The Shoulder Blueprint

After years alongside a shoulder surgeon, how much medical knowledge sticks?Nicole Davis joins her husband, Dr. Caleb Davis, for the debut of “A Surgeon’s Wife: Pop Quiz.” Her challenge: pronounce orthopedic terms, identify surgical instruments, and make sense of X-rays—with no advance preparation.From rotator cuffs and labral tears to surgical tools called “Batman and Robin,” Caleb explains the answers while Nicole supplies unexpected guesses, sharp observations, and plenty of laughs.Play along and find out whether you know more shoulder anatomy than a surgeon’s wife.Have a shoulder or elbow term for the next quiz? Send it to [email protected] or find us on Instagram at @ShoulderBlueprint.For educational and informational purposes only; not personal medical advice.

Cortney Hartman returns to The Shoulder Blueprint to share how she built a career spanning surgical technology, education, simulation training, and the medical device industry.In Part 2, she joins Dr. Caleb Davis to discuss recognizing the value of your skills, pursuing further education, and creating opportunities beyond the operating room. Cortney explains the mission behind “Beyond the Mayo” and how she helps surgical technologists map their next career move.They also take an honest look at OR culture: mentoring new staff, breaking the “eat our young” cycle, responding to surgeons who yell, and building the trust a surgical team needs.Connect with Cortney:surgicaltecheducator.comFollow Dr. Caleb Davis: @CalebDavisMDFollow the podcast: @ShoulderBlueprintQuestions: [email protected] educational and informational purposes only; not medical advice. Views expressed are our own and do not represent our employers or affiliated organizations.

What really happens inside an operating room and what does a scrub tech actually do?Dr. Caleb Davis sits down with former surgical technologist and surgical first assistant Courtney Hartman for a behind-the-scenes look at life in surgery.Courtney spent more than a decade working in cardiothoracic surgery, assisting with heart surgery, vascular procedures, trauma cases, and organ transplants. She explains how scrub techs are trained, why the best surgical technologists can anticipate a surgeon's next move, and why having the confidence to speak up can be critical for patient safety.She also shares unforgettable stories from the OR from a pair of glasses falling into an open abdomen to holding a donor heart while a surgeon sewed it into a transplant recipient.Caleb and Courtney discuss the demanding reality of surgical call, fatigue in healthcare, traumatic cases that stay with operating room staff, changes in surgical culture, teamwork in the OR, and what separates a great surgical team from an average one.They also explain what aspiring surgical technologists should know before choosing the career—and why spending a day shadowing inside an operating room might be the most important first step.Topics include surgical technologists, scrub techs, operating room careers, heart surgery, transplant surgery, trauma surgery, surgical teamwork, patient safety, medical careers, and life behind the scenes in surgery.

Robotic-assisted shoulder replacement promises extraordinary precision—but does that actually translate into a better shoulder?Dr. Caleb Davis and Dr. Justin Givens are joined by Dr. Mark Mighell, one of the early surgeons involved in the development of robotic-assisted shoulder replacement, for a deep dive into where the technology started, how it works today, and where it may be headed.They discuss how surgeons plan shoulder replacements using CT-based 3D planning, how robotic assistance can reproduce that plan with extremely high accuracy, and how haptic boundaries help surgeons prepare bone without unintentionally moving outside the planned area.They also tackle an important distinction: greater surgical precision has been demonstrated, but whether that translates into superior long-term implant survival and clinical outcomes still requires more data.The conversation covers implant positioning, surgical outliers, complex bone loss, range of motion, surgeon stress, data collection, patient safety, and why the “robot” is actually a surgeon-controlled tool rather than an autonomous machine performing the operation.This episode offers a practical look at both the promise and the current limitations of one of the most significant technological changes in modern shoulder replacement surgery.The Shoulder Blueprint is hosted by orthopedic shoulder and elbow surgeons Dr. Caleb Davis and Dr. Justin Givens.Educational content only. This podcast is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual condition.

Should you really wait until you’re 65 to have a shoulder replacement?For younger, active patients with severe shoulder arthritis, that traditional advice can mean living with pain for years — sometimes while becoming less active and less healthy in the process.In this episode of The Shoulder Blueprint, orthopedic shoulder surgeons Dr. Caleb Davis and Dr. Justin Givens discuss how newer approaches are changing that conversation.We break down subscapularis-sparing shoulder replacement, a technique that allows surgeons to perform certain shoulder replacements without intentionally cutting and repairing the subscapularis tendon. Because that tendon does not have to heal from a surgical repair, selected patients may be able to come out of the sling and regain independence earlier.We also discuss pyrocarbon hemiarthroplasty, particularly for younger and highly active patients who want to continue lifting, working, wrestling, practicing jiu-jitsu, or participating in other demanding activities.Along the way, we discuss implant longevity, activity restrictions, revision surgery, preserving bone for the future, patient selection, and why surgeons sometimes need to change the surgical plan based on what they find in the operating room.Shoulder replacement is evolving. For the right patient, newer materials and muscle-sparing techniques may provide options that weren’t available a generation ago.The Shoulder Blueprint is hosted by Dr. Caleb Davis and Dr. Justin Givens.Contact: [email protected] Dr. Caleb Davis:Instagram, TikTok & X: @CalebDavisMDYouTube: Caleb Davis - MDFollow Dr. Justin Givens:@GivensShoulderElbowFollow The Shoulder Blueprint on Instagram:@ShoulderBlueprintYou can also check out The Wellness Blueprint with Dr. Caleb Davis.The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are our own and do not represent those of our employers or affiliated professional organizations.This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

