Seth R. Miller, MD

Specialties

Joint Replacement, Shoulder & Elbow, Shoulder replacement

Education

College
Harvard University, 1974-1978

Medical School
Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 1978-1982

Residency
General Surgery, Mount Sinai Medical Center, 1983-1985; Orthopaedic Surgery, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, 1985-1988

Fellowships
Research Fellow, Hospital for Special Surgery, 1985 Clinical Fellow in Shoulder Surgery, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, 1988-1989

Affiliations

Academic Affiliations
Instructor and Assistant Attending of Orthopaedic Surgery at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center
Clinical Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Hospital for Joint Diseases/New York University

Professional Affiliations
Diplomate, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Diplomate, National Board of Medical Examiners
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Alpha Omega Alpha National Honor Medical Society
Connecticut Orthopaedic Society

Certifications

American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

Additional Honors

Awards
Becker's Top 65 Shoulder Surgeons in the US
US News and World Report Top Doctor 2011
Castle Connolly New York Metro Area Top Doctor 2009-2012
Orthopedic Consultant to New York Mets 2003-2012
Connecticut Magazine Top Doctors 2001-2005, 2007, 2009-2012
The Wag Best Doctors 2010, 2011
Westchester Magazine Top Doctors 2003
Frank E. Stinchfield Award for Excellence in Orthopedic Surgery 1986, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center
Lester R. Tuchman Award for Excellence in Clinical Medicine 1982, Mt. Sinai Medical Center
Magna Cum Laude, Department of Biology, Harvard University, 1978

Published Research

Testimonials

• Thank you Dr. Miller for fixing my broken wing!

  D.M., Greenwich, CT

• L.S. of Greenwich is an athletic 51-year-old mother of two, who has enjoyed sailing, skiing, golf and other sports over the course of her life. Two years ago she developed painful tendinitis in her left elbow. It got better after resting it over the winter and then reoccurred after she went kayaking during a winter vacation. Her elbow became so painful that even picking up a glass of water was excruciating. The following June, Dr. Seth Miller gave her a cortisone injection into the joint which brought her initial relief. Unfortunately, the benefit wore off after about eight weeks. When she returned to Dr. Miller, he suggested she try a new treatment option called PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma). Although not FDA approved, the treatment is increasingly being used by orthopedic surgeons and physiatrists to treat soft tissue problems such as tennis elbow, hamstring strains, MCL strains and patellar tendonitis. At ONS, PRP is administered by physiatrist Dr. Jeffery Heftler, who explained the procedure, “First, 10 milliliters of blood was drawn from Lynn’s arm and then spun in a centrifuge for five minutes. This separates out the platelets from the rest of the blood. Then two to four milliliters of the separated blood is drawn out and injected it back into the injury site.” The theory behind the treatment is the platelets release growth factors which stimulate a healing response. Unlike a steroid injection, it can take up to six weeks to notice the full benefit of the injection. However, PRP seems to be effective in cases where steroids have failed. L.S. was instructed not to use her arm for anything strenuous for two weeks but by the third week, she could tell it was feeling better. She started physical therapy to help get back the strength in her arm and by three months she was entirely pain free. L.S. says, “I am a big fan of PRP. I am now free of pain and back to doing all my normal activities.”

  L.S., Greenwich, CT

• After Greenwich resident and Brunswick Academy teacher T.S. seriously injured his shoulder, he sought relief from the disabling pain and loss of mobility from leading shoulder specialist Dr. Seth Miller. “I’d been taking lots of anti-inflammatory medication,” said T.S. who enjoys recreational softball and kayaking adventures with his students. “I kept trying to work through the problem but eventually realized I was losing strength in my arm.” Dr. Miller determined that his patient had torn a tendon of his rotator cuff, but an arthroscopic surgical procedure could repair the damage and end his pain. By using the latest arthroscopic technique, the tendons heal at about the same rate as in traditional surgery, but the less-invasive procedure has several big advantages. Arthroscopy is a same-day surgery and can be performed with local anesthesia. Patients experience substantially less pain after arthroscopy, which allows them to get back to their normal routine quicker. “Almost all rotator cuff tears can be repaired with arthroscopy and there are clear benefits,” says Dr. Miller. “T.S. had same day surgery and returned to his classroom the following day with his arm in a sling. Two months after surgery, he had regained complete range of motion and had full use of his shoulder. He was able to resume all his normal activities and even went on a rafting trip with his students.”

  T.S., Greenwich, CT

• “Dear Dr. Miller, I wanted to take a minute to thank you for the excellent job you did repairing my torn bicep. The surgery and recovery went remarkably well, and I have probably recovered 95% of my strength at this time.  Your entire staff, from your office to Greenwich Hospital, provided nothing but the best of care and service.  Moreover, it was very much appreciated to be able to make a doctor’s appointment and actually be taken on time. I would not hesitate to recommend your practice to anyone. Thanks for everything.”

  A.G., New York, NY

• At 73, Wilton resident E.S. still missed his sport, skeet and trap shooting. He had been a serious competitor in skeet and trap shooting tournaments until twelve years earlier when he noticed his left shoulder “catching” as he followed his target. It didn’t sweep in the smooth arc that he was accustomed to. Before long, the problem became painful and also began affecting other activities including putting on shoes and even driving a car.

  After consulting an orthopaedic surgeon, he learned that years of wear and tear had resulted in a torn rotator cuff. A year later, after losing much of his arm’s mobility and living with increasing pain, he underwent surgery to repair the tear. The result was only modestly successful and over the next nine years, he underwent two more surgeries. His condition continued to deteriorate, eventually forcing him to retire from his work as a plumbing contractor.

  After the failure of his third surgery, E.S. was referred to Dr. Seth Miller, who was successfully using a brand new procedure known as a reverse shoulder replacement. Approved by the FDA in 2004, reverse shoulder replacement has been performed in Europe for nearly 20 years. The surgery uses a metal and plastic implant that works the opposite of a normal shoulder by placing the ball onto the shoulder blade and the socket onto the top of the upper arm bone. The reversed position of the ball and socket alters the mechanics of the shoulder, changing the center of the shoulder’s rotation. The strength needed to move the arm is shifted away from the damaged rotator cuff muscles, allowing the deltoid muscle to take over.

  A reverse shoulder replacement is a breakthrough for patients with a rotator cuff that has degenerated to the point it no longer functions and cannot be repaired. “Many of these patients are unable to raise their arm more than a few inches and a traditional shoulder replacement is not an option because the tendons aren’t healthy enough to hold the shoulder ball into the socket,” explains Dr. Miller. “Until the reverse shoulder replacement was invented, there was no solution for a patient with such a badly damaged shoulder.”

  Dr. Miller performed the surgery and E.S. remained in the hospital for three days. Soon after, he began a home exercise program to strengthen and train the deltoid muscle for its new job. In only a few weeks, he began to regain the ability to lift his arm and within two months, he was able to raise his arm well over his head, something he hadn’t been able to do for years.

  E.S., Wilton, CT