Top Shoulder Surgeon Archives - Orthopaedic & Neurosurgery Specialists

Another Award for Dr. Sethi

Posted on February 27, 2018

Congratulations to ONS orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Paul Sethi, who has earned the 2018 AAOS Achievement Award again this year from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The AAOS Award recognizes members for their active volunteer efforts and their contributions to education, research and advocacy in the profession of orthopedic surgery. Dr. Sethi received this prestigious award in 2017 as well.

A sports medicine, shoulder and knee specialist, Dr. Sethi is also a leading research physician who speaks at academic and instructional medical conferences in the US and abroad. His research on surgical advances for the shoulder, elbow and knee is regularly published in leading medical journals including the Journal for Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, Arthroscopy, and the Journal of American Academy for Orthopaedic Surgery. He also collaborates with outside companies for education and research purposes and to develop medical procedures on the shoulder, elbow and knee. He is a member of the prestigious American Shoulder and Elbow Society and American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

As President of the ONS Foundation for Clinical Research and Education, Dr. Sethi’s research has recently included clinical study of the use of a long lasting analgesic, Exparel, during surgery. This will reduce the need for opioids to control post-surgical pain; the establishment of better methods for surgical skin preparation (cleaning) to lower the risk of surgical infection; development of a new technique to repair chronic or weakened biceps tendons; and the evaluation of surgical needles in tendon surgery to establish international guidelines on needle use.

ONS Dr. Seth Miller is Featured in WAG

Posted on September 28, 2017

Top shoulder surgeon Dr. Seth Miller is featured in an article titled “A (Medical) Shoulder to Lean On” in the October issue of the Westchester magazine, WAG. The piece, written by Jane Dove, was released online on September 26, 2017. Ms. Dove delivers a comprehensive view of Dr. Miller’s distinguished career and founding prinicple of ONS, one of the region’s premier orthopedic and neurosurgical practices. She is also able to capture the unique formula that sets ONS apart from the competition: the highest standard of care, the collaborative approach among specialists in the practice and patients, and the compassion for patients’ individual conditions and treatment goals.

The entire article is copied below:

A (MEDICAL) SHOULDER TO LEAN ON by Jane Dove

“I am personally very proud of our practice — Orthopaedic & Neurosurgery Specialists (ONS) and the way we treat each patient as an individual,” says Seth R. Miller, an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in arthroscopic shoulder surgery and shoulder replacement.

With offices in Greenwich and Stamford and now Harrison, ONS takes a conservative approach to patient care. “We recommend surgery to only about 10 percent of our patients,” says Miller, who is also a clinical assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at the Hospital for Joint Diseases; a staff orthopedic physician at Greenwich Hospital and an assistant attending physician in orthopedic surgery at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. “We want to make sure it is really needed, because we realize that surgery in any of our subspecialties is a traumatic event for our patients. If it can be avoided, so much the better.”

A leading specialist in shoulder replacement surgery with 1,000 total shoulder and reverse shoulder replacements to his credit, Miller helped found ONS in 1998. There he remains committed to providing excellent orthopedic and neurosurgical care through professional cooperation while showing compassion for patients. By setting the highest of standards, ONS can offer patients a wide range of choices that leads to the best possible outcomes.

“For example, if needed, we will have two surgeons involved in a complicated procedure,” he says. “We do everything we can to ensure the results our patients get are the very best possible. And we deliver those results with compassion and understanding along the way.”

SPOTLIGHT ON SHOULDERS

After graduating from Harvard University in 1978, Miller went on to get his M.D. at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, followed by a residency in general surgery and then a sought-after one-year residency in shoulder surgery at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center.

“I studied under the renowned Dr. Charles S. Neer, who offered me this wonderful opportunity,” he says. “I was always interested in the shoulder and had a great year with him, from l988 to 1989. At about the same time, I met another shoulder specialist who invited me to join him at Greenwich Hospital.”

Miller says Greenwich had many orthopedic surgeons on staff but most practiced in the general area. “I did my share of general orthopedic surgery but really wanted to do as much shoulder surgery as possible. I spoke with several other subspecialists who, like me, wanted to improve patient care by combining several of our doctor’s groups into one entity.”

In 1998, the group took the plunge and founded ONS, starting with only eight physicians.

EXPANSION

ONS now has 22 subspecialty physicians trained in orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation.

“Things really took off when patients realized they could get specialty care of the highest quality right in Greenwich. We now have two specialists for every part of the body.”

The successful reception ONS earned from the local patient community there led to its expansion, first to Stamford and then to a new facility in Harrison.

