From an interview with
Dr. Pat Denton
McLeod Orthopaedic Associates

Minimally invasive shoulder surgery, also called shoulder arthroscopy, is a procedure that has revolutionized the way surgeons make repairs to a shoulder fracture, rotator cuff tear, and a wide variety of other shoulder injuries. Dr. Pat Denton shares how two of his patients, who happen to be brothers, both have benefited from the latest in orthopedic technology.

Glenn Godfrey and Jason Godfrey of Florence, SC, are not only brothers; they’re also across-the-street neighbors and business partners. The pair stay busy with their business ventures and enjoy active lifestyles, both at work and at play.

However, a series of shoulder injuries found both Jason and Glenn in the hands of Dr. Pat Denton, Orthopedic Surgeon and Medical Director at McLeod Orthopaedics.

Glenn spends much of his free time playing tennis, running local road races, and doing CrossFit exercises. Over time, the wear and tear of these high-impact activities took a toll on his joints, especially his right shoulder. After several years of local steroid injections to his shoulder, the pain continued to reduce his ability to do the things he enjoyed.

“Based on Glenn’s symptoms and the MRI of his shoulder, he had a large chronic rotator cuff tear that had retracted to the point that traditional rotator cuff repair surgery would not be an option. His rotator cuff tissue was atrophied and severely torn. As a result, he was an excellent candidate for Superior Capsule Reconstruction (SCR).”

SCR is a minimally-invasive shoulder surgery that repairs large chronic and retracted rotator cuff tears using allograft tissue (donor tissue) to rebuild or reconstruct the damaged rotator cuff tendons. This procedure yields a very strong repair, and patients can quickly return to their daily activities.

Glenn says after his SCR surgery, he was impressed with the renewed mobility, motion and strength in his shoulder within days after surgery.

“I had almost no pain at all, both after the surgery and during physical therapy,” says Glenn.

Meanwhile, Glenn’s brother Jason experienced similar pain in both of his shoulders. Dr. Denton performed a successful rotator cuff repair on his left shoulder in 2016; a few years later, Glenn was ready to consider surgery again.

“Dr. Denton explained SCR surgery and how it would benefit me. I knew my brother recovered very quickly from it, so I was willing to get my second shoulder done,” says Glenn. “Although I am 50 years old, my shoulders feel like I’m 20 again. At first, I was hesitant because I was worried about the downtime following the procedure. However, if I had known it would be as easy as it was, I would have done the surgery months earlier.”

To learn more, speak with an orthopedic surgeon near you.