Seven years ago, a collision during a women's competitive hockey league game left 41-year-old Pam Verr seriously injured. Initially diagnosed with a separated shoulder, Pam underwent extensive physical therapy. After months of hard work provided little relief, Pam's rehab team urged her to see Loyola's Guido Marra, MD, associate professor, orthopaedic surgery & rehabilitation, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. Dr. Marra is one of the Midwest's leading orthopaedic surgeons, performing more than 300 shoulder and elbow operations every year.
"Patients often assume that they must live with pain until it goes away, but if it's a structural problem, it is not likely to get better with rehabilitation alone," explained Dr. Marra. "If exercises and pain medications don't help, patients should seek the care of an orthopaedic specialist who uses advanced imaging technologies and can offer complex reconstructive options when necessary."
Based on each patient's specific injury and needs, Dr. Marra selects one of three types of surgeries to repair severe joint injuries: open-incision, which provides direct access to the joint and is therefore the most invasive; arthroscopically assisted surgery, a less invasive approach that involves a tiny camera (arthroscope) inserted into the joint to reduce the invasiveness of the procedure; and all-arthroscopic surgery (arthroscopy), the least invasive approach possible.
"When you compare the results, they're all equivalent," said Dr. Marra. "So whenever possible, surgeons and patients prefer arthroscopy since recovery is faster, there's less post-operative pain, and the scars are minimal."
"From my first visit, Dr. Marra was very thorough and attentive to my needs," Pam remembered. "I figured there probably wasn't anything going on in my shoulder that he hadn't seen before, so when he said I had a rotator cuff injury that could be fixed with arthroscopic surgery, I was thrilled."
About 18 months after her first surgery and the rehab that followed, Pam suffered a severe non-hockey injury to her other shoulder that also required arthroscopy. "I had so much confidence in Loyola that I never considered going anywhere else," Pam said. Dr. Marra performed both surgeries at the outpatient surgical center at the Loyola Ambulatory Surgery Center at Oakbrook Terrace North. Pam returned to the ice, only to suffer yet another serious setback in 2008. This time it was an elbow. "The Loyola orthopaedic department includes thirty orthopaedic superspecialists, Dr. Marra said. "We can handle any type of issue that's out there with the latest training in the specialty. We work closely with patients and family members to design a treatment and rehabilitation plan specific to the needs of each patient. With this injury, Pam did not need surgery."
Earlier this year, following her fourth regimen of extensive rehab and now 48 years old, Pam again laced up her skates. In true storybook fashion, she scored four points (two goals, two assists) in her first two games back.
"I felt Loyola and I were always on the same page about my need for an active lifestyle," Pam said. "Everyone was constantly encouraging me and keeping me positive."
Where to Learn More
Loyola's physicians, nurses and therapists cover every sub-specialty and handle every medical problem associated with orthopaedics. To make an appointment call (888) LUHS-888 (888-584-7888).
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM
