New Jersey's First Patient-Specific Shoulder Replacement Performed by Surgeons in Central Jersey

WALL, NJ--(Marketwired - Mar 19, 2014) - For those who experience shoulder pain, a common cause is osteoarthritis of the glenohumeral joint, according to Dr. Nicholas Jarmon. The Central New Jersey orthopaedic surgeon says that while there are many different treatment options available, they can vary according to the patient's age, level of activity, and the severity of the disease. Options for treatment can range from oral anti-inflammatories, injections, and/or physical therapy to surgical options such as arthroscopy or joint replacements. Dr. Jarmon explains that, although surgery is often the last resort, there is now an important advancement that can improve outcomes for patients who require joint reconstruction. He says the new technology has revolutionized the procedure so that surgeons can now perform a virtual surgery using a CT-scan of the patient taken pre-operatively to create a patient-specific guide.

As the first orthopaedic surgeon in New Jersey to perform the surgery, Dr. Jarmon says he is pleased to be able to offer patients both anatomic and reverse total shoulder replacements more safely and accurately than before. He explains that similar technology already exists for knee replacement surgery, but it was only recently approved for shoulder replacement surgery. Dr. Jarmon says, by using a CT-scan of the patient (taken before surgery), he is able to utilize this advancement to create a customized positioning guide, which aids in the shoulder reconstruction for increased accuracy.

Dr. Jarmon says, in the United States, only about 60,000 shoulder replacements are performed each year. Conversely, he notes that there are about 900,000 hip and knee replacements performed in the U.S. every year. In a recent blog post, titled "Customized Shoulder Replacement Surgery," Dr. Jarmon explains, "This is likely because arthritis of the shoulder tends to be tolerated better when compared to arthritis of the hip or knee, due in part to the fact that your shoulder is not a weight-bearing joint." Dr. Jarmon says that because knee and hip replacements occur more frequently than shoulder reconstruction, patients often do not know their options when it comes to shoulder pain. He believes patients may not be aware that shoulder replacement surgery is a possibility, although the procedure predates both knee and hip replacement procedures.

Dr. Jarmon encourages anyone who is experiencing shoulder pain to consult an experienced orthopaedic surgeon. He says he hopes that this new advancement to shoulder reconstruction procedures will help patients who require surgical intervention to have improved outcomes that can lead to a pain-free lifestyle.

About Nicholas A. Jarmon, M.D.

After graduating medical school and completing his residency, Dr. Nicholas Jarmon went on to complete a fellowship in shoulder reconstruction at the prestigious Johns Hopkins Medical Center. He is an expert in arthroscopic procedures of the shoulder and knee, and has served as the Baltimore Orioles' team physician. Dr. Jarmon also has extensive training and experience in both traditional and reverse total shoulder replacement. He is available for interview upon request.

About Orthopaedic Institute of Central Jersey

At Orthopaedic Institute of Central Jersey, patients have access to a wide variety of fellowship-trained, board-certified orthopedic specialists. Each of the physicians is trained in treatments for a variety of musculoskeletal injuries. With MR imaging, physical therapy, and a variety of treatment options, the practice is designed to provide comprehensive orthopaedic care in a single facility. The specialists at the Orthopaedic Institute of Central Jersey are available for interview upon request.

To learn more about the Orthopaedic Institute of Central Jersey, please visit orthoinstitute.com or facebook.com/OrthopaedicInstituteofCentralJersey.

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