01_18_2016 Dave Gets Shoulder Put Back Together

Dave has known that he needed some shoulder surgery since late 2015. We'd made our plans to head to MX and decided to wait until we returned. So, on the morning of Jan 18th, we got up and drove to Vail where the Steadman Clinic is located. The surgeon he selected is Tom Hackett - the shoulder expert. See: http://thesteadmanclinic.com/dr-tom-hackett.asp.  He works on pro athletes, and is a climber himself so we were certain he'd understand the strains that a climber's shoulder is put under. The circled parts of the MRI indicate some trouble. :)

We arrived and they got Dave back and prepped right away. It was a great team. Then Dave was wheeled to the OR for the procedure. It would be his first time under general anesthesia and in his own words afterward, it was WAY different. Glad to have it, but it's tough.

After the 2-ish hour procedure, and he was waking up, I got to head back to see him. He was feeling as you'd expect someone to feel after such a major procedure - pretty wrecked. Happily there was no pain (by design).

Here is the damage that was repaired:

The supscapularis tendon was 90% torn. This was reattached to a nest of five bone mounted suture anchors.

The biceps head tendon was hanging by a thread as well as being severely flattened, frayed and thickened. That had to have two inches removed and reattached.

The shredded perimeter of the labrum cartilage was cleaned up after the biceps attachment was removed.

A minor tear in the supraspinatis was repaired and attached to the anchor nest as well.

The acromium and humeral tuberosity were shaved down to a normal shape to prevent impingement.

Various other soft tissue, bone spurs, and hemmoragic bursa were cleaned up.

The procedure was done as a hybrid arthroscopic and open case in order to get the strongest possible repairs to the torn tendons.

The hardest part for me was waiting, and trying to get a photo of Dave. I learned that even when drugged to the high heavens, if someone points a camera at him, he perks up and smiles. :)
 

We left the hospital about 15 after six and happily didn't have much traffic to contend with. It was snowing lightly which I could have done without, but still we got home pretty quickly (2.5-ish hours).

At home, he settled into the reclining sofa where he was shocked as how swollen his hand and arm were - plus that they were totally dead from the nerve blocks.

This is pretty much the view I had for the first week plus. Other than the first 30 hours, he slept well and slept a lot. He needed it.

As usual, Pente was doing her best to help. She kept trying to get on his shoulder, but couldn't figure out how.  She is still head-butting the hand in the sling wondering why it won't pet her back.

Here is what the aftermath looks like. A long incision in the front. 

The two arthroscopic puncture wounds on the side/back.

About 10 days later, we were back in Hackett's office for the post op...and removal of remaining bandages.

The waiting room of this particular office is filled with photos/memorabilia of climbers we know and other professional athletes!

Following the surgery, they used dissoluble internal sutures, and steri-strips on the outside.

Part of today's visit was to remove the strips!  The best part of this is that he can shower again!

Here is the big one. They had to trim some of the stitches that hadn't dissolved yet. (I imagine there may be some pulling of them later)

Voila!  Amazing how little bruising.

Dave approves.

The following day, I drove Dave to his first PT appt.  It was scary for both of us! Still, Jeff S. did a fab job. A little discomfort, but Dave said it actually felt good. He managed to get a fair amount of range of motion in this first visit. Dave will visit with Jeff twice a week to start with. He's been given the all-clear to drive (though he probably should drive far or often) so he can take himself in for PT.

Watch for the sequel in May when Dave gets the other shoulder put back together.  That is what 40 years of climbing HARD will do to a person. I know he'd not change a thing. If he did El Cap a few months ago with all this important stuff dettached, imagine what he'll be capable of when he's healed!