Miller says he believed one of the keys to the success of ONS has been the one-stop approach the practice offers.

“Our patients just love that we can provide so much under one roof,” he says. “Everything is right here and there is no need to trek from outside office to outside office for tests, scans and blood work. We function as a team of doctors and other medical professionals, working closely and seamlessly together.”

If a question about care or a procedure that can best be answered by another specialist comes up, Miller says, “All we have to do is walk down the hall. Patients find this very comforting and we pride ourselves as working as a collaborative team. At ONS you get the best possible care all under one roof. While our practice is large, it is very effective and attuned to the patient, what he or she really needs.”

SATISFIED PATIENTS

He believes ONS is well-served, as are its patients, by not being a part of a larger patient care “network system.” The proof is in the response. “We get positive feedback in the 96 to 97 percent range,” he says.

“As a result, we are not controlled so much by cost-cutting to enhance the bottom line of the network. As a private practice, we control our own destiny and even have our own foundation. We are free and now big enough to control our financial destiny on our own.”

Considering Joint Replacement?

Posted on April 4, 2017

If pain in your knee, hip or shoulder joint is interfering with your quality of life, it may be time to consider joint replacement.

Join shoulder replacement surgeon Seth Miller, MD, and hip and knee replacement surgeon Frank Ennis, MD, to learn all about the advances in joint replacement procedures and what to expect from your first office visit through the recovery process. Dr. Miller and Dr. Ennis will be joined by Greenwich Hospital staff who will outline the particulars of your hospital stay. There will be time to have your questions answered at the conclusion of the program.

Joint Replacement Symposium

WHEN: Wednesday, April 5, 2017

WHERE: Greenwich Hospital Noble Auditorium

TIME: 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

SEATING IS LIMITED. Please register on line or by calling 203-863-4277.

Orthopedic Patients Applaud New Pain-Reducing Procedure

Posted on October 28, 2016

OPIOIDS AFTER ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY COULD BECOME A THING OF THE PAST.

Recovery from total shoulder replacement surgery usually includes weeks of excruciating pain. This was not the case for Manhattan, NY resident, Marjorie Purnick, 71, who was out to dinner with friends the night after Dr. Paul Sethi performed the procedure using a new, slow release analgesic called Exparel. Marjorie said she has never taken a single pill for pain in the four months since her shoulder replacement surgery.

“It was incredible. I kept waiting for the pain to hit, but it never did. Friends who have had the same surgery don’t believe me when I tell them that I had no pain,” she said. With the help of physical therapy, Marjorie has regained close to 100 percent of her range of motion, a recovery that she said is 4 to 8 months quicker than her friends. “I think I’ve recovered so quickly because I didn’t have pain holding me back. I could get started with therapy right away.”

As soon as 49 year old Michele Herrera of Rye, NY heard about this new pain treatment, she asked Dr. Sethi to use it during her surgery to correct torn biceps and bone spurs in her right shoulder. Vivid memories of the agonizing pain she had endured following a similar surgery on her left shoulder five years ago had been preventing her from undergoing the procedure again.

“I was petrified to have the surgery again because of that pain,” she recalled. This time around, however, it was completely different. “I am the happiest person in the world. I had surgery on Thursday and I was out walking the dog that same day.” When the medication did start to wear off 4 days later, she said she took pain medication because she afraid of how intense the pain would be. She was pleasantly surprised. “I only took one pill instead of two, and once I realized that I only felt a little sore, I switched to Tylenol.”

The search for an alternative to opioids at ONS is borne from a real concern about the increasing national opioid addiction epidemic and the role prescribed opioids like oxycodone and hydrocodone play in addiction. Every day, 78 Americans die from an opioid overdose, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since the late 1990s, the number of deaths from prescription opioids has quadrupled.

“It is frightening as a surgeon to think that an opioid prescription that is intended to help a patient recover could lead to a lifelong battle with addiction or death,” said ONS orthopedic surgeon, Paul Sethi, MD. He has seen college athletes in need of surgery who are willing to suffer great amounts of pain if it means avoiding opioids post-surgery.

Dr. Sethi and ONS colleagues Seth Miller, MD, Katherine Vadasdi, MD and Marc Kowalsky, MD, have been performing shoulder surgeries with the use of this new analgesic, that is injected directly into the surgical site and numbs the area for three days or more. Some patients who have been administered Exparel have not needed any narcotics for pain, or if they did, they’ve needed far fewer than with traditional post-surgical pain control, Sethi said.

“When patients need additional pain relief instead of prescribing 30 narcotic pills post-surgery for instance, there is only a need to prescribe 10,” he said.

Moreover, patients are able to regain movement more quickly because they are not consumed by pain.

Physicians at ONS are optimistic that as more non-narcotic methods of pain relief are made available, the number of prescribed opioids for surgical pain will plummet. Sethi and others in the practice are conducting a peer-reviewed study about Exparel’s overall effectiveness in reducing pain after other types of surgeries. “The injection has to be specifically tailored to each surgery in order for it to be effective,” Dr. Sethi said.
They plan to expand its use for other surgical procedures such as repairs to ruptured anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL).
Currently, about 70 percent of opioids used for non-medical reasons are obtained through family or friends and 18 percent through a prescribing doctor, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Double Shoulder Replacement Restores Mobility

Posted on May 5, 2016

SHOULDER REPLACEMENT REGAINS HIS ACTIVE LIFESTYLE JUST MONTHS FOLLOWING SURGERY.

Arthritis had taken its toll on Dave’s shoulders. He was in constant pain. Sleeping was difficult and it was nearly impossible for him to take part in activities that he loves. Then, two friends with similar shoulder issues referred Dave to shoulder surgeon, Dr. Seth Miller at ONS. “When I met him, I immediately knew he was the doctor I wanted to care for me. He was thorough, thoughtful and patient. He has a great bedside manner and took the time to completely answer all my questions,” he recalled.

Dave had his first shoulder replacement in January, 2013; the second one was done a year later. In both instances, the therapists had him doing exercises the day after surgery, which he continued at home within the week. Through a physical therapy program over the next few months, Dave was able to build muscle mass to help support his new shoulders.

Just 16 weeks after surgery, Dave was back on the water kayaking pain free. These days, he goes to the gym 2- 3 times a week and kayaks quite a bit on ponds, lakes and streams. He can even carry his kayak.

“I am so grateful to have my active life back, thanks to ONS!” he said.

Shoulder replacement surgery and reverse shoulder replacement surgery is not for everyone. In many cases, treatment such as icing, anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy can help get shoulder pain from arthritis under control. However, if pain persists, as it did with Dave, it may be time to consider a surgical option, notes Dr. Miller.

With arthritis and some fractures and injuries, the cartilage of the shoulder gradually wears away, creating a situation where bone is rubbing against bone. The resulting inflammation is extremely painful and makes shoulder mobility progressively more difficult. This condition typically develops later in life and gets worse over time.

The shoulder replacement procedure replaces the damaged joint with a highly-polished metal ball attached to a stem and a plastic socket. As long as a patient has an intact functioning rotator cuff, it can be an extremely successful procedure.

However, there is a group of patients that not only have significant cartilage damage in their shoulder, but also have a torn rotator cuff that is beyond repair. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles that run from the shoulder blade to the upper arm and allows patient to elevate their arm. Twenty years ago, treatment options were limited. In 2004, the FDA approved a reverse shoulder replacement procedure that was being used successfully overseas.

The surgery takes about two hours and involves a small incision, usually about three to four inches in length. Patients can expect to stay in the hospital somewhere from one to three days. Further, patients will be released with their arm in a sling, and undergo exercises to reestablish range of motion with the joint.

Between four and eight weeks after surgery, patients should be able to raise their arms above their heads without pain. Three to four months after surgery, patients are gradually resuming the activities of daily living. Many patients remark after recovery that they feel like they’ve been given their life back.

ONS’ Dr. Seth Miller was one of the first in the metropolitan area to perform reverse shoulder replacement surgery. He will take part in a Joint Replacement Symposium at Greenwich Hospital with ONS colleagues and joint replacement surgeons Drs. Frank Ennis and Brian Kavanagh.

The event will be held on Wed. May 11 starting at 6 p.m. To register, call 203-863-4277 or online.

ONS Orthopedic Surgeon Seth Miller, MD, Elected to Join Elite Medical Society

Posted on October 28, 2014

At the October Closed Meeting of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), held in Pinehurst, NC, ONS (Orthopaedic and Neurosurgery Specialists) orthopedic surgeon Dr. Seth Miller was elected to join the ASES organization. “Membership in ASES is a privilege and an honor” said Dr. Jim Cunningham, ONS Vice President. Membership in American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons is by invitation only. Only experienced orthopedic surgeons who have completed a fellowship in shoulder surgery, elbow surgery, and/or sports medicine are considered for membership.

Dr. Miller, in his 25^th year in practice at ONS in Greenwich, has ascended quickly in his career being recognized with such a national honor. Candidates must meet strict academic and clinical requirements to become members of ASES.

