What makes many people so wary of shoulder, elbow, and arm surgeries? Perhaps it is the innate complexity of these structures: to fix a proximal humerus fracture, for example, requires not only dealing with the bone itself but working with and around the blood vessels, nerves, ligaments, and tendons that surround it. It takes a well-experienced and well-taught surgeon to handle surgery on the shoulder, elbow, and arm.Â
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Making a List, Checking It Twice
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A common source of information that many first-time patients seeking shoulder, elbow, and arm surgery turn to is a directory. Where better to find a whole congregation of qualified surgeons all in one convenient location? You might find this information through the traditional method of looking through the yellow pages, or through online sources. Organizations such as the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons have plenty of member surgeons to choose from.
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With a list before you, it’s time to go through the more difficult process of checking through it. Based on your preferences, you might be able to immediately cross off large numbers of surgeons based on factors such as price range, location, availability, and specialty. Once you’ve narrowed the original daunting list of possibilities down to a more focused selection, it’s time to do further investigation.
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Starting at the Source
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Casting a wide net is not for everyone, however. Some patients prefer to stick within a small radius in their search. If you fall within this category, your current physician or physical therapist will be your most valuable research. Ask for recommendations that he or she can personally vouch for and, if necessary, expand outward from there.
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Getting to the Details
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By whichever method you ultimately arrive at a short list of possible shoulder, elbow, and arm surgeons, there is still plenty of work cut out for you. A careful and detailed inquiry into each practitioner’s history is the next step. Here is a list of questions to start off asking:
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- What certifications and accreditations have you received?
- How recently have you attended seminars or workshops on recent shoulder, elbow, and arm surgery techniques?
- What procedures do you specialize in?
- How many shoulder, elbow, and arm surgeries have you performed?
- What is the success rate of your surgeries?
- How many shoulder, elbow, and arms surgeries have you performed in the last two years?
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Add as much to this list as you can think of. As you talk to your surgeon about your condition, he or she should be able to provide more specific information that pertains to your case. At the same time, each new fact should prompt new questions from your side. No consultation should be a one-sided lecture, so make sure that your opinions and concerns are heard.
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