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Armodios M. Hatzidakis, MD, FAAOS, is an orthopaedic specialist at Western Orthopaedics, P.C., in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Hatzidakis was born in Omaha, Nebraska. He graduated with a BA degree from Grinnell College (Iowa) and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. After medical school, he completed his Orthopaedic Surgery training at the University of Nebraska and Creighton University combined residency program. He then pursued American and European shoulder and elbow fellowships; spending one year with upper extremity specialists in San Francisco and then eight months at centers of excellence in England, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and France.

In addition to general orthopaedic and fracture care, Dr. Hatzidakis’ primary expertise is in treatment of the shoulder and elbow, specializing in arthroscopic ("scope") surgery for athletic injuries, rotator cuff, instability and fracture repair, shoulder and elbow replacement, and complex revision/salvage surgery, including reversed shoulder replacement. He is active in teaching other surgeons complex shoulder reconstruction techniques, has co-authored numerous articles and book chapters on shoulder surgery, and is a recipient of the Neer Clinical Science Award for excellence in shoulder and elbow research. Dr. Hatzidakis is Board Certified, a Fellow with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), and a member of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES). Dr. Hatzidakis joined Western Orthopaedics, P.C. in 2003. 

"I treat patients the way I would like to be treated; with thoughtful listening, thorough examination, and a complete discussion of the options for care. If an operation is required or elected upon, I stay updated and proficient in both time-honored and modern techniques required to give the patient the best result possible."

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• • Patient History, Diagnostic
  Testing and Symptoms
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  Postoperative Restrictions
• • When to Consider Surgery
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  Shoulder Instability
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  Rotator Cuff Surgery
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  Rotator Cuff Tears
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  Rotator Cuff Tears

• • Conservative Treatment
  for Rotator Cuff Tears
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  Rotator Cuff Tears
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  Rotator Cuff Surgery
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  Rotator Cuff Tears
• • Summary of
  Rotator Cuff Tears
• • Rotator Cuff Tears that
  Can't be Repaired
• • Common Problems
  of the Shoulder
• • Symptoms of Rotator Cuff Tears
• • Anatomy and Function
  of the Shoulder Joint
• • Rotator Cuff Tears

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Edward (Ted) Parks, MD. FAAOS is a board-certified orthopedic specialist fellowship trained in sports medicine. Dr. Parksgrew up in Denver where he attended Cherry Creek high school. He received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Stanford University and then stayed at Stanford to earn a master's degree in biology while doing research on a technique he proposed for healing injuries to the nerves of the brain and spinal cord. After finishing at Stanford, he got his M.D. degree from Yale Medical School, where he researched human ligament anatomy. Dr. Parks completed his internship and orthopedic residency training at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California and completed a fellowship in sports medicine with Dr. Frank Noyes in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. Parksis specialty trained in advanced arthroscopic reconstruction of the knee and shoulder and has been a team physician for numerous high school, college and professional teams, including the Denver Nuggets. His expertise includes hip and knee replacement, shoulder surgery and arthroscopic knee reconstruction. 

Dr. Parks joined Western Orthopaedics in 1994. He is also a clinical professor at the University Of Colorado School Of Medicine, where he has been awarded the "OutstandingClinical Faculty Teaching Award" and the "Outstanding Volunteer Faculty Award." He is an instructor for the American College of Physicians(regionally and nationally) and has been chosen by 5280 Magazine asone of Denver's "Top Docs" 18 years in a row. He has been named twice by US NEWS and World Report asone of this country'sbest orthopedic surgeons. In 2017, McGraw- Hill contracted Dr. Parks to author a textbook on orthopedics which has been an Amazon #1 best seller in the categories of orthopedics, sports medicine, rheumatology, and orthopedic surgery. The book is used in medical schools and residency programs in the US, Canada and in English speaking countries throughout the world. He is also an inventor with two US patents, an oil portrait artist, and an industrial designer (he designed the car he drives every day). In 2018, he started a country music band called Ted Parks and the Busted Bones. The 'Bones have a hit song that is played on country music stations across the country on Halloween each year.

