An interview with Rick Matsen, M.D.

Dr Matsen, ranked as a "Top Doctor" in the category of "Orthopedics" according to Seattle Magazine (September 2007), has dedicated his entire professional life to developing excellence in Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at the University of Washington. Starting with his residency here in 1971 he developed an interest in shoulder and elbow reconstruction. A fellowship with the father of modern shoulder surgery, Dr Charles S. Neer II confirmed his lifetime commitment to improving the art of care of patients with simple and complex problems involving the shoulder and elbow. He has partnered with Charles Rockwood, a fellow Texan, in editing the definitive text in shoulder surgery The Shoulder, now in its third edition from Saunders. He has also written Practical Evaluation and Management of the Shoulder and most recently, along with a former shoulder fellow Steve Lippitt, has published Shoulder Surgery, Principles and Procedures, also published by Saunders. Matsen and his partner Winston Warme are the primary faculty for a fellowship in shoulder and elbow surgery.

Dr Matsen is also the Medical Director for University of Washington Sports Medicine, a group that has the honor of caring for the varsity student athletes at the UW. He is also Director of the Residency Program (coordinated by fellow professor Doug Hanel), that is recognized as one of the top orthopedic residencies in the United States.

Finally, he is chair of the Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, a position he has held since 1986, making him the senior chair among clinical departments at the University of Washington. During his tenure the Department has risen to being one of the top Departments according to rankings by U.S. News and World Report and by the National Institutes of Health. These dramatic accomplishments are a direct result of the wonderful faculty, staff, residents, fellows, postdoctoral students, graduate students, alumni and benefactors that have together made the Department what it is today.

For more about Dr Matsen, click and view the "Orthopedics This week - The picture of success".

What do you most enjoy about your work?

It is a very special and in many ways unique opportunity to be simultaneously engaged in providing highly specialized and personal care to individuals with shoulder and elbow problems, cutting edge research, top level teaching, and partnerships with outstanding faculty and medical centers within UW Medicine. The support of my family and friends has made it possible to continue to love my work and to keep me waking every morning excited to roll up my sleeves and get started.

What is your treatment philosophy?

The best care results when an experienced specialist develops a personal relationship with a well-motivated patient who is motivated to achieve the best possible result. I am proud to say that the Department of Orthopedic and Sports Medicine is built on this philosophy.

What are your interests outside of medicine?

I enjoy activities with my family, including cycling, hiking, music and the arts. I speak French poorly but with enthusiasm.

What is the focus of your teaching efforts?

It is a wonderful opportunity to share my experience with the outstanding students, residents and fellows that are attracted to the University of Washington. I like to make sure that my patients understand and welcome the roles played by those we are training to be the next generation of orthopedic specialists.

What do your most recent research efforts focus on?

I am proud that our shoulder and elbow team is pioneering research in new methods for shoulder and elbow reconstruction. Our emphasis is on increasing the role played by tissue regeneration in achieving biological solutions to problems of the shoulder and elbow.

What is the focus of your clinical efforts?

My special interest is partnering with my patients in achieving durable solutions to major mechanical problems of the shoulder and elbow.

Selected bibliography of Rick Matsen's recent publications:

