Dr. Greene discusses “UCL TEARS” (Tommy John Procedure)

ShoreOrtho Sports Performance
& Injury Prevention Tips

A monthly series presented by:
Damon A. Greene, MD
Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon
Shore Orthopaedic University Associates

March 2020

UCL TEARS (Tommy John Procedure)

Baseball season is right around the corner. So let’s take a few minutes and talk UCL (Ulnar Collateral Ligament) injuries.

UCL injuries are very common for throwing athletes and those that use their upper extremity frequently. There are two types of injuries acute and chronic. An acute injury can occur if too much stress is put on the elbow in one single incident which can cause the ligament to tear. A chronic injury typically occurs from repeated stress on the ligament. This causes the ligament to be stretched, frayed or torn.  The repetitive motion of throwing can cause small micro tears in the ligament which can result in rupture of the ligament. While everyone’s symptoms are different, patients who sustain a UCL injury will experience elbow pain, numbness, and swelling. Elbow instability will also occur. Some patients suffering from an elbow ligament injury may have trouble gripping items with their hands. Athletes will experience a loss of control with throwing and will not be able to complete a throw at full speed or strength. With an acute UCL injury there is typically a pop or tearing sound.

ROTATOR CUFF INJURIES ARE NOT JUST FOR ATHLETES

Shore Medical Center | Healthy Living Newsletter

Gene J. DeMorat, MD

Weekend warriors’ watch out, rotator cuff injuries happen from simple yard work more often than they do from pitching nine innings

Rotator cuff injuries
The sharp pain in your shoulder that wakes you up when you roll over in the middle of the night might be your rotator cuff or several other things. Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Gene DeMorat of Shore Orthopaedic University Associates, who works with local athletes and was a physician for the U.S. Olympic ski, snowboard and speed skating teams, works with many patients suffering with shoulder pain. “I work with athletes who have shoulder and rotator cuff problems due to injuries related to their sport. But more than athletes, I have weekend warriors who do a lot of damage to their shoulder in their own backyard,” said DeMorat.

Weekend Warriors are frequent patients
Spring is here and it is prime season for rotator cuff injuries according to Dr. DeMorat. “I see so many patients who come in with shoulder pain and it is not because they just pitched nine innings. It is because they have not done any exercise over the winter and there is a nice sunny day and they decide to go for a run even though they have been rather sedentary, not working out over the winter and they find themselves hurting. We see a lot of weekend warriors that come out with the good weather, doing a sudden burst of work, whether it is raking leaves, digging, lifting heavy objects or they decide to do some painting and they find themselves in some pretty significant discomfort.”

Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr. Greene, Offers Advice on Shoulder Pain

 

Damon A. Greene, MD
Shore Orthopaedic University Associates

Dr. Greene, is an orthopedic surgeon, who is fellowship-trained in sports medicine, arthroscopy and cartilage surgery. He specializes in acute and chronic ligament, tendon and cartilage injuries to all major joints, primarily the shoulders, elbows, knees and hips.

He grew up just outside of Baltimore playing sports such as soccer, baseball and lacrosse. As a result, he suffered from multiple sports injuries, he diligently worked with athletic trainers and became involved with his own physical therapy. From this stemmed his passion for sports medicine.

Dr. Greene attended the University of Maryland and obtained his medical degree from New York Medical College. He completed his orthopedic surgical residency and training at SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn, where he spent an extra year concentrating on the diagnosis and treatment of athletic injuries. He then completed a Sports Medicine Fellowship at the prestigious Ochsner Sports Medicine Institute in New Orleans, where he worked with professional sports teams including the New Orleans Saints and the New Orleans Pelicans.

His love of the outdoors drew him to the Jersey Shore, where he enjoys surfing, sailing and running on the boardwalk. He is excited to become involved with the community and grow roots here. In his downtime, he has started covering Middle Township football games and Stockton basketball games, working with the trainers and coaches to evaluate athletic injuries on the spot.

Dr. Greene offers advice on an issue he frequently treats: Shoulder Pain.

A common cause of shoulder pain is poor posture, especially for those who work in an office. When you sit at a computer and type all day, your shoulders tend to roll forward. If you often get an achy feeling in your back, arms, shoulders or neck, Dr. Greene suggests pinching your shoulder blades once a day for 10 minutes. This will train your shoulder blades where they should be to properly support your shoulders. If you feel numbness or tingling from your neck to your fingertips, the issue could be a nerve root and it’s time to see a doctor.

Shoulder Pain Keeping You Up at Night?

Gene J. DeMorat, MD

The shoulder joint is capable of tremendous mobility to assist in the essential activities of everyday life. It relies upon a group of muscles, known as the rotator cuff, to ensure its function for overhead and lifting activities.

Unfortunately, the rotator cuff is commonly associated with injury. Such injuries may occur from a simple fall onto the shoulder or even from the accumulation of simple lifting events over our lifetime.

The most common symptoms are pain, weakness, and motion loss. Symptoms may develop suddenly or in a gradual onset. Symptoms that persist beyond a two week period, without signs of relief, should be evaluated by an orthopaedic surgeon.

I highly recommend Dr. McCloskey and the staff at Shore Orthopaedic University Associates.

I am so grateful to Dr. McCloskey and Ben Forst his Physician Assistant, without them I would not have
use of my arm today. After two surgeries and a lot of rehab I have regained the use of my arm, the outcome has far exceeded my expectations.

Dear Dr. McCloskey,
I just wanted to thank you for all you’ve done for me. Your entire staff has been very gracious throughout my recovery.

I am not kidding myself when I tell you that if it wasn’t for you, I may not have an arm that functions let alone a hand written like this.

There are no words to express my gratitude…
Thank you again!

Sincerely,
Karen McDevitt
Marmora, NJ 08223