Dr. Parksis Board Certified and is a fellow of the American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons. He is a member of numerous organizations including the Colorado Medical Society.

I believe that all patients should be treated with respect and dignity. Every patient deserves the direct attention and examination by their physician, not just by a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant. My staff and I work hard to limit waiting times to 30 minutes or less. We try to make your visit as comfortable and professional as possible. I review the results of the examination, x-rays, other studies, etc., with the patient and do everything I can to help them understand their condition and the treatment options I recommend. Good decisions are the result of shared knowledge and mutual respect. Good decisions lead to good results.

After being Top Doctor for 17 years with 5280 Magazine and receiving Colorado's prestigous Peak Performer award 3 years in a row - Dr. Parks has also been named America's Top Doctor nationally by U.S. News & World Report. 

Dr. Parks's new text book is out and on Amazon.com

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Sean Baran, MD, is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine and joint replacement surgery. With a special interest in hip and knee disorders, Dr. Baran serves the community of Denver Colorado, at Western Orthopaedics, P.C. Dr. Baran enjoys treating patients of a variety of ages and takes pride in helping his patients maintain an active lifestyle- whether that is helping an athlete get back to sports following an injury or an arthritic patient get back to everyday life in less pain following joint replacement surgery.

Dr. Baran grew up in Monument, Colorado. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he graduated summa cum laude with a major in biochemistry. While at CU, he was a 3-time National Collegiate Wrestling Association national tournament qualifier.

He earned his medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He was awarded membership to Alpha Omega Alpha, and also received the William Winter Memorial Award for outstanding performance in orthopedics from the Univeristy of Colorado Department of Orthopedics.

Dr. Baran completed his internship and residency in Orthopedic Surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnestota. While at Mayo Clinic, he served as an administrative chief resident and was honored with the Clinical Competency Award as a graduating resident- an award given to the top resident as selected by the orthopedic staff. Following residency, Dr. Baran completed an additional year of subspecialty training in Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. There, he focused on hip arthroscopy, as well as open arthroscopic treatment of knee and shoulder injuries. He also had the opportunity to care for Division I athletes in various sports at the University of Utah, including the Utes football team.

Dr. Baran has contributed to the orthopedic literature with research and publications in medical school, residency, and fellowship. He has presented at multiple local and national meetings and was awarded the "Best Poster- Tumor and Basic Science" at the 2014 American Academy of Orthopedic Surgerons for his work on infection prevention.

I love getting to know my patients so that I can better understand each person’s unique concerns and goals.  I provide a thorough evaluation and then educate each patient about the diagnosis and potential solutions.  I work hard to answer each patient’s questions so that we can work together in pursing care that is focused on satisfaction and outcomes.

To find out more about Dr. Baran click here: www.seanbaranmd.com 

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Benjamin W. Sears, MD, is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of shoulder and elbow conditions. He currently works with patients throughout Denver and Arvada, Colorado, at Western Orthopaedics, P.C.

A Colorado native, Dr. Sears received his Bachelor of Science in Zoology from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. He then went on to earn a Master of Science degree in Pharmacology from Tulane University in New Orleans, Lousiana. In 2005, he graduated from Loyola University Medical School in Chicago, Illinois, earning his Doctor of Medicine and graduating in the top third of his class.

Dr. Sears stayed at Loyola University to complete his surgical residency in orthopaedics. At Loyola, one of the busiest Level 1 trauma centers in Chicago, Dr. Sears became comfortable in managing acute trauma and fracture care throughout the entire skeleton. He published several original articles on the relationship of the immune-inflammatory response to orthopaedic trauma management. Dr. Sears’ article, “Binge alcohol exposure modulates rodent expression of biomarkers of the immunoinflammatory response to orthopaedic trauma,” was published in the esteemed Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS) in 2011. At Loyola, Dr. Sears received formal training in surgical treatments of the hand, hip, knee, and sports injuries, and trained under Dr. Guido Marra, developing an interest in advanced shoulder and elbow surgery.

