Dr. Hearon’s 35-year career as a physician and surgeon has been devoted to defining and solving musculoskeletal problems.

He designed and conducted research to measure human response to impact acceleration conditions. His work helped to improve the screening and safety of the volunteer test subjects who participated in these studies. The test results were used to modify pilot restraint systems in order to decrease the possibility of musculoskeletal injury during crash situations.

Dr. Hearon’s orthopaedic training took place in San Antonio, Texas, where he was mentored by world-renowned shoulder specialist Charles Rockwood, Jr., M.D. and internationally recognized hand specialists David Green, M.D. and James Dobyns, M.D. As a fellow in upper extremity orthopaedics in Houston, Texas, Dr. Hearon was mentored by the highly respected surgeons of the Fondren Orthopaedic Group, including shoulder specialist Gary Gartsman, M.D. and hand specialists James Bennett, M.D., Craig Crouch, M.D. and Thomas Mehlhoff, M.D. Dr. Hearon attributes his orthopaedic expertise, in large part, to the training he has received from these and many other outstanding orthopaedic surgeons.

Throughout his career, Dr. Hearon has himself been a mentor to many health care professionals including athletic trainers, physical therapists, physician assistants, medical students, family practice and orthopaedic surgery residents. He has held adjunct faculty teaching positions at the University of Arizona in Tucson and at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in San Antonio. He presently holds clinical teaching appointments at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda.

At present, Dr. Hearon encounters over 3000 patients per year in his full-time, private practice with Advanced Orthopaedic Associates, P.A. Since 1994, Dr. Hearon has completed over 8000 upper extremity surgical cases. His reputation as a meticulous surgeon, a perfectionist in the operating room is well deserved and has led to his appointment as Quality Assurance Committee Chairman for the Kansas Surgery and Recovery Center.

If you need a knowledgeable and experienced upper extremity orthopaedist who develops and maintains a good rapport with his patients, please call our office at 316-631-1600 ext 338 to schedule an appointment.

G. Stephen Granberry, PA-C

Physician Assistant

Education:

Bethal University: M.S. Physican Assistant

John Brown University: Bachelors of Science in Biology

Certifications:

National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants

Sarah M. Johnson, APRN

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

Education:

Wichita State University:  M.S. Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner

Wichita State University:  Bachelors of Science in Nursing

Certifications:

American Nurses Credentialing Center

PA’s & APRN’s in the Office

In clinic, you will see one of Dr. Hearon’s Mid-levels who may obtain your history at your first office visit and may assist Dr. Hearon with your exam. If surgery is indicated, you will have a preoperative appointment where the PA/APRN will review treatment options including surgery, answer any questions you may have, perform a brief physical exam and schedule your surgery. They will also determine if medical clearance is necessary. Preoperative and postoperative instructions will be reviewed. All post op visits will be scheduled with the PA/APRN as well as seeing Dr. Hearon.

In surgery, the Mid-Level’s job includes first assisting Dr. Hearon, writing orders and dismissal instructions as well as providing postoperative patient care.

To learn more about the Physician Assistant profession, visit the American Academy of Physician Assistants website at www.aapa.org.

This section of our website contains rehabilitation protocols and demonstration videos prepared for our upper extremity orthopaedic patients.  The data are presented in the following subsections:

• Nonoperative Shoulder Protocols
• Operative Shoulder Protocols
• Exercise Videos
• Elbow Protocols
• Wrist / Hand Protocols
• Sports Protocols
• Therapy Venues

The protocols are intended to be used as guidelines during therapy, not as substitutes for the instruction provided by a certified therapist.  The videos are intended to complement the shoulder rehabilitation protocols.
 
The treatment protocols are formatted in PDF files which may be downloaded by therapists and by our patients.  The steps during each phase of rehabilitation are clearly defined in simple language so that both therapist and patient understand the goals and expectations of treatment at all times.
 
