Ohio Hospitals Attempting New Type of Shoulder Repair Surgery

Cleveland, OHA shoulder pain pump, which is generally given to patients after surgery, can potentially lead to a disability called postarthroscopic glenohumeral chondrolysis that can destroy cartilage.

By performing surgery that is minimally invasive, doctors can potentially limit such damage and ensure that the shoulder heals properly.

According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, one surgeon at University Hospitals Case Medical Center is attempting to perfect a less-invasive form of shoulder surgery that may lead to a decreased demand for shoulder replacements.

Surgeon Reuben Gobezie has already performed the procedure on four of his patients, according to the news source. Due to the fact that it is not particularly invasive, the surgery only leaves a small scar in patients.

"Open techniques that replace the shoulder cut through the rotator cuff, and that's a big deal for a young patient," Gobezie told the news source. "It heals with scar [tissue], and it's never quite as good as it was before."

Gobezie estimated that between 15 and 20 percent of his patients could possibly benefit from the new type of surgery, according to the news provider.