Shoulder Resources: Dr. Rudzki’s great love and focus within sports medicine is the shoulder. This is demonstrated by his research, teaching, publications and presentations on partial rotator cuff tears, rotator cuff vascular supply and it’s role in rotator cuff disease, clavicle fractures, and suture anchors. Dr. Rudzki has the honor and privilege of being a member of the American Shoulder & Elbow Surgeons. This highly selective academic society is “made up of leading national and international Orthopaedic surgeons who specialize in surgery of the shoulder and elbow.”
Several case studies, patient testimonials, and blog posts can be found through this portion of our site to help educate patients about common shoulder problems, treatment options, and rehabilitation considerations. Additional information may be gained from visiting links to our YouTube Site, Lectures & Presentations, Research & Publications, and External Sources.
Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair:
Nancy sustained a traumatic injury to her rotator cuff and after being turned down by an orthopaedic surgeon who dismissed the idea of surgery, Nancy came in for an evaluation with Dr. Rudzki at W.O.S.M. In February of 2016, she had “blown out her shoulder” and sustained a rotator cuff tear. She had suffered with disabling shoulder pain and was worried about the prospects of recovering well enough from the injury to return to her favorite sport of sailing.
Example of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in progressNancy’s workup demonstrated a tear of the subscapularis (rotator cuff tendon in the front) as well as the supraspinatus and anterior infraspinatus (rotator cuff tendons on the top). Her previous surgeon thought the tear was too big to be reparable and she then came to us for an additional opinion. Some tears are too big, too retracted, and have too much atrophy to warrant surgical intervention. However, given Nancy’s young age of 55 and her desired high level of activity and our experience with these specific types of tears, we felt the risk-benefit analysis was in favor of arthroscopic surgical repair.
As with each patient, we carefully considered the potential risks and benefits of surgery and determined that an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair would offer the best chance of recovery.
Her surgery took place in March of 2016. The arthroscopy included a rotator cuff repair, biceps tenodesis, sub-acromial decompression, and extensive debridement. Her surgery was followed with a course of post-operative physical therapy and her progress was closely monitored along the way.
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Example of completed arthroscopic rotator cuff repair
Photo courtesy of USN Captain (Ret) Robert MoonNow (1 year later) Nancy is continuing to regain strength and range of motion through a home exercise program, and she is back to sailing on the open water.
New Technology in Shoulder Replacement: Augmented Reality
Augmented reality is making a place in medicine. Dr. Jonas Rudzki, orthopaedic shoulder specialist, is the first surgeon in DC, Maryland, and Virginia to use a state of the art augmented reality program from Stryker/Tornier
A Triumphant Return to Golf After Shoulder Replacement
J.D. came into the office with shoulder arthritis treated conservatively for years. As an avid golfer and basketball player, he was inhibited from his activities by arthritis. A CT scan was done with 3D images
Triathlete Returns to Competition after Rotator Cuff Revision Repair
“I am supposed to do an Ironman with the oldest grandson when he turns 18…I will be 72) Thank you goes to Dr. Rudzki for doing such an amazing surgical repair on my shoulder
