Dr. Gobezie always recommends surgery as the absolute last option. But when patients have hit the proverbial wall with pain, and conservative measures are no longer helpful, surgical intervention may be the only option.
Our patients are often surprised to learn the majority of shoulder surgeries performed here are now done on an outpatient basis. Through his research, Dr. Gobezie has found that patients recover better at home and are happier when able to check out sooner following a procedure.
Dr. Gobezie has refined shoulder replacement surgery to the point that it often only takes 35 minutes in a highly-controlled environment and results in little blood loss. The less time the patient is under anesthesia, the better the recovery. There is less risk of infection, increased patient satisfaction, and higher quality outcomes based on function and pain with a home recovery. Patients walk out with their arm in a sling and are home the same day.
Dr. Gobezie is one of the most experienced and highest volume shoulder surgeons in the country – both inpatient and outpatient. In a typical year, Dr. Gobezie performs more than 400 shoulder replacements and 600 arthroscopic procedures. For comparison, most general orthopedic surgeons typically perform around 20 shoulder surgeries per year. A number of studies have shown that surgical volume, the number of procedures a surgeon performs each year, is a strong predictor of patient outcome.
“We make shoulder replacement surgery as easy as possible for patients at Gobezie Shoulder Institute,” says Dr. Gobezie.
Having outpatient surgery and home rehabilitation saves patients considerable time and money. For rehab, each patient uses Dr. Gobezie’s innovative PT Genie physical therapy system that gives them the convenience of exercising from home along with daily guidance from their care team. This interactive, digital PT program helps patients recover faster and with less pain.
Most patients can use their arm enough to care for themselves within a week after the procedure. After three months of follow-up appointments the patient no longer requires office visits, but the atrophy from the initial injury could take up to a year to fully improve.
Although many surgeries are performed as outpatient at Gobezie Shoulder Institute, the outpatient experience is not for everyone. Patients with complicated medical histories may not qualify. It is also important for the patient to have sufficient family or social support at home and have realistic expectation of some pain and discomfort despite reasonable pain-relief strategies. Dr. Gobezie carefully consults with each patient with a thorough history, physical examination and review of imaging studies to determine the procedure that will work best for them.
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The Gobezie Shoulder Institute treats patients with all types of shoulder and elbow disorders resulting from traumatic injuries, arthritis, instabilities, rotator cuff and sports-related injuries. Led by internationally recognized Orthopedic Surgeon Reuben Gobezie, MD, the institute provides both surgical and non-operative treatments.
Dr. Gobezie is founder/director of The Gobezie Shoulder Institute, PT GENIE and Regen Orthopedics.