Research and Patient Education
As a lifelong innovator, Dr. Spencer has always been heavily involved in clinical research across a wide spectrum of interests, most notably in the development of new surgical techniques, design of new surgical devices and improvement of patient outcomes. As a member of the MOON group, he has been a crucial part of establishing the largest prospective rotator cuff repair in the world, providing crucial data that can be used for research on the best ways to optimize rotator cuff repair outcomes and deliver the highest patient satisfaction.
In addition, Dr. Spencer is a member of the American Shoulder and Elbow Society, an exclusive group of surgeons recognized for their dedication and contributions to clinical research throughout their practice. He has also been inducted to the Neer Society, a type of “honors” group within the American Shoulder and Elbow Society in recognition of his outstanding work in research and development of numerous surgical techniques and components, always searching for better ways to treat patients and get them back to the lives they want to live.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections
Dr. Spencer and his research staff are excited to announce a publication examining the effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections for specific types of partial rotator cuff tears known as “intra-substance” tears. These tears are unique in the fact that they occur completely inside the tendon without disturbing the outside layer of tissue. This forms a sort of pocket into which PRP can be injected. While not covered by insurance, PRP injections can be very useful for specific pathologies, and our research has shown a 92% success rate for these tears. Using this technique, many patients are able to avoid surgery altogether and get back to normal life quicker!
Rotator Cuff Repair and Biceps Tenodesis
In addition to pushing the envelope utilizing non-surgical approaches to partial rotator cuff tears, Dr. Spencer has also developed a novel technique to repair both a degenerative biceps tendon and rotator cuff tear at the same time, allowing treatment of both a rotator cuff tear and degenerative biceps tendon without utilizing any additional hardware typically associated with treating the biceps tendon, saving both time and money.
Arthroscopic Partial Rotator Cuff repair
One of Dr. Spencer’s first innovations was a technique for repairing a specific type of partial rotator cuff tear known as a PASTA tear (Partial Articular Surface Tendon Avulsion). These repairs typically require cutting through a healthy portion of the rotator cuff before repairing the entire tendon. However, Dr. Spencer’s technique offers a much better way of completing this repair without cutting through any healthy tendon. The paper was published in 2010 and has withstood the test of time, as a recent analysis performed by a research group of out China showed its effectiveness when compared to the typical treatment method without the normal process of cutting through healthy tendon tissue.
Research Blog
2023 Research Recap – One for the books!
As the holiday season approaches, we at the Shoulder and Elbow Clinic want to extend our warmest wishes and a very Merry Christmas to all of our patients and their…
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Davinci’s Glenoid- Decoding the Arthritic Shoulder
Dr. Spencer and the team at the Shoulder and Elbow Center are thrilled to announce the latest of our research efforts being published in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow…
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Patient Resources and Other Research Papers