Does Shoulder Lengthening Require A Bone Graft Or Just Bone Putty?

Q: Dr. Eppley, in regards to shoulder widening surgery by osteotomy. Does the sagittal split osteotomy + oblique osteotomy require a bone graft from the body or just putty? And how long will the patient be in a sling?

A: In answer to your shoulder lengthening questions:

1) Bone putty is used not an autologous bone graft.

2) I don’t put patients in arm slings.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana