Treating the Whole Person, Not Just the Shoulder

Our focus is on helping each person overcome a condition that has altered his or her quality of life. Our approach to managing patient care includes:

• Thoroughly evaluating each patient and his or her symptoms
• Determining the patient's normal shoulder function
• Diagnosing the patient's condition
• Discussing the expected outcome
• Developing a comprehensive care plan tailored to the patient's needs
• Carefully considering the impact of the shoulder problem and its treatment on the patient’s overall health and expectations for recovery

Making an appointment is easy. Patients seeking initial consultations usually see one of our specialists within two weeks. If your condition is acute, you may be admitted to the hospital and scheduled to begin therapy or have surgery the following day.

Follow-up visits are scheduled to manage the patient's recovery. We also enter treatment information into our patient database, which allows us to analyze outcomes and gives patients and referring physicians complete and up-to-date information about their care. Our goal is to help all of our patients resume healthy and productive lives.

A Recognized Leader in Research & Academic Medicine

Dr. JP Warner, Chief of the Shoulder Service, with a patient

Our world-class shoulder specialists also are leaders in clinical and basic science research. By relentlessly pursuing innovation, we can offer novel techniques and advanced therapies that improve patient care.

Together with the Shoulder Biomotion Laboratory, our surgeons have developed three-dimensional imaging that compares the anatomy and function of repaired shoulders with normally functioning shoulders. This advancement has led to new treatments that more closely replicate normally functioning shoulders, often providing patients with better long-term results.

The Shoulder Service's research focuses on improving conventional techniques for shoulder replacements, rotator cuff repairs, shoulder dislocations and other disorders. One of the most promising breakthroughs our research team has helped to develop is a reverse prosthesis. This novel device is used to treat patients lacking intact rotator cuffs or with bones and tendons damaged during previous surgeries, conditions that once were considered difficult to treat.

Our international reputation as a leading academic medical center also benefits our patients. Working closely with our physicians, our talented postgraduate fellows are highly qualified, board-certified surgeons who evaluate and diagnose patients and assist our shoulder specialists during surgery.

We offer today’s most comprehensive, leading-edge therapies for the complete range of shoulder conditions, including:

All of our patient services and resources are available at the hospital’s main campus, including:

• One-on-one evaluation, treatment and follow-up care from our shoulder specialists
• State-of-the-art facilities for open surgical procedures (e.g. joint reconstructions and shoulder replacements)
• Outpatient services for arthroscopic surgeries and other minimally invasive and noninvasive procedures
• An expert team of physical therapists specializing in shoulder rehabilitation

Personalized & Accessible Care from World-Class Specialists

Dr. Thomas F. Holovacs explaining a procedure to a patient

Founded in 1998, the Shoulder Service surgical staff includes:

• Jon Warner, MD, Chief, Shoulder Service
• Thomas F. Holovacs, MD
• Luke Oh, MD

We regularly receive referrals for complex cases from orthopaedic surgeons throughout the United States, including victims of industrial accidents. Although we specialize in treating complicated shoulder problems, our expertise covers shoulder disorders of all types. As a result, we care for patients of all ages, from pre-teens to the elderly.

For professional and amateur athletes and weekend warriors, we are proud to offer comprehensive care for the complete range of sports-related shoulder injuries. We collaborate frequently with the acclaimed Sports Medicine Service, led by Thomas Gill, IV, MD, medical director for the Boston Red Sox and head team physician for the New England Patriots.

The other accomplished surgeons on our team are:

• Gary Perlmutter, MD
• Bertram Zarins, MD

Arthritis

Arthritis and other rheumatic diseases are characterized by pain, swelling, and limited movement in joints and connective tissues in the body.

Avascular Necrosis

Avascular necrosis is a disease that may cause bone or joint collapse as a result of loss of blood supply to the bone due to injury or other causes (such as long-term use of certain medications).

Fractures

A fracture is a partial or complete bone break. When a fracture occurs, it is classified as either open or closed.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a chronic, degenerative, joint disease characterized by the breakdown of joint cartilage and adjacent bone in the neck, lower back, knees, hips and/or fingers.

Repetitive Motion Injury

Repetitive motion injuries, also called repetitive stress injuries, are temporary or permanent injuries to muscles, nerves, ligaments, and tendons caused by performing the same motion over and over again.

Rotator Cuff Injury

An injury to the rotator cuff, such as a tear, may happen suddenly when falling on an outstretched hand or develop over time due to repetitive activities.

Shoulder Pain and Problems

Common shoulder problems include the following: dislocation, separation, bursitis, impingement syndrome, tendonitis, rotator cuff tear, adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder), and fracture.

Shoulder Tendonitis

Tendonitis of the shoulder is an inflammation of the rotator cuff and/or biceps tendon.

Head and Neck Cancer

Cancer that starts in any part of the head or neck (except the brain or eye) is called head and neck cancer.

The following related clinical trials and research studies are currently seeking participants at Massachusetts General Hospital. Search for clinical trials and studies in another area of interest.

Boston Health & Fitness Expo returns

MGH Hotline 4.24.09 Channel 7 NBC/CW 56 and Partners HealthCare plan to pack the Hynes Convention Center once again this summer as they come together to present the third annual Boston Health & Fitness Expo June 27 and 28 from 10 am to 5 pm with a mission to improve the health and wellness of the community

In General

MGH Hotline 12.18.09 In General awards and honors

MGH honors pioneer in arthroscopic surgery

MGH Hotline 07.02.10 Dinesh G. Patel, MD, chief of MGH Arthroscopic Surgery, is widely recognized as a world pioneer in the field of arthroscopic surgery -- a minimally invasive procedure that uses an endoscope and specially designed surgical instruments to examine and treat damage to a joint.

Shoulder Service

Phone: 617-724-7300

Shoulder Service

Phone: 617-724-7300

Shoulder Surgeons

	Jon J.P. Warner, MD Chief, Shoulder Service ph: 617-724-7300 fax: 617-724-3846 Yawkey, Suite 3G, Boston		Thomas F. Holovacs, MD Shoulder ph: 617-726-0298 fax: 617-726-0620 Yawkey, Suite 3G, Boston
	Luke Oh, MD Shoulder and Elbow; Sports Medicine ph: 508-718-4358 fax: 508-718-4354 175 Cambridge Street, Floor 4, Boston 20 Patriot Place, Foxborough		Gary Perlmutter, MD Shoulder ph: 617-726-8523 fax: 617-724-0551 3 Hawthorne Place, Suite 112, Boston

Sports Medicine Surgeons on the Shoulder Service Team

Dr. Thomas J. Gill, IV, MD Sports Medicine ph: 617-726-7797 fax: 617-726-6950 175 Cambridge Street, Floor 4, Boston

Bertram Zarins, MD Sports Medicine ph: 617-726-3421 fax: 617-726-3438 175 Cambridge Street, Floor 4, Boston

Advanced Practitioners

Aimee Edgard, NP Nurse Practitioner ph: 617-643-0356 fax: 617-726-0620 Yawkey, Suite 3G Boston