“ASES is a remarkable collection of like-minded surgeons, and researchers who, through their collaboration and the sharing of techniques and outcomes, work together to solve the most complicated and pressing shoulder and elbow disorders. Founded on the premise that by such sharing of ideas we can determine the most efficient, cost effective, high quality shoulder and elbow care” said Dr. Robert Bell, ASES President.

The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons was created to enhance the study of shoulder and elbow surgery and to foster advances in the field, serving as an educational body responsible for scientific programs and advances. The Mission of the ASES is to support the ethical practice of evidence-based, high quality, cost-effective, shoulder and elbow care.

The society global impact on quality shoulder and elbow care is achieved through leadership, medical education, scientific research, and patient advocacy. Congratulations to Dr. Miller on becoming an Associate Member of the society.

ONS is an advanced multi-specialty orthopedic and neurosurgery practice serving patients throughout Fairfield and Westchester Counties and the New York Metropolitan area. ONS physicians provide expertise in the full spectrum of musculoskeletal conditions and injuries, sports medicine, minimally invasive orthopedic, spine and brain surgery, joint replacement and trauma. For more information, visit www.onsmd.com, or call (203) 869-1145.

13 Doctors from ONS included in Greenwich Magazine’s Top Doctors List

Posted on January 10, 2013

2013 list of the top medical experts in Fairfield County is compiled by Castle Connolly

When you need the name of a good doctor, ask another doctor. As a means to that end each year Moffly Media asks Castle Connolly, the physician-led medical research team that vets doctors nationwide, to provide a list of top physicians in Fairfield County for their annual Top Doctors list. The January 2013 Top Doctors issue of Greenwich, Stamford, New Canaan/ Darien and Westport Magazines contains information on over 323 doctors in 48 medical specialties. This year’s list includes 13 doctors from Orthopaedic and Neurosurgery Specialists, PC (ONS) in Greenwich Office Park: neurosurgeons- Paul Apostolides, MD, Mark Camel, MD, Amory Fiore, MD and Scott Simon, MD; orthopedic surgeons- Michael Clain, MD; John Crowe, MD; James Cunningham, MD; Frank Ennis, MD; Steven Hindman, MD; Brian Kavanagh, MD; Seth Miller, MD; and Paul Sethi, MD; and physiatrist- Jeffrey Heftler, MD.

“We are proud to have so many of our skilled physicians recognized in this year’s Top Doctors lists,” said Dr. Seth Miller. “The doctors at ONS are among the very finest in the country, and have been hand-picked for their superior credentials and experience.” Featured in the lead article is Dr. Michael Clain, a foot and ankle surgeon who has been in practice with ONS since it was established in 2001. Dr. Clain was asked questions about common myths regarding feet, whether sneaker styles matter and the relationship of diabetes and foot problems.

Each year Castle Connolly’s experts ask medical leaders across the country to identify physicians they believe to be the best in their respective fields. The nominees’ credentials, including educational and professional experience, are then carefully screened and the list compiled.

Orthopaedic and Neurosurgery Specialists PC (ONS) physicians provide expertise in the full spectrum of musculoskeletal conditions and injuries, sports medicine, minimally invasive orthopedic, spine and brain surgery, joint replacement and trauma. The main office is located at 6 Greenwich Office Park on Valley Road, Greenwich, CT.

Orthopedic Surgeon Seth Miller, MD on Cover of CT Magazine Top Doctors Issue

Posted on March 29, 2012

6 Doctors from ONS included in Connecticut Magazine’s Top Docs list

In a feature article, titled Spare Parts in the April Top Doctors issue of Connecticut Magazine, shoulder specialist Seth Miller, MD describes shoulder replacement surgery, and explains that today this procedure is so advanced that the new shoulders can closely replicate that way a normal shoulder operates. Dr. Miller, whose photo is also on the cover of the magazine, was one of six physicians from Orthopaedic and Neurosurgery Specialists (ONS) on Valley Drive who are included in the latest edition of Connecticut Magazine. The resource directory provides information on over 800 doctors in 29 medical specialties. To compile the list, the magazine sends out questionnaires to Connecticut-licensed doctors, asking them to recommend two fellow physicians that they would send a loved one for expert medical care. The doctors who received the most votes were awarded Top Doc status and added to the list that has been compiled since 2007.

ONS physicians included in the Connecticut Magazine list are neurosurgeons Paul Apostolides, MD; Mark Camel, MD and Scott Simon, MD; and orthopedic surgeons Brian Kavanagh, MD; Seth Miller, MD; and Paul Sethi, MD.

