This video features a patient testimonial shared by Dr. Don Buford, focusing on a 44-year-old patient's recovery from a shoulder procedure.
Key Highlights:
- Diagnosis: The patient was treated for a Type II SLAP lesion—a tear of the labrum (the ring of cartilage surrounding the shoulder socket) where the top part of the labrum and the attached biceps tendon become unstable.
- Procedure: To address the tear, Dr. Buford performed a subpectoral biceps tenodesis (surgically reattaching the biceps tendon to the upper arm bone lower down, underneath the pectoral muscle, to relieve stress on the shoulder joint).
- Progress: Just shy of his three-month post-op milestone, the patient has achieved an impressively smooth recovery. He demonstrates full, pain-free range of motion, showing he can easily raise his arm overhead and reach behind his back.
- Functional Recovery: The patient feels solid enough that he was able to umpire 14 baseball games over a single busy weekend. While he notes a small amount of residual weakness in his throwing motion, Dr. Buford reassures him that high-velocity throwing power is typically the very last thing to fully return after this surgery.
The patient ultimately trusted her instincts, declined their services, and visited Dr. Buford to receive a qualified orthopedic evaluation.
Questions about this treatment
- What condition did the patient have?
- The patient was treated for a Type II SLAP lesion, a tear involving the superior portion of the shoulder labrum and the attached biceps tendon.
- What procedure was performed for the SLAP lesion?
- Dr. Don Buford performed a subpectoral biceps tenodesis to address the SLAP lesion and stabilize the biceps tendon.
- What is a subpectoral biceps tenodesis?
- Subpectoral biceps tenodesis involves reattaching the biceps tendon lower on the upper arm beneath the pectoral muscle to reduce stress on the shoulder.
- How was the patient's shoulder approximately three months after surgery?
- Just shy of three months after surgery, the patient demonstrated full, pain-free shoulder range of motion, including raising the arm overhead and reaching behind the back.
- Was the patient able to return to activities after surgery?
- Yes. The patient reported being able to umpire 14 baseball games over one busy weekend. A small amount of residual weakness with throwing remained during the recovery period.
- Does throwing strength return immediately after biceps tenodesis?
- The page notes that high-velocity throwing power can be one of the last functions to fully return after this type of shoulder surgery.
- Who performed the patient's biceps tenodesis?
- The subpectoral biceps tenodesis was performed by Don Buford, MD at Texas Orthobiologics in Dallas, Texas.
Every patient is different, and a video is not a promise of the same result. If you want to know whether an orthobiologic or surgical option fits your own injury, that starts with an exam and imaging — not a video.