• Scarlat, M.M., Cuny, C., Goldberg, B.A., Harryman II, D.T., Matsen III, F.A.: The lateral impaction of the shoulder. Int Orthop., 23(5):302-7, 1999.
• Norquist, B.M., Goldberg, B.A., Matsen III, F.A.: Challenges in evaluating patients lost to follow-up in clinical studies of rotator cuff tears. J Bone Joint Surg Am., 82(6):838-42, 2000.
• Matsen, S.L., Malchow, D., and Matsen III, F.A.: Correlations with patients' perspectives of the results of lower extremity amputations. J. Bone Joint Surg Am., 82(8):1089-95, 2000.
• Viola, R. W, Boatright, K. C., Smith, K. L., Sidles, J. A., and Matsen, F.A.: Do shoulder patients insured by workers' compensation present with worse self-assessed function and health status? J. Shoulder Elbow Surg., 9(5):368-72, 2000.
• Smith, K.L, Harryman II, D.T., Antoniou, J., Campbell, B., Sidles, J. A., and Matsen III, F.A.: A prospective multi-practice study of shoulder function and health status in patients with documented rotator cuff tears. J. Shoulder Elbow Surg., 9(5):395-402, 2000.
• Matsen, F.A., III, Antoniou, J., Rozencwaig, R., Campbell, B., and Smith, K.L.: Correlates with comfort and function after total shoulder arthroplasty for degenerative joint disease. J. Shoulder Elbow Surg., 9(6):465-469, 2000.
• Goldberg, B.A., Nowinski, R.J., and Matsen III, F.A.: Outcome of nonoperative management of full thickness rotator cuff tears. Clin Orthop, 382:99-107, 2001.
• Churchill, S.R., Moskal, M., Lippitt, S.B., and Matsen III, F.A.: Extracapsular anatomically contoured anterior glenoid bone grafting for complex glenohumeral instability. Tech Shoulder Elbow Surg., 2(3):210-218, 2001.
• Weldon, E.J., III, Scarlat, M.M., Lee, S.B., and Matsen, F.A., III: Intrinsic stability of unused and retrieved failed polyethylene glenoid components. J. Shoulder Elbow Surg., 10(5):474-481, 2001.
• Goldberg, B.A., Lippitt, S.B., and Matsen III, F.A.: Improvement in shoulder comfort and function after rotator cuff repair without acriomioplasty. Clin. Orthop., 382:99-107, 2001.
• Scarlat, M.M., and Matsen III, F.A.: Observations on retrieved polyethylene glenoid components. J. Arthroplasty, 16(6):795-801, 2001.
• Goldberg, B.A., Smith, K.L., Jackins, S., Campbell, B., and Matsen III, F.A.: The magnitude and durability of functional improvement after total shoulder arthroplasty for degenerative joint disease. J. Shoulder Elbow Surg., 10(5):464-469, 2001.
• Schiffern, S.C, Rozencwaig, R., Antoniou, J., Gillespy III, T., Richardson, M.L., and Matsen, F.A., III: Anteroposterior centering of the humeral head in the glenoid in vivo. Am. J. Sports Medicine, 30(3):382-387, 2002.
• Fehringer, E.V., Kopjar, B., Boorman, R.S., Churchill, R.S., Smith, K.L., and Matsen III, F.A.: Characterizing the functional improvement after total shoulder arthroplasty for osteoarthritis. J. Bone Joint Surg., 84A(8):1349-1353, 2002.
• Boorman, R., Hacker, S., Lippitt, S.B., and Matsen III, F.A.: Impaction grafting technique for humeral component replacement and fixation in shoulder arthroplasty. Accepted for publication in Tech. Shoulder Elbow Surg., 2002.
• Hasan, S.S., Leith, J.M., Campbell, B., Kapil, R., Smith, K.L., and Matsen III, F.A.: Characteristics of unsatisfactory shoulder arthroplasties. J. Shoulder Elbow Surg., 11(5):431-441, 2002.
• Lau, C., Churchill, R.S., Kim, J., Matsen III, F.A., and Kim, Y. Asynchronous Web-Based Patient-Centered Home Telemedicine System. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng, 49(12): 1452-1462, 2002.
• Lazarus, M.D., Jensen, K.L., Southworth, C., and Matsen III, F.A.: The radiographic evaluation of keeled and pegged glenoid component insertion. J. Bone Joint Surg., 84A(7):1174-1182, 2002.