Following his residency, Dr. Sears was selected to receive advanced training in shoulder and elbow surgery at the prestigious Rothman Institute of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During his fellowship, Dr. Sears trained with some of the most renowned shoulder and elbow surgeons in the country, including Drs. Gerald Williams, Mark Lazarus, Matthew Ramsey, John Fenlin and Charles Getz. This fellowship enabled Dr. Sears to gain vast experience in the clinical and surgical treatment of all facets of shoulder and elbow surgery, ranging from standard rotator cuff repair, to complex primary and revision shoulder and elbow replacements. This training included open and arthroscopic surgical techniques in both the shoulder and elbow.

During the fellowship, Dr. Sears developed a special interest in elbow surgery and sought out additional experience and training in the treatment of elbow injuries and pathology. He subsequently completed two observational fellowships with some of the most renowned elbow surgeons in the world: Drs. Bernard Morrey and Joaquin Sanchez-Sotelo at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and Dr. Graham King at the McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Centre, Ontario, Canada. This additional training provided Dr. Sears advanced skill in all aspects of elbow surgery, from complex fractures and dislocations, to elbow arthroscopy, to advanced reconstructive procedures including total elbow replacement and biologic interpositional arthroplasty.

After being in practice for three years, Dr. Sears joined Western Orthopaedics in 2014. In addition to their clinical practices, Dr. Sears and Dr. Armodios Hatzadakis work together, along with their full-time clinical research staff, to contribute to advancements in the field of shoulder and elbow surgery. Their ongoing research includes the publication of original research articles as well as leading several FDA clinical trials evaluating the use of pyrocarbon resurfacing technology in shoulder replacements and the clinical use of stemless joint implants.

Dr. Sears is board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. He is also a candidate member in the American Shoulder and Elbow Society (ASES), and is a reviewer for the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery (JSES). 

Dr. Sears’ practice focuses primarily on the diagnosis and treatment of shoulder and elbow injuries and conditions, although he also evaluates patients with fractures, hand injuries, and knee injuries. He chose to gain advanced training in shoulder and elbow surgery because of his interest in the complexity of these joints. He strives to use his accomplished background in treating shoulder and elbow injuries to help his patients increase their physical activity and participate in activities that fulfill their lives. He loves to help patients get back to doing activities they enjoy without pain or limitations.

To find out more about Dr. Sears click here: www.benjaminsearsmd.com 

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Michael Eby, MD, is an experienced spine surgeon at Western Orthopaedics, providing high-quality orthopedic and spine surgery to people living in and around Denver, Colorado. Dr. Eby was born and raised in the greater Denver area. He began his career pursuits at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, earning his undergraduate degree. 

Next, Dr. Eby enrolled at the Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., obtaining his Doctorate of Medicine. Before entering private practice, Dr. Eby completed a residency at the University of Pennsylvania and a Spine fellowship at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. 

During his residency, Dr. Eby also served as Editor-in-Chief of the University of Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Journal. Dr. Eby takes an inclusive and patient-centric approach to treatment. He devotes his time and energy to understanding each individual’s symptoms and goals.

Dr. Eby performs minimally invasive procedures whenever possible, allowing for quicker recoveries and lasting outcomes.

When he isn’t working, Dr. Eby enjoys spending time with his wife and son. He’s also an active outdoorsman who enjoys hiking, biking, and exploring.

Dr. Eby welcomes anyone seeking relief from neck, back, or musculoskeletal pain to Western Orthopaedics today.

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Brian J. White, MD, is a board-certified orthopaedic hip surgeon who focuses solely on the diagnosis and treatment of hip conditions at Western Orthopaedics, P.C., in Denver, Colorado. 

Dr. Brian White discusses restoration options.

My path towards Orthopaedics began as a patient. An injury caused me to miss multiple seasons of varsity sports, but a surgery returned me to my senior year of athletics. This solidified my desire to pursue medicine so I could have the ability and skill to do this for others. This personal experience has been my driving motivation within my training and allows me greater understanding and compassion towards my patients. Through my training at the following institutions, I have established a solid core foundation that has allowed me to specialize in the surgical care of the hip joint.

