Why I'm Teaching a Free Seminar on Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement

Brian Butzen
Nov 5
4 min read

I'm hosting a free online seminar on December 3 at 6:30 PM about reverse total shoulder replacement surgery. I want to tell you why.

This surgery is one of the most rewarding things I do as an orthopedic surgeon. I see patients who can't lift their arm to brush their hair, can't sleep because of pain, and have given up activities they love. Then, after surgery and recovery, they're back to living their lives. That transformation is why I became a surgeon.

A Surgery That Actually Works

Not every treatment in medicine gives predictable results. But reverse total shoulder replacement is different. When it's the right surgery for the right patient, it works.

Reliably.

I perform more than 100 of these surgeries each year here in Durango. I've seen people go from barely being able to move their shoulder to getting back on the golf course, back to gardening, back to holding their grandkids. And the recovery is rapid, frequently, people see huge improvements in just a few weeks. The surgery restores function and takes away pain that has been wearing people down for months or years.

That's why I'm passionate about it. When you can help someone get their life back, that's the best part of this job.

Why Host a Seminar?

A lot of people in the Durango area are dealing with shoulder pain right now. Some have been told they have a rotator cuff tear that's too big to fix. Others have shoulder arthritis that isn't getting better with therapy or injections. Many don't know that reverse total shoulder replacement surgery exists or that it might help them.

I want people to understand their options. This surgery isn't for everyone, but when it's the right choice, it can change everything.

During the seminar, I'll explain how the surgery works in plain language. No medical jargon. I'll walk through what happens before, during, and after the procedure. I'll talk about recovery time and what results people can expect.

Then I'll answer questions. All of them. I'll stay on as long as it takes.

Who Should Join?

This seminar is for anyone dealing with serious shoulder problems. If you have shoulder pain that limits what you can do every day, this is for you. If you've been told your rotator cuff tear can't be repaired, you should join. If you have shoulder arthritis combined with rotator cuff damage, this information will help.

You don't need to be my patient already. This seminar is open to anyone in Durango, Farmington, Cortez, Pagosa Springs, or anywhere in the Four Corners area.

What Makes This Surgery Special

Reverse total shoulder replacement surgery flips how your shoulder works. Instead of relying on your damaged rotator cuff to lift your arm, it uses your deltoid muscle instead. That's the muscle on the outside of your shoulder that's usually still strong.

For people whose rotator cuff is too damaged to repair, this is often the only way to restore shoulder function. Traditional rotator cuff surgery fixes torn tendons, but some tears are just too big. When that happens, reverse total shoulder replacement becomes the answer.

I'm the only surgeon in the Four Corners region who also performs lower trapezius tendon transfer for irreparable rotator cuff tears, so I understand all the options for complex shoulder problems. But for many people with severe rotator cuff damage and arthritis, reverse total shoulder replacement is the most reliable choice.

My Experience With This Surgery

I've been practicing in Durango since 2013, and I've been doing these surgeries throughout that time. I'm double board-certified in orthopedic surgery and hand surgery, with fellowship training in hand and upper extremity surgery. That training gave me advanced experience in shoulder surgery.

I perform these procedures at Animas Surgical Hospital, which has the best patient experience ratings in our area. My infection rate is well below 1%. I stay current with the latest techniques by attending conferences and working with my mentors from training.

But the numbers and credentials aren't what drive me. What drives me is seeing someone walk into my office barely able to lift their arm, and then seeing them six months later living without pain and doing things they thought they'd never do again.

The Results Speak for Themselves

I've seen patients who couldn't reach into a cabinet get back to full overhead motion. I've seen people who couldn't sleep at night because of pain sleep through the night again. I've seen grandparents who couldn't hold a grandchild lift them up with confidence.

These aren't rare outcomes. This is what happens when reverse total shoulder replacement surgery is done for the right reasons on the right patients. The surgery is that reliable.

That's why I want to teach people about it. If you're suffering with shoulder pain and limited function, you deserve to know this option exists.

Join Me on December 3

The seminar is free. It's on YouTube Live, so you can join from home. Sign up at www.doctorbutzen.com/seminar and I'll send you the link.

I'll present for 30 minutes, then answer every question people have. No sales pitch. Just information that can help you make good decisions about your shoulder health.

I've spent my entire career in Durango helping people with shoulder, wrist, and hand problems. This surgery, more than any other, lets me take someone who's really struggling and give them their life back. That's why I do this work.

If you're dealing with shoulder pain or know someone who is, I hope you'll join me on December 3. Let me show you what's possible.