Samuel S. Koo, MD, MPH

Dr. Samuel S. Koo, M.D., a board-certified orthopedic physician and surgeon specializing in minimally invasive arthroscopic shoulder surgery, complex open shoulder surgery, trauma, and fracture care. He also performs platelet-rich plasma therapy. He is an authority on treating shoulder problems to help patients resume an active lifestyle as quickly as possible.

Dr. Koo has trained with Dr. Stephen Burkhart, the world’s foremost expert in minimally invasive shoulder surgery. He also has a clinical interest in total and reverse total shoulder replacement, large to massive rotator cuff tears, complex labral tears, bone grafts for chronic instability, and revision arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Dr. Koo believes all surgeons must have two essential qualities: integrity and empathy. To him, integrity means treating each patient as if he were caring for his wife or children. Family is important to him. He believes that integrity means offering the highest quality of care available. He is an expert in arthroscopic (minimally invasive) shoulder surgery, but he will not recommend surgery unless all non-operative solutions have been explored and exhausted. The shoulder is an extremely fascinating joint with lots of moving parts. As such, injuries are common and often complex. Over the last few years, there have been dramatic improvements in the way shoulder pathology is treated. Orthopedic surgeons are now able to perform most shoulder surgeries using arthroscopic techniques (small incisions) that are at least as good, if not better than, the open (larger incisions) procedures of the past.

He has trained with the world’s experts in minimally invasive shoulder surgery, so the care and technical expertise his patients receive is cutting-edge and based on the best available research for various shoulder ailments (rotator cuff tears, labral tears and instability, etc.). He is always actively looking for new ways to improve his surgical/nonsurgical treatment methods to help his patients regain their active lifestyle.

Dr. Koo feels it is unfortunate that surgeons are often not associated with empathy, because they are in the ideal position to support patients as they recover from difficult procedures. In his practice, his patients’ questions will be heard and answered promptly. By working together he and his patients can optimize the patient experience and maximize their health and well-being.

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