OT: Looking for a surgeon for shoulder surgery, Boston area

[merlinmurph]

After a mt bike crash last March and some physical therapy, looks like I'm going to need surgery for a rotator cuff issue. Ski season is going to be bit delayed this year.

I've never had to look for a surgeon before, and the insurance provider doesn't make it easy. A friend that just went thru hip surgery suggested that the best way is to network - ask around, get names, get other names and recommendations. So, that's what I'm doing.

Any suggestions for a surgeon?

Thanks for any help,
Murph

[MattTuck]

Good advice, I'll add some more. Don't go to a 'general' surgeon. I had a surgery that was botched by general surgeon, and then had to go to the department chief to have 2 additional surgeries to correct it.

Lesson is, go to the surgeon with the most specific and comprehensive experience in the procedure you need done.

Put another way... he or she should be older than 45.

[yngpunk]

Agree with MattTuck...look for the surgeon who's dont a lot of the same procedure that you're looking to get done.

[Ken Robb]

I think there is a baseball team in Boston :) and the surgeon who fixes shoulders for them in probably pretty good. Steve Allsing in San Diego did a great job on my shoulder if you feel like a west coast vacation too.

[scrubadub]

Good advice, I'll add some more. Don't go to a 'general' surgeon. I had a surgery that was botched by general surgeon, and then had to go to the department chief to have 2 additional surgeries to correct it.

Lesson is, go to the surgeon with the most specific and comprehensive experience in the procedure you need done.

Put another way... he or she should be older than 45.

Hey MattTuck, I'm sorry you had a bad experience. No doctor wants that.

Just to weigh in with a few points of clarification (as a general surgeon in training):

- A general surgeon is a type of surgeon that does a certain range of surgeries, including but not limited to hernias, many abdominal and thoracic procedures, breast, some head and neck, and lots of bumps and lumps surgery.
- Finding a good surgeon is tough for the average person. Sometimes division chiefs and department chairs are better, but they can often be much much worse too. Also just because someone is a specialist doesn't mean they are actually good.
- For a shoulder problem you don't want a general surgeon period you want a board certified orthopedic surgeon. Ideally a shoulder specialist.
- As a general rule, go with the older surgeon with a busy practice who does many of the procedures you're interested in. My preference is that even if you don't like the idea of a teaching hospital, I think you will have a better chance of getting high quality care there. Much of what we know about good outcomes is not just the surgeon skill but the support network around them. For orthopedic problems, good rehab and PT immediately after the surgery and in immediate follow-up play an under-recognized but incredibly important role in how well you recover.
- Last but not least, go with your gut. If you don't trust your surgeon 100%, don't use them. Trust goes both ways and I think an important part of any outcome after surgery. Things will go wrong after surgery, but if you trust your surgeon then they will get you through it

[Puget Pounder]

Hey MattTuck, I'm sorry you had a bad experience. No doctor wants that.

Just to weigh in with a few points of clarification (as a general surgeon in training):

- A general surgeon is a type of surgeon that does a certain range of surgeries, including but not limited to hernias, many abdominal and thoracic procedures, breast, some head and neck, and lots of bumps and lumps surgery.
- Finding a good surgeon is tough for the average person. Sometimes division chiefs and department chairs are better, but they can often be much much worse too. Also just because someone is a specialist doesn't mean they are actually good.
- For a shoulder problem you don't want a general surgeon period you want a board certified orthopedic surgeon. Ideally a shoulder specialist.
- As a general rule, go with the older surgeon with a busy practice who does many of the procedures you're interested in. My preference is that even if you don't like the idea of a teaching hospital, I think you will have a better chance of getting high quality care there. Much of what we know about good outcomes is not just the surgeon skill but the support network around them. For orthopedic problems, good rehab and PT immediately after the surgery and in immediate follow-up play an under-recognized but incredibly important role in how well you recover.
- Last but not least, go with your gut. If you don't trust your surgeon 100%, don't use them. Trust goes both ways and I think an important part of any outcome after surgery. Things will go wrong after surgery, but if you trust your surgeon then they will get you through it

Well said. I do hospital quality improvement and patient outcomes research and this is spot on advice.

OT - I might be coming to your area soon as I have an interview for the MD program at Tufts :banana:

[1centaur]

I can recommend this guy heartily. He did shoulder surgery on my wife. Explained everything well before, explained everything he did after surgery (he had to do more than expected), an X-ray years later showed it was great work. Young and energetic - kinda the young Turk profile that you see on TV but don't find in real life much.

http://www.massgeneral.org/ortho/doctors/doctor.aspx?id=17407

[Bruce K]

I can help get you in touch with folks at Spirts Medicine North in Peabody

The lead guy (knees) is a cycling buddy. The hip guy was the team MD for the US Olympic soccer team, and so on and do on

Good guys who "get it"

BK

[shekie777]

http://www.bostonssc.com/providers/provider-directory/

Dr. Curtis and Dr. Miller are renowned in their field.

[scrubadub]

OT - I might be coming to your area soon as I have an interview for the MD program at Tufts :banana:

Congrats and good luck on the interview!

[stien]

I know his specialty isn't shoulders, and isn't elbows, but this guy fixed my broken off olecranon process (tip of elbow that anchors tricep muscle) at MGH.

http://www.massgeneral.org/ortho/doctors/doctor.aspx?id=16690

[moose8]

http://www.bostonssc.com/providers/provider-directory/

Dr. Curtis and Dr. Miller are renowned in their field.

+1 on this. The New England Baptist is known for their orthopedic doctors - find one who specializes on a particular joint and you'll probably be fine. I had knee surgery there and it went well.

[merlinmurph]

Too funny. I was just referred to this same guy by a good friend's brother who is a doctor and who would do it if he didn't live in NH. I'm going to give him a call on Monday.

Very much appreciate all the input, guys.

Murph

I can recommend this guy heartily. He did shoulder surgery on my wife. Explained everything well before, explained everything he did after surgery (he had to do more than expected), an X-ray years later showed it was great work. Young and energetic - kinda the young Turk profile that you see on TV but don't find in real life much.

http://www.massgeneral.org/ortho/doctors/doctor.aspx?id=17407

[malcolm]

General surgeons don't do orthopedic procedures.

Find a respected group of orthopedists and ask who is fellowship trained in shoulders and does he do primarily shoulders?

You want someone preferably with a fellowship and/or does shoulders primarily or at least regularly.

The very best surgeons have complications.

Good luck

[merlincustom1]

If you want to come to Philadelphia, Gerald Williams is your guy. He did my grade 5 shoulder separation after a crash.

http://www.rothmaninstitute.com/physicians/gerald-r-williams-jr-md

[CNY rider]

Put another way... he or she should be older than 45.

Can't agree with this one.

I work with lots of surgeons.
Some of the young ones are amazing, and have learned things like minimally invasive techniques during their training that their elders will never learn.
And some of the old ones suck and aren't improving with age.

So I would not use age as a criteria for selecting a surgeon.

[ericspin]

I would agree on the age thing. I've always kind of had the same thought about the older, more experienced guy being the right one. However, last month while on Kauai I severely dislocated my ankle and broke my tibia in two locations and had a young orthopedic surgeon. However, my intuition said he was the right guy and my appt with the Dr once I got home confirmed that when he was very complimentary of the Kauai surgeon's work upon review of the X-rays.

[lzuk]

The insurance provider may dictate a network for you to work in. Your family physician will help with a referral. Good Luck!