>

News


August 27, 2017

by Lucinda Breeding, Denton Record Chronicle

Shouldering the pain:
Joint replacement innovation puts local firefighter back to work

As a firefighter, Brian Shackelford has to be able to lift both objects and people. This includes his heavy firefighter gear and transporting people when doing EMS work. He went to Dr. Ian Wilkofsky of Orthopedic Associates in Flower Mound, Texas who suggested a shoulder replacement. In May 2016, Shackelford underwent a new surgery called a stemless shoulder replacement. This both helped relieve his chronic pain and keep him at his job.

“Before I got the surgery done, I had gotten to the point where it was hurting all the time,” Shackelford said. “A deep aching. To me it felt like the pain was on the inside of my bone. … It got to where doing anything would increase the pain. It was really limiting me on my job.”

Shackelford was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, an inflammatory arthritis that typically affects the spine and the large joints.

“The anatomic replacement is, ‘I’m just going to put this back how God made it,’” Wilkofsky said. “The reverse total shoulder replacement, that’s a newer implant to the United States. It’s a technology that we started using when you’d go in to replace the joint and find that the patients didn’t have much of a rotator cuff.”

Much smaller than its predecessor, the stemless joint is an egg-shaped, coated titanium object with ridges on it — Wilkofsky describes them as “fins” — that are reminiscent of a Phillips screwdriver head. The ridges are coated with a special material.

No long rod has to be inserted down into the bone to keep the new joint in place. The stemless joints are less invasive, and involve less bone.

“I’m glad I did it,” Shackelford said. “It isn’t the easiest recovery in the world, but it’s not the worst either. But it got me back to work, and it was worth it.”

Brian was implanted with the SIMPLICITI™ Stemless Shoulder Replacement in May 2016.

The opinions of Brian Shackelford and Dr. Ian Wilkofsky are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Wright Medical.

CAW-8992 Rev A DCR 171852

June 09, 2017

The Leader, Chris Roark

Local doctor talks about less invasive form of shoulder replacement

After years of renovating houses and working on a farm, Tommie’s shoulder had worn out, causing her to struggle to do household chores or to write on the board in her classroom. She received injections to help the pain, but they lasted only a short time, leading her to seek a long-term solution.

Tommie went to see Dr. Ian Wilkofsky of Orthopedic Associates in Flower Mound, Texas, who recommended she receive the SIMPLICITI Shoulder System. He explained it is a less painful option than traditional shoulder replacements for those with severe arthritis or shoulder pain, and Tommie decided to undergo the procedure.

Dr. Wilkofsky highlighted how advancements in shoulder replacement surgery involve less pain and a quicker recovery. He explained that traditional shoulder surgery used a stem that went halfway down the arm, unlike SIMPLICITI, which only sits at the top of the humerus or arm. Dr. Wilkofsky said patients can resume certain activities like playing golf and lifting weights by three months after the surgery.

Only three days after Tommie underwent the canal-sparing shoulder arthroplasty procedure, she no longer needed pain medication. After a 12-week recovery period, she no longer had any limitations, and now only experiences muscle soreness from physical therapy. She is glad the new surgery is available.

The opinions of Tommie and Dr. Ian Wilkofsky are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Wright Medical.

CAW-8815

March 09, 2017

WTTV-TV, CBS Indianapolis

Shoulder replacement procedure could bring relief for arthritis pain

A few years ago, Nanette began experiencing severe shoulder pain and arthritis after relying heavily on upper-body strength following knee replacement surgery. Beginning in 2008, Nanette underwent multiple procedures on both shoulders to try to heal the bones, but nothing could stop the pain she experienced. Seeking a solution, she went to see Dr. Tom Kaplan, an orthopedic surgeon at Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center, who recommended a short stem shoulder replacement, the SIMPLICITI™ Shoulder System.

Dr. Kaplan explained the methods used in shoulder replacement surgery and said the new short stem design offers several advantages, including easier access to the shoulder socket to remove any bone growth that is present. Thanks to the surgery, Nanette can more easily lift her arms above her head and enjoy traveling and spending time with her husband of 13 years.

The opinions of Nanette and Dr. Tom Kaplan are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Wright Medical.

CAW-8629 Rev A DCR 170479

December 21, 2016

Lakewood Sentinel

My Name Is: Nellie Sparks Recipient of total shoulder replacement

Retired Lakewood resident Nellie Sparks started having problems with her left shoulder about four to five years ago. She first noticed the problem when she tried to take a pose in yoga, and realized she wasn’t as flexible as she should have been. Putting stress on it caused a lot of pain, but Nellie put it off getting addressed for a while, using cortisone shots to get her by.

Finally, unable to deal with the pain which kept her from doing the activities she loved, and struggling to complete everyday tasks like put on her seatbelt, Nellie went to see Dr. Armodios Hatzidakis at Western Orthopedics. He recommended a total shoulder placement with the SIMPLICITI™ Shoulder System and after getting her questions answered, Nellie decided it was time to move forward.

Nellie had her left shoulder replaced on September 23, 2015 and took advantage of all seven weeks of physical therapy to get her mobility back. She is now able to do everyday activities pain-free and she is back to the active lifestyle she enjoyed previously, including biking and hiking whenever she can.

The opinions of Nellie Sparks are hers alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Wright Medical.

CAW-8508 Rev A DCR 170025

November 14, 2016

Washington DC, NBC 4 Washington

New Device Improves Shoulder Replacement Procedure

John Bowling of Hollywood, Maryland, suffered from serious shoulder pain for years and in 2015, it started to interfere with his everyday activities as a farm owner. When the pain escalated to where he could no longer perform simple tasks, such as dressing himself, his wife made an appointment for John with Dr. Peter Johnston of the Southern Maryland Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center.

Dr. Johnston found that both of Bowling’s shoulders had deteriorated due to arthritis and bi-lateral replacement was the only option. He recommended a new stemless shoulder replacement procedure. Dr. Johnston explained that shoulder replacement historically used a metal spike which runs halfway down the arm, however newer stemless devices are an eighth of that size. The newer procedure also results in less blood loss than previously-available procedures, and preliminary evidence suggests there may be lower risk of infection.

Bowling now lives pain free after both shoulder replacements and his only regret is that he waited so long to do something about the pain. .

The opinions of Dr. Johnston and John Bowling are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Wright Medical.

CAW-8412 Rev A DCR 161702
Find a<br>Surgeon

Find a
Surgeon

Testimonials

Testimonials

Brochures

Brochures