Saturday, June 6, 2009

Final Medical Post (I hope)

The doctor at Lahey Clinic gave me the surgical notes, So I thought I would share that with all of you.

INDICATIONS:Patient presents with a septic right shoulder.   She has had two surgical procedures done elsewhere.  She had persistent drainage.  She presents for surgical treatment.

PROCEDURE:  The patient was placed on the operating room table.   general anesthesia was induced.   the patient was placed in a sitting position.  The right shoulder was prepped and draped incision made over the anterior aspect of the right shoulder through the old incision, down through subcutaneous tissue and fascia.   there was some purulent tissue that initially expressed.   The deltopectoral interval was then entered and necrotic tissue was removed throughout the deltopectoral interval.   the subscapularis tendon was then incised off the lesser tuberosity and some purulent tissue was also removed and sent for culture.   There was a significant longitudinal tear of the supraspinatus tendon off the greater tuberosity,   the bone was significant longitudinal tear of the supraspinatus tendon off the greater tuberosity and in probing the greater tuberosity, the bone was significantly soft.   The bone was entered.  there was noted to be some necrotic bone which was debrided using a curette and after the shoulder was copiously irrigated, and the decision was made to put a few sutures in the supraspinatus tendon rent.   This was done with Prolene suture.   after purulent synovium was debrided and bursal subscapularis tendon was left open.  The shoulder joint was left open.  the wound was  packed with betadine soaked sponges and a wound VAC was placed in the shoulder. Patient was awakened and transferred to the recovery room.

Since I didn't have a room yet, I spent the next 24 hours in the recovery room.  Was actually very nice.   I got lots of attention.  

Monday, June 1, 2009

Life is Good

No more gory pictures, just a note to let everyone know that I am doing better,  I had half of the stitches removed from the shoulder on Friday, and hope the rest will go this friday.   The infectious disease doctor is pleased with how the infection is looking but wants to keep me on the IV antibiotics for another 3 or so weeks.   I would rather have too much and make sure the infection is gone, rather than not enough and have it come roaring back stronger than before.  The xrays showed that the bone seems to be healing, so that is also good news.  Now i have only a week to wait before I can start with the occupational therapy to get the arm moving again.