• Washington and Lee University
• Georgetown University School of Medicine
• NYU/Hospital for Joint Diseases – Orthopaedic Surgical Residency
• Steadman/Philippon Research Institute – Fellowship in Sports Medicine

My sole focus at Western Orthopaedics is the hip joint. By specializing on only one joint, this allows for greater precision with surgery and, in turn, superior outcomes. Care is provided for patients beginning in their adolescence ranging to the advanced stages of life. The main surgical procedures that I perform are hip arthroscopy and total hip replacements. Arthroscopic treatment of hip disorders has evolved dramatically and this less invasive procedure allows me to reshape the ball and the cup to treat femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Labral tears can be treated with either advanced repair techniques or with labral reconstruction where a new labrum is made from a graft. Labral reconstruction is an advanced procedure that I apply in situations where a previous hip arthroscopy has failed or the labrum simply is too damaged to allow for a successful repair. It provides a dramatic improvement in pain and function as the labral reconstruction restores the normal biomechanics of the native labrum but should never be able to perceive pain. My goal with all patients is to preserve their hip joint. In some situations, the level of arthritis, or erosion of the cartilage of the joint, makes this impossible. In these patients, a total hip replacement is an excellent option for eliminating pain and restoring function.

As I perform both arthroscopic and replacement surgeries for the hip, I do not have a particular bias. As a patient, I will help you objectively understand your hip pathology and what all of your potential options are. I will help you decide on the surgery that will be the best and most definitive for you.

All patients who have undergone hip arthroscopy since July of 2009 have been enrolled and followed in a database. These results allow me to objectively follow my patients, evolve my labral reconstruction technique, and contribute academically in the field of hip arthroscopy on a global scale. As an educational and product development consultant for Smith and Nephew, Conmed Linvatec, and Biomet, I teach Orthopaedic surgeons across the country cutting edge techniques in hip arthroscopy and specifically how to perform a labral reconstruction. This is done in laboratory and lecture settings and by observation in my operating room. I am not affiliated with a residency or fellowship program. When you trust your hip to my care, I am the one who performs your surgery. I am passionate about my work and am committed to excellence and providing you with the best possible outcome. My team takes pride in our devotion to our patients and the care we provide for their whole person and not just their hip.

Dr. White has been an assistant team physician for the Denver Nuggets and in 2013 was named the official hip physician for their athletes.

Dr. White’s passion and devotion towards the hip joint began with his fellowship with Dr. Philippon. This strong foundation allowed him to focus on the hip joint from the beginning of his career. He started a database in July of 2009 for all of his hip arthroscopy surgeries. He credits his improvement in technique and the direction of his practice to the continued, objective evaluation of his outcomes and data. Specifically, this has validated his technique for allograft labral reconstruction and has allowed him to publish this procedure in the Orthopaedic literature. The fatal flaw with the native, torn labrum is that it is highly innervated with pain fibers and that it is typically injured for a long period of time in patients before surgery is performed. In this situation, attempting to repair this tissue can fail or result in a hip that is still painful. The labral reconstruction is simply different. The labral graft is incorporated by the body, restores the normal biomechanics of a native labrum, but should never have the ability to regain innervation. In other words, it can never feel pain. This is an ideal solution for a very challenging problem, especially in situations where the labrum is not suitable for repair or a previous attempt to repair the labrum has failed.

Experience matters. Simply put, your first surgery represents your best opportunity to be perfect, to return to activity, and to return to the life that allows you to be happy again. He performs on average 430 hip arthroscopies per year, 11 per week, and nearly all of them are labral reconstructions. Approximately 100 of these cases are revision hip arthroscopies with labral reconstruction. In August of 2017, he performed his 2,000th labral reconstruction. The labral reconstruction procedure has incredible potential, but is an extremely difficult and challenging surgery. Performed well it can yield perfect results, performed poorly it can create problems that are difficult to fix. Many equate 10,000 hours to the perfection of a craft. Dr. White spends over 2,500 hours per year in the operating room performing this surgery and has made it reproducible for even the most challenging hip. His passion, devotion, and commitment are felt when you sit in room with him. He takes the responsibility given to him with each patient seriously. He surrounds himself in both the Operating Room and his clinic with similar minded people devoted to a common goal. That goal is to make you perfect and whole again.