“It is an honor to be recognized as among the region’s most trusted physicians,” said Dr. Miller. “The entire ONS team is proud of our commitment to excellence for each of our patients. The multidisciplinary nature of our practice and access to our research foundation keeps us on the cutting edge of the most advanced techniques and treatments available in orthopedics, neurosurgery and physiatry.”

Orthopaedic and Neurosurgery Specialists PC (ONS) is an advanced multi-specialty orthopedic and neurosurgery practice in Fairfield and Westchester counties. ONS physicians provide expertise in the full spectrum of musculoskeletal conditions and injuries, sports medicine, minimally invasive orthopedic, spine and brain surgery, joint replacement and trauma. The main office is located at 6 Greenwich Office Park on Valley Road, Greenwich, CT. For more information, visit www.onsmd.com, or call (203) 869-1145.

Surgeons to hold Special Seminar on Shoulder Pain and Shoulder Replacement Surgery at Greenwich Hospital

Posted on November 18, 2011

On Thursday, December 8 at 1:30 p.m., orthopedic surgeons Seth Miller, MD and Paul Sethi, MD will present a free community health talk about the latest solutions for shoulder pain. The talk takes place in the Noble Conference Center at Greenwich Hospital on Perryridge Road. Registration is requested; call (877) 585-0125 to register.

“Severe shoulder arthritis and chronic shoulder pain can make daily-life activities, like combing hair, reaching for a lamp or putting on a sweater extremely difficult,” says Dr. Miller who is also a shoulder specialist and one of the foremost shoulder experts in the New York Metropolitan area. “If you can’t do the simple things you once did, you may be suffering from a shoulder condition. There are reliable solutions for chronic shoulder pain. It is important to learn about your options in order to make the best decision for you.”

Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr. Seth Miller of ONS

Many people are familiar with hip or knee replacement to treat chronic pain caused by advanced arthritis. In the last 25 years, shoulder replacements have been used by a select group of skilled orthopedic surgeons to help their patients with chronic shoulder pain, restore mobility and stop pain. Dr. Seth Miller and his colleague Dr. Paul Sethi have performed over 1000 shoulder replacements at Greenwich Hospital in the past 20 years, earlier than at any other hospital outside New York City. For their patients this means regaining the mobility they thought was permanently lost.

Doctors recommend shoulder replacement for patients with severe shoulder arthritis, who have not achieved pain relief from conservative treatments, or who have had a severe fracture. In the procedure, the surgeon replaces the damaged or arthritic joint surfaces with a highly-polished metal ball attached to a stem, and a plastic socket. In cases where the patient’s own ball is severely fractured and the socket is normal, the surgeon may replace only the ball.

In addition to being a staff orthopedic physician at Greenwich Hospital, Dr. Seth Miller serves as Clinical Associate Professor of orthopedic surgery specializing in shoulder surgery at the Hospital for Joint Diseases at NYU Medical Center. He is also assistant Attending Physician in orthopaedic surgery at New York-Presbyterian Hospital.

Dr. Seth Miller is a graduate of Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. After his residency at New York Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, he completed a research fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and a shoulder surgery fellowship at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. He has been an orthopaedic consultant to the New York Mets for more than eight years.

Paul Sethi, MD is a Board-certified orthopedic surgeon with sub-specialty training

in sports medicine and the shoulder and elbow. Dr Sethi graduated with honors from Cornell University. He received his medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine and performed his internship and residency at Yale University. He completed a sports medicine fellowship at the Kerlan Jobe Orthopaedic Institute in Los Angeles, CA. His research on athletic performance while a resident surgeon at Yale, his studies on professional basketball players and his own experience as a college varsity athlete have provided Dr. Sethi with first-hand experience, and an invaluable perspective in understanding sports-related injuries and conditions.

Dr. Sethi is a former orthopedic consultant to the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team and former assistant team physician of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team, Los Angeles Kings hockey team, the Los Angeles Dodgers and University of Southern California football team.

Seth Miller, MD named on list of 65 Top Shoulder Experts in the US

Posted on August 11, 2011

Becker’s Orthopaedic, Spine and Pain Management Review today announced their list of 65 Outstanding Shoulder Surgeons and Specialists. ONS Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr. Seth Miller is included in the elite list of shoulder surgeons and specialists that were chosen based on awards they have received from major organizations in the field, leadership in those organizations, work on professional publications and positions of service held at hospitals and practices.

“Becker’s” is a bimonthly industry publication offering news and analysis on business and legal issues relating to orthopedic and spine practices.