Top Vail Shoulder Surgeon Teams with Orthopedic Industry Leaders For Rotator Cuff Live Surgery Video

Jan. 27, 2011 - PRLog -- Arthrex (http://www.arthrex.com), a leading provider of products and educational services for the orthopedic industry, recently teamed with lead shoulder surgeon, Dr. Peter J. Millett (http://www.drmillett.com) from the Steadman Clinic to develop a teaching video for orthopedic surgeons on arthroscopic rotator cuff repair surgery.  This video, which was filmed during live surgery at Vail Valley Medical Center in Vail, CO, demonstrated the latest advances in rotator cuff repair using specialized arthroscopic techniques.

This educational video will be made available for current orthopedic doctors for the continued learning and advancement of thousands of surgeons and allied health professionals from around the world.

Since 1984, Arthrex has been a leader in the development of technically advanced products and educational services to meet the special needs of orthopedic surgeons and their patients. The company develops medical appliances and provides written literature on all aspects of orthopedic treatments for the shoulder, hip, elbow, knee and spine.

Arthroscopic shoulder surgery, in particular, can be a very challenging procedure for orthopedic specialists; surgeons are continually looking for ways to become more proficient. John Schelter, Educational Manager for Arthrex states, “As one of the premiere shoulder surgeons in the world, Dr. Millett was chosen to perform the arthroscopic shoulder surgery during live footage.

Michael Stevens, a 52-year old resident from Eagle, CO, was the patient. Stevens experienced a hard fall during a December 11, 2010 ski accident and suffered a severe tear in his rotator cuff and biceps tendon. After attempting to heal the injury with rest, Stevens was referred to Dr. Millett and underwent surgery to repair the injured rotator cuff and bicep tendon on January 19, 2011.  During the live filming, Dr. Millett performed a double row arthroscopic repair – a technique that Millett has helped pioneer over the last decade.

John Schelter, goes on to say, “Dr. Millett teamed with Arthrex nearly 10 years ago while in practice at Harvard in Boston. He played a key role in working with surgeon consultants to develop the concept of rotator cuff footprint restoration surgery via the bridging of sutures between anchors.  Today, the vast majority of rotator cuff repairs worldwide are performed in this manner.  Not only did he help to develop this technique, but his precision and efficiency in the operating room have helped to perfect it.”  

Narrated videos and animations are some of the most effective methods for peer-to-peer education. According to Dr. Millett, “Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is a very common procedure—but it does not always result in a successful outcome. We are working on ways to improve these outcomes. We wanted to film and demonstrate new techniques that are now being done in less invasive ways so that we could share this with other surgeons. These new advances allow for stronger and faster recoveries for our patients. In Michael’s case, we used special anchoring devices to reattach the torn tendons, and we used growth factors to speed healing. Candidates for this procedure include individuals with shoulder pain who have torn the rotator cuff tendons. In active patients, such as those we treat here in Vail, we recommend arthroscopic surgical repair to alleviate pain and restore full function, as untreated the tears can progress and become irreparable.”

Dr. Millett continued to say, “it is important to work with the top companies in the orthopedic industry, like Arthrex, as they can help us develop the key technologies that allow us to make breakthroughs that advance our field and help our patients.”

Vail Valley Medical Center is home to The Steadman Clinic—one of the most renowned and advanced orthopedic treatment centers in the world.

“We are proud to have Arthrex representatives in our facility for this live video,” said Doris Kirchner, President and CEO of VVMC. “We are committed to the advancements in orthopedic surgery not only for our patients, but for those who will benefit worldwide and the education of surgeons. It was a pleasure to collaborate on this worthwhile project.”

To learn more about this particular video, and the other educational videos that are available for orthopedic professionals, please visit www.arthrex.com.

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Dr. Peter Millett is an orthopedic shoulder surgeon and sports medicine specialist with the Steadman Clinic in Vail, CO. He is expert in both arthroscopic and open shoulder surgery repair for traumatic, sports and degenerative shoulder conditions.