that cause pain and performing specific physical therapy.  Overall resolution of the symptoms can take weeks to months to improve.  Rarely, this condition lasts so long that I would recommend surgery.  If needed, the condition is easily treated with simple, minimally invasive, arthroscopic surgery of the elbow.

 

American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Annual Meeting brief review #1

I had the opportunity to speak at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Annual Meeting last week in New Orleans.  My talk on virtual reality to curb opioid abuse highlighted how this novel technique can be used to treat patients for postoperative pain and chronic pain...

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Could artificial muscles be an answer for chronic rotator cuff tears?

 Could artificial muscles be an answer for chronic rotator cuff tears?  This is a question that I couldn't help but ask myself while reading this fascinating article.  The rotator cuff is a collection of 4 muscles and tendons that allow us to raise our arms.  As many know, chronic (old) rotator tears are a very difficult problem to treat and can lead to severe disability in patients.

Shoulder specialists have been trying for years to determine the optimum treatment for chronic rotator cuff tears.  Our current treatment for old rotator cuff tears is evolving and may include a simple "clean out" of the joint, placing a graft where the rotator cuff tendon was (a superior capsule reconstruction) or a reverse shoulder replacement.  No one solution achieves return to full function due to the fact that rotator muscles atrophy and are no longer functional.

Artificial muscles may allow us the ability to transplant and replace the atrophied rotator cuff muscles and regain significant function.  Although this research is very exciting, I would be remiss to say that this artificial muscle research is still in it's infancy and has not, to my knowledge, been proposed for use in shoulder surgery, so stay tuned.  

I will continue to research this and other treatments and devices here and on my upcoming website the orthopedicfuturist.com.

 

Could "bone glue" be close to reality?

For years, patients have been asking why surgeons can't just glue bones together.  Well, a company named LaunchPad Medical is seeking to do just that with their product, Tetranite.  They are developing a bone adhesive to "glue" fractures together.  They are currently in the testing phase of their product.

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Ski and Snowboarding Injuries

Skiing and snowboarding are among the most popular winter sports worldwide.  This is especially true in the Pacific Northwest.  Recent developments in equipment and prevention measures have helped reduce the incidence of injuries related to skiing and snowboarding.    I personally recommend the use of helmets, wrist guards, and core and lower extremity strengthening so that you can enjoy your ski season without injury.  I hope to see you all in the lodge!

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Is There Benefit in Outpatient Shoulder Replacement?

I reviewed a recent well done study in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery that shows that total shoulder replacements done in an ambulatory surgery center are 20% less expensive than those done in a hospital without increased complications.    For those patients with shoulder arthritis that are not improving with physical therapy, outpatient shoulder replacement remains a very good treatment option to get patients back to an active lifestyle.  
If you are frustrated with your shoulder arthritis, please come see me to review your treatment options.  As always, we will come up with the treatment plan that best suits your needs.
 

total shoulder xray.jpg

Tennis Elbow pain - What are my options?

If you’re like 50 percent of American adults, you’ve experienced elbow pain. For some, it’s a dull ache on the outside of the elbow, but for others, it makes everyday tasks into ordeals. When you have severe elbow pain, even lifting your arm to drink coffee or gripping a shopping bag can be incredibly painful.

More likely than not, you’re suffering from a condition called tennis elbow. You’re not alone. In fact, tennis elbow is so common that it is sometimes referred to as a rite of passage to middle age. Don’t be misled by the name—only a small percentage of people diagnosed with tennis elbow actually get it from playing tennis. Instead, tennis elbow is an overuse injury caused by repetitive stresses to the elbow, which can come from any number of activities, from hammering to lifting heavy boxes.

In more than 90 percent of cases, tennis elbow can be treated with a structured home therapy program or physical therapy. However, for a small percentage of people, the pain will persist. If your pain lasts more than six months, it’s time to consider other options. Luckily, there are a variety of treatments available, both surgical and nonsurgical. Of these options, minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery is one of the most effective.

Arthroscopic surgery involves less damage to the healthy tissue and a faster return to your everyday activities.

You can go home the same day, and you can go back to using your elbow again within days in some cases.

Not all surgeons are trained to treat tennis elbow through arthroscopic surgery. If you are struggling with elbow pain, please reach out to us! We will discuss your treatment options, both surgical and nonsurgical. Relief is closer than you might think.