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Labral Reconstruction 
March 21, 2019 

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Raj Bazaz, MD, is a board-certified orthopaedic specialist at Western Orthopaedics, P.C., in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Bazaz grew up in Detroit, Michigan. He received his bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University and his medical degree from the University of Michigan. He received his orthopedic training at Case Western Reserve University. Believing in the exciting future of minimally invasive surgery, he did an arthroscopic surgery fellowship at the Southern California Orthopedic Institute. He is board-certified and a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Dr. Bazaz joined Western Orthopaedics, P.C. in 2004 and specializes in the arthroscopic treatment of shoulder/knee disorders, sports medicine, and joint replacement. He follows a patient-first treatment philosophy of setting and keeping appointments, providing thorough evaluations and detailed explanations of patient diagnosis, so patients can be part of the decision-making process. He is a team orthopedic surgeon for The Glendale Raptors. 

I believe it is my privilege to have you as my patient not the other way around.  You deserve certain things when you come to Western Orthopaedics, P.C.  (1) To be seen by me in a timely manner. (2) A thorough evaluation. (3) An explanation of your diagnosis.  When you leave our clinic it is my hope that you understand your diagnosis and treatment options.

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John Schwappach, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at Denver Metro Orthopedics, P.C., which has locations in Englewood and Aurora, Colorado. 

Dr. Schwappach was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. He then went on to attend the Colorado School of Mines and graduated in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in engineering chemistry. Dr. Schwappach graduated with honors in 1989 from the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He then completed an orthopedic residency program at the University of Kansas before pursuing a fellowship in orthopedic traumatology at the University of Washington through Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Dr. Schwappach is a board-certified fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. He has published extensively in orthopedic literature, including articles based on his own original research. Along with orthopedic trauma and fracture care, Dr. Schwappach also specializes in joint replacement surgery, post-traumatic reconstruction, pelvic/acetabular surgery, sports medicine injuries, and clinical research.

He is currently affiliated with several local hospitals, including Porter Adventist Hospital in Denver, Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, and Medical Center of Aurora.

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He is an expert in non-surgical musculoskeletal care and bio-restorative therapies. He also specializes in minimally invasive treatments for osteoarthritis and chronic soft tissue injuries. He looks forward to providing patients with the best possible non-surgical options available to help relieve their pain and feeling like themselves again.

When asked, “What brought you to Colorado to practice regenerative orthopedics?” Dr. O’Donnell laughed and shared, “Short answer: my wife. She’s from Littleton, Colorado. I was working in an orthopedic practice, but as I got deeper into regenerative orthopedics, I discovered I wanted to focus on this area of expertise. During COVID, we reevaluated our future. My wife said, "If we're making a change, I want to move to Colorado. I had connected with Dr. Timothy Mizzola of Breakthrough Regenerative Orthopedics, and after nearly a year of discussions, my wife and I made the move. I had the privilege of working with Dr. Mizzola to establish Breakthrough’s Centennial, CO location and after a little over a year we came to the agreement for me to buy out this location of the practice and we re-opened as Revitalize in November 2024.”

Dr. O’Donnell is originally from West Chester, Pennsylvania, and completed medical school at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) and residency at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Dr. O’Donnell served in the United States Air Force and was named 6th Medical Group Physician of the Year. He completed a sports medicine fellowship at the University of Toledo Hospital in Ohio to further his orthopedic expertise.

Dr. O’Donnell then spent 12 years in Flagstaff, Arizona, specializing in minimally invasive and cutting-edge non-operative treatments. While in Flagstaff, he cared for national and international Olympic Athletes training at high altitudes.  Dr. O’Donnell was previously an adjunct professor at A. T. Still University in Kirksville, Missouri.

In his spare time, he enjoys reading, gardening, and traveling. Dr. Kevin O’Donnell also enjoys staying active. He is an avid sports fan and enjoys both participating in and watching a wide variety of sports. Dr. O’Donnell resides in Highlands Ranch with his wife, Meghan, and three energetic boys, Cole, Ryan, and Jack.