Robotic-assisted shoulder replacement is one of the newest technologies in orthopedic surgery—but what does the robot actually do?Dr. Caleb Davis and Dr. Justin Givens take you inside the operating room to explain how MAKO robotic-assisted reverse shoulder replacement works. They walk through the process from the preoperative CT scan and 3D surgical plan to tracking the shoulder blade, preparing the socket, and using haptic boundaries that prevent the surgeon from moving outside the planned surgical area.Most importantly: the robot does not perform the surgery on its own. The surgeon remains in complete control.The discussion also goes beyond how the technology works. Caleb and Justin examine some of the biggest questions surrounding robotic shoulder replacement: Does greater accuracy actually improve patient outcomes? Does robotics make surgery faster? Can it reduce outliers? And could the enormous amount of surgical data being collected ultimately change how surgeons determine the ideal position for a shoulder replacement?They also discuss the limitations of the technology, the importance of surgical skill and soft-tissue management, and why the true clinical impact of robotic shoulder replacement will require years of research.A practical, balanced look at where robotic shoulder replacement stands today—and where it may be headed next.The Shoulder BlueprintHosted by Dr. Caleb Davis and Dr. Justin GivensEducational content only. This podcast does not provide individualized medical advice.

Reverse shoulder replacement has transformed the way surgeons treat some of the most difficult shoulder problems but what exactly are we “reversing,” and why does it work?In this episode of The Shoulder Blueprint, Dr. Caleb Davis and Dr. Justin Givens explain how reverse shoulder arthroplasty works, how the procedure evolved, and why it has become such an important option for patients with severe arthritis, irreparable rotator cuff tears, fractures, deformity, and failed previous shoulder replacements.They also discuss the realities patients need to understand before surgery, including expected pain relief and function, limitations with internal rotation, acromial stress fractures, dislocation, implant positioning, and why setting realistic expectations is one of the most important parts of a successful shoulder replacement.Plus, they look at the history of the reverse shoulder and the influence of Dr. Mark Frankle on the modern American design.Next episode: robotic-assisted shoulder replacement and CT-based preoperative planning.The Shoulder Blueprint is an educational podcast and is not intended to provide individual medical advice

What happens when someone has severe shoulder arthritis in their 40s or 50s but is still extremely active?Traditional shoulder replacement can provide excellent pain relief but in younger patients, surgeons also have to think about what that shoulder will look like 10, 20, or even 30 years later.IDr. Caleb Davis and Dr. Justin Givens discuss pyrocarbon hemiarthroplasty, a newer approach that replaces the humeral head while preserving the patient’s native socket.They explain what pyrocarbon is, why its properties may make it more bone-friendly than traditional cobalt-chrome implants, and why it has become an increasingly interesting option for young and active patients.The discussion covers patient selection, arthritis, avascular necrosis, rotator cuff requirements, recovery expectations, technical challenges such as overstuffing, and the limitations of the long-term data we currently have.They also discuss an important shift happening in shoulder surgery: why some experienced surgeons who spent decades performing traditional anatomic shoulder replacements are now reconsidering how they treat their youngest and most active patients.Topics include:• What is a pyrocarbon hemiarthroplasty?• Pyrocarbon vs traditional metal implants• Preserving the glenoid in younger patients• Shoulder replacement longevity• Arthritis and avascular necrosis• Recovery after pyrocarbon shoulder replacement• Rotator cuff considerations• Overstuffing and surgical technique• What the long-term evidence currently shows• Where pyrocarbon may fit into the future of shoulder replacementThe Shoulder Blueprint is hosted by orthopedic shoulder surgeons Caleb Davis, MD and Justin Givens, MD.Educational content only. This podcast is not a substitute for individualized medical evaluation or treatment.

Shoulder replacement is not a one-size-fits-all operation. In this episode of The Shoulder Blueprint, Dr. Caleb Davis and Dr. Justin Givens take a deep dive into anatomic total shoulder replacement: how it works, who may benefit from it, and why reverse shoulder replacement has become increasingly common.They discuss:• Why a healthy rotator cuff is essential for an anatomic shoulder replacement• The potential for more natural motion, strength, and function• Polyethylene wear, implant loosening, and long-term bone loss• Subscapularis-sparing shoulder replacement and how it may accelerate recovery• How age, activity level, glenoid deformity, and future revision risk influence implant selection• Why surgeons sometimes plan an anatomic replacement but change to a reverse replacement during surgeryThe central message is simple: the best shoulder replacement is not necessarily the newest or most popular implant. It is the operation that best matches the patient’s anatomy, rotator cuff, goals, age, and long-term needs.

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Caleb Davis is joined by physical therapist Luke Brohm, PT, to discuss how patients can optimize recovery after surgery.Drawing from both professional experience and Luke’s current recovery from Achilles tendon surgery, this episode explores practical and evidence-based strategies to improve healing, reduce complications, preserve muscle mass, improve sleep, and safely return to activity.The conversation covers:Early mobilization and blood clot preventionPreventing post-operative muscle atrophySleep and circadian rhythm after surgeryPain management and opioid reductionBlood flow restriction training (BFR)Neuromuscular reactivation and cross-educationCRPS and nervous system sensitizationRecovery psychology and maintaining routinePractical rehab strategies patients can apply immediatelyAn insightful discussion for athletes, surgical patients, clinicians, and anyone interested in recovery science and orthopedic rehabilitation.