Orthopedic surgeon performs a first at CentraState Medical Center Dr. Michael Greller, a board-certified fellowship-trained sports medicine orthopedic surgeon at Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute (AOSMI), Freehold and Monroe townships, has just performed a new orthopedic procedure. It is the first time this procedure has been done at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold; and Dr. Greller may be only the second surgeon to perform it in Monmouth County. This procedure, called the Arthrosurface HemiCap, is a minimally invasive shoulder resurfacing procedure that opens up an important option for patients. In the past,patients with shoulder problems had limited options: therapy, cortisone injections,or a partial or total shoulder replacement. "Most of the cartilage research done today is designed for the knee — 95 percent of it.Now we have a procedure that can restore a normal life — from that 40- year-old who wants to play ball with his kid to that young person who wants to go back to his athletic team.The HemiCap is a good option." What is especially appealing about the HemiCap resurfacing procedure is that it is much less invasive. It is designed for those with arthritic lesions and osteonecrosis or death of the bone.This procedure can also be used to repair the defects and damage done because of shoulder dislocations. Not much could be done before except shoulder replacement surgery, which involves extensive bone removal.With HemiCap resurfacing, however, the surgeon can fill that defect with a piece of metal that looks like a thumb tack, ranging in size from a 2 centimeter area of the humeral head to the entire humeral head. The traditional shoulder replacement, entire or partial, is a pain-relieving operation. Generally, patients don't get back total function because so much good bone and cartilage has to be removed. In the HemiCap resurfacing procedure, however, such a minimal amount of cartilage is taken away,most patients are able to get back to their daily lives as though they never had a shoulder problem before. Dr.Greller says,"It feels like a normal shoulder when the procedure is done.You are fully functioning; you can exercise.The shoulder is expected to be full weightbearing. Another benefit is that the Hemi- Cap resurfacing is an outpatient procedure, eliminating an overnight stay in the hospital. Ten years ago there was little a surgeon could do to.Now that there are a whole realm of minimally invasive surgical options for the young, middle aged, active patient other than joint replacement, the doctors at AOSMI established the Cartilage Restoration Center of New Jersey to treat, repair, and restore damaged cartilage in the knee and other joints of the body, utilizing a wide range of surgical and nonsurgical options for their previously nontreatable conditions. The HemiCap resurfacing is a relatively new procedure with excellent early clinical results. (For further information visit www.arthosurface.com.) Dr. Greller notes that in addition to shoulders, this procedure can be done on hips,knees,and even toes. Dr.Greller is the assistant director of the Cartilage Restoration Center, Freehold, managing partner and president of Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute (AOSMI), and vice chairman of the Department of Orthopedics at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold.The Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute (AOSMI) is an orthopedic practice located at Pond View Professional Park, 301 Professional View Drive, Freehold, and 312 Applegarth Road, Monroe Township.The surgeons at AOSMI, who have a combined 100 years of experience, provide advanced medical care. For more information about AOSMI, call 732-720- 2555 or visit www.AdvancedOrthoSports. com.