Seattle Joint Surgeons

06/18/2019

Passing on knowledge to the next generation.

03/26/2019

New website is up! It’s 🔥, and we think it should be a great resource for our patients. Go check it out and let us know what you think it you have the time. www.seattlejointsurgeons.com @ Swedish Orthopedic Institute

03/21/2019

Book chapter on shoulder arthroplasty is out in press. Saw it for the first time at this years AAOS in Las Vegas. It can be found in the latest Chapman’s Orthopedics Text. @ Swedish Orthopedic Institute

02/11/2019

All in a days work!

Now this is what we call dedication and love for her orthopedic work! Dr. Laura Matsen-Ko skied 7 miles to work to do 4 surgeries today!

Seattle Joint Surgeons

09/27/2018

Partial humeral head resurfacing for a reverse hill sachs lesion. This was performed through a partial subscapularis take down. The partial resurfacing should prevent engagement of the hill sachs lesion preventing further posterior dislocations.

07/19/2018

We are proud to work at one of the best orthopedics hospitals in the country. The Swedish Orthopedic Institute on Seattle, WA consistently rates as one of the best quality orthopedic hospitals in the country. We experience less complications, better outcomes, and all with a lower total cost of care than most other hospitals. Our hospital performs more than 5,000 orthopedic procedures annually and is the highest volume center in the State of Washington. @ Swedish Orthopedic Institute

06/19/2018

This is not an x-ray you see everyday. This patient was treated elsewhere in the 1990s, but came into our offices to establish follow-up care. This patient had and osteosarcoma of the humerus and had a total humeral replacement linked to a total elbow replacement. With no proximal rotator cuff attachments, this patient had relatively poor shoulder function but had reasonable elbow function despite compromise of her triceps from the tumor resection. We applaud the original surgeons who did the reconstruction which saved her life, preserved some arm function and lasted almost 25 years so far without a major complication.

06/18/2018

Notice anything unusual about this set of otherwise routine set of X-rays demonstrating shoulder arthritis? (Swipe right to find out the answer)
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This patient has a very large loose body in the subcoracoid recess which we excised. It measured almost 4 cm in diameter. After removing this, we performed a total shoulder arthroplasty. We think this patient is headed towards a much better shoulder once they get through the recovery. @ Swedish Orthopedic Institute

06/15/2018

We always appreciate thank you notes from our patients. This is one of the more unique ones we have gotten from Coach Steve’s team. His new knee has allowed him to get back being more active, and getting back to coaching. 👍⚽️🤛 @ Swedish Orthopedic Institute

05/24/2018

We were fortunate to have trained at and learned a lot from this Dr. Rothman’s experience, wisdom, and expertise.

“At 81, orthopedics pioneer Richard Rothman gives up surgery – but will never stop working”

05/22/2018

We recently evaluated a patient with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome who present with chronic bilateral shoulder instability and subluxations. Ehlers-Danlos is a collagen disorder which results in connective tissue laxity. Patients present with hyper mobile joints and a history of dislocations or subluxations. This patient had static subluxation of bilateral shoulders. Unfortunately, soft tissue procedures are typically unsuccessful at managing the subluxations because the soft tissue will just stretch back out over time. Shoulder fusion is an option but is quite drastic. Usually we recommend extensive physical therapy as the best and safest means of treatment but it too can be challenging.

05/18/2018

Anterior dislocation of a total shoulder arthroplasty is typically associated failure of the subscapularis repair. This patient was referred to us for a revision after months of poor function following a TSA and obvious subscapularis failure. Many modern stems are convertible “platform” stems and allow for conversion to a reverse total shoulder without removal of the humeral component. Fortunately, we were able to utilize this function in this patient to make for a relatively easy conversion of the failed total shoulder arthroplasty to a reverse shoulder arthroplasty to manage her poorly functioning shoulder. @ Swedish Orthopedic Institute

05/17/2018

Diagnose. Plan. Execute. The consistency of our planning and our protocols is what allows us to deliver reproducible results. We are constantly re-evaluating ways to make joint replacement surgery more efficient, more safe, and more effective. @ Swedish Orthopedic Institute

05/01/2018

Here is an example of at Type III/IV (bucket handle) SLAP tear. We managed this lesion with a debridement and biceps tenodesis. These are relatively uncommon compared to Type I and II tears which involved labral fraying/tearing with or without detachment of the biceps anchor. We have become less aggressive with fixing SLAP tears, especially in order patients given the mediocre results reported in the literature in favor of debridement and tenodesis in symptomatic tears. @ Orthopedic Physician Associates

04/27/2018

It was an honor to hear some talks from Dr. Matsen today on his perspective on shoulder surgery and orthopedics. There is much that can be learned from his wealth of knowledge and experience. We are grateful to have him as a friend, a colleague, and a family member. If we are fortunate enough to make a fraction of the impact that he has in the field of orthopedics, it will have been a fulfilling and successful career.