The importance of physical therapy, particularly following shoulder surgery, cannot be overstated.  We believe that a good surgical outcome requires a technically well done procedure as well as a good postoperative physical therapy program.
 
The postoperative protocols in this section have been designed for use by my patients after specific operations done by me.  The protocols may or may not be appropriate for postop patients treated elsewhere.
 
These protocols have been derived from a variety of sources, including the references cited below.  However, they are primarily based on my nearly 30 years of experience treating and rehabilitating orthopaedic patients.
 
Reference List

1. Burkhart SS, Morgan CD, Kibler WB.  The Disabled Throwing Shoulder:  SICK Scapula, Scapular Dyskinesis, Kinetic Chain and Rehabilitation.  Arthroscopy, 19(6): 641-661, 2003.

2. Cannon NM (ed).  Diagnosis and Treatment Manual for Physicians and Therapists:  Upper Extremity Rehabilitation.  Indianapolis:  The Hand Rehabilitation Center of Indiana, 2001.

3. Cohen BS, Romeo AA, Bach BR Jr.  Shoulder Injuries (Ch. 3) in Clinical Orthopaedic Rehabilitation, 2nd ed., Brotzman SB and Wilk KE (eds).  Philadelphia: Mosby, 2003.

4. Crosby CA, Wehbe MA.  Conservative Treatment for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.  Hand Clinics, 20(1):  43-49, 2004.

5. Kibler WB, Livingston B.  Closed-Chain Rehabilitation for Upper and Lower Extremities.  J Am Acad Ortho Surg, 9(6): 412-21, 2001.

6. Kibler BW, McMullen J.  Scapular Dyskinesis and Its Relation to Shoulder Pain.  J Am Acad Ortho Surg, 11(2): 142-51, 2003.

7. Matsen FA, Lippitt SB, Sidles JA, Harryman DT II.  Practical Evaluation and Management of the Shoulder.  Philadelphia:  WB Saunders Company, 1994.

8. Wilk KE, Crockett HC, Andrews JR.  Rehabilitation After Rotator Cuff Surgery.  Tech Shoulder Elbow Surg, 1(2): 128-144, 2000.

9. Wilk KE, Meister K, Andrews JR.  Current Concepts in the Rehabilitation of the Overhead Throwing Athlete.  Am J Sports Med, 30(1): 136-151, 2002.

Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Imaging

The purpose of this section is to define the appropriate plain radiographs for common upper extremity problems.  This review is not intended to be a comprehensive study of all upper extremity radiographs as there are many specialized views.  However, we hope it will serve as a resource for physicians and physician assistants ordering routine screening radiographs for common clinical problems.  Radiology technicians may also find this section useful as it contains specific instructions, including a pictorial guide, for obtaining optimal views of the upper extremity.

Basic Principles

Observing the following three basic principles will result in fewer suboptimal radiographs, better patient care and significant saving of health care dollars.
 
1.  Obtain appropriate radiographs according to the body part of interest.  The X-ray beam should be focused on the area of interest.  For example, evaluation of a proximal humerus fracture at the level of the shoulder requires radiographs centered on the shoulder, not the humeral shaft.
 
2.  Obtain orthogonal views of the joint of interest.  Two views of the injured or painful joint should be taken in perpendicular planes (orthogonal views).  This principle is commonly violated when imaging the shoulder.  Two anteroposterior radiographs (the usual internal rotation and external rotation views) taken perpendicular to frontal axis of the thorax do not adequately evaluate the shoulder joint.  These radiographs actually provide oblique views of the glenohumeral joint which is inclined at 45 degrees to the frontal plane of the thorax.
 
3.  Obtain plain radiographs prior to advanced imaging studies.  The plain radiographs should be studied to determine if advanced imaging such as MRI or CT scan is necessary.  Advanced imaging is often not required for common orthopaedic conditions of the upper extremity.

• Glenohumeral Joint Imaging
• Clavicle Imaging
• Elbow Imaging
• Wrist Imaging
• Scaphoid Imaging
• Hand Imaging
• Suggested Radiographs