Sebastian Salem suffered from hand pain. He was diagnosed by several doctors with a bone problem; after various treatments that failed to alleviate his wrist pain, he visited Dr. Alejandro Badia at the Badia Hand to Shoulder Center in Miami, Florida. During his first visit with Dr. Badia, Sebastian was correctly diagnosed with a tendon problem in his wrist, not a bone problem as he had previously been told.
After arthroscopic surgery (*) and physical therapy, Sebastian was able to recover from his wrist condition and return to playing golf professionally.
(*)Arthroscopy: Exploration or medical examination of the inside of a joint by inserting a video camera.
Professional golfer Sebastian Salem from Lima, Peru
“I’m Sebastián Salem, from Lima, Peru. I’m a professional golfer, and I’ve been playing on the PGA Tour Latinoamérica for over five years. That’s how I make a living.”
“My first procedure with Dr. Badia was on my left hand, a tendon problem. In Peru, many doctors thought it was a bone problem because, frankly, I couldn’t move my hand. It was an incredible experience, because the first