04/24/2018

This was a seemingly straight forward tibia and fibula fracture...But the presence of a total knee arthroplasty made it uncertain if we would be able to use our treatment of choice, a tibial nail. Additionally, there was a non displaced medial malleolar fracture. We were fortunately able to sneak the nail past the total knee. We were uncertain if the fibula needed fixing but it was clear the there was still ankle instability after fixing the tibia so we elected to fix the fibula as well. @ Swedish Orthopedic Institute

04/21/2018

04/20/2018

Come see our Official Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Sponsor, OPA Ortho, tomorrow at the race! They will have a sports medicine specialist, joint replacement specialist and physiatrist on-site ready to answer all of your questions. They will also be giving away some awesome freebies. See you all there!

04/16/2018

HAPPY MONDAY! As the Official Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Sponsor for the Tenacious 10 Run in Seattle this Saturday, we invite you to run into the week like Dr. Laura Matsen Ko!

Join OPA, Oiselle and the Snohomish Running Company for the second annual Tenacious Ten. Both the 10k and 10 mile distances will start and finish at Gas Works Park in Seattle, where you can enjoy views of Lake Union, the Space Needle, and the Seattle skyline.

Sign up today: https://runsignup.com/Race/WA/Seattle/2018TenaciousTenpresentedbyOiselle

04/14/2018

Always a pleasure to work with .sportsmedicine on tough cases. Working with other surgeons is a great way to learn new approaches or techniques. It’s one way we strive to constantly make ourselves better at our craft.

04/13/2018

Bilateral reverse total shoulder arthroplasties. Patient had an excellent result in the right and returned for the left. The patient is just 3 months post op from the left and with continued use and rehab is hoping to gain the last few degrees of overhead elevation. Happy patient, happy surgeon, happy Friday!

04/11/2018

Recent clavicle pin for a displaced mid-shaft clavicle fracture. We have historically performed more plating than pinning, but the more minimally invasive approach does have some appeal. What is everyone’s preference? Are you a proponent of plating or pinning?

03/28/2018

Severely displaced 2-part proximal humerus fracture that we recently cared for. Inferomedial calcar screws help to prevent varus collapse. Sutures into the rotator cuff can also act as a tension band to prevent collapse as well. Fixing the fracture is only half the battle as even well fixed fractures are prone to stiffness without appropriate post op physical therapy. We often will start passive and active assist range of motion within 2 weeks of surgery.

03/27/2018

Another recent total shoulder replacement. Sizing and positioning of the humeral head component is important to prevent over stuffing of the joint and to prevent undue stress on the rotator cuff. This patient reports less pain than pre-op just 1 week after surgery.

03/26/2018

Nice boost to our Monday clinic. We are blessed to work in this profession.

03/21/2018

A six-week culinary medicine class allows future doctors to get some hands-on lessons.

03/21/2018

Mary suffered a proximal humerus fracture affecting the mobility of her shoulder. She contemplated the pros and cons of surgery, as we recommend all patients to do, and ultimately she elected to fix the fracture through the guidance of Dr. Ko’s expertise, reassurance, and compassion. She's had excellent results and is very pleased with her decision to proceed with operative repair!

For more information on Dr. Ko please visit www.opaortho.com/ko or www.seattlejointsurgeons.com.

03/16/2018

X-rays of a recent complex primary total knee arthroplasty. Because of the significant pre-op varus deformity, we elected to place a stemmed tibial component. Most of the time this is not necessary in primary cases and most of the time it is primarily used during revision cases. @ Swedish Orthopedic Institute

03/08/2018

In elderly patients with displaced proximal humerus fractures, a reverse total shoulder can be a more predictable approach to treating them. However, even though a reverse can function without a rotator cuff, managing and repairing the greater tuberosity and rotator cuff during placement of a reverse can improve post op function, especially external rotation. Here are two examples of this that we recently managed. Just because you are replacing the shoulder it’s important to secure the tuberosity just like if you were trying to fix the fracture. @ Swedish Orthopedic Institute