• Matsen III, F.A.: The biomechanics of glenohumeral stability. J. Bone Joint Surg., 84A(3):495-496, 2002.
• Matsen III, F.A.: The relationship of surgical volume to quality of care: scientific considerations and policy implications. J. Bone Joint Surg., 84A(8):1482-1483, discussion 1483-1485, 2002.
• Woodhouse, E., Fehringer, E., Benda, P., and Matsen III, F.A.: Metastatic carcinoma to the acromion in a patient following total shoulder arthroplasty: A case report and review of the literature. J. Shoulder Elbow Surg., 11(6): 645-647, 2002.
• Boorman, R., Shafer, B., Fehringer, E., Churchill, R.S., and Matsen III, F.A.: Ulnar component fracture after total elbow arthroplasty: A report of two cases. Accepted for publication in J. Shoulder Elbow Surg., 2002.
• Hacker, S., Boorman, R., Lippitt, S.B., and Matsen III, F.A.: Impaction grafting improves the fit of proximal humeral arthroplasty. Accepted for publication in J. Shoulder Elbow Surg., 2002.
• Boorman, R., Kopjar, B., Fehringer, E., Churchill, R.S., Smith, K.L., and Matsen III, F.A.: The effect of total shoulder arthroplasty on self-assessed health status is comparable to that of total hip arthroplasty and coronary artery bypass grafting. J. Shoulder Elbow Surg., 12(2): 158-163, 2003.
• Fehringer, E., Schmidt, G., Boorman, R., Churchill, R.S., Smith, K.L., Norman, A., Sidles, J.A., and Matsen III, F.A.: The anteroinferior labrum helps center the humeral head on the glenoid. J. Shoulder Elbow Surg., 12(1): 53-58, 2003.
• Harryman II, D.T., Hettrich, C., Smith, K.L., Campbell, B., Sidles, J.A., and Matsen III, F.A.: A prospective multipractice investigation of patients with full thickness rotator cuff tears: The importance of co-morbidities, surgeon, and other co-variables on self-assessed shoulder function and health status. J. Bone Joint Surg., 85A(4): 690-696, 2003.
• Hasan, S., Leith, J., Smith, K.L., and Matsen III, F.A.: The distribution of shoulder replacements among surgeons and hospitals is significantly different than that of hip or knee replacements. J. Shoulder and Elbow Surg., 12(2): 164-169, 2003.
• Matsen III, F.A., Rockwood Jr., C.A., and Iannotti, J.: Humeral fixation by press fit of a tapered metaphyseal stem. A prospective radiograph study. J. Bone Joint Surg., 85A(2): 304-308, 2003.
• Boorman, R.S., Page, W.T., Weldon III, E.J., Lippitt, S.B., and Matsen III, F.A.: A triceps-on approach to semi-constrained total elbow arthroplasty. Tech. Shoulder Elbow Surg., 4(3):139-144, 2003.
• Churchill, R.S., Fehringer, E.V., Dubinsky, T.J., Matsen III, F.A. : Rotator cuff ultrasonography: diagnostic capabilities. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. Jan-Feb;12(1):6-11, 2004.
• Churchill, R.S., Boorman, R.S., Fehringer, E.V., Matsen III, F.A. : Glenoid cementing may generate sufficient heat to endanger the surrounding bone. Clin Orthop. Feb;(419):76-9, 2004.

Latest Articles by Rick Matsen

• Compartmental Syndromes
• Elbow Replacement Surgery for Arthritis
• Non-prosthetic Glenoid Arthroplasty for Arthritis of the Shoulder
• Reversed (Reverse Delta) Prosthesis for Shoulder Rotator Cuff Tear Arthropathy
• Shoulder Arthritis with Rotator Cuff Tear
• Shoulder Cuff Tear Arthropathy (CTA) Prosthesis
• Shoulder Replacement Surgery for Arthritis
• Surgery for Rotator Cuff Tears
• Surgery to Deepen the Socket of Anteriorly Dislocating Shoulders (using an anterior iliac crest bone graft)
• Surgery to Deepen the Socket of Posteriorly Dislocating Shoulders (by reshaping the underlying bone)
• Surgical Repair for Shoulder Dislocations
• Surgical replacement for shoulder arthritis - Surgery with a CAP

University of Washington Bone and Joint Center - Phone: 206-598-BONE (2663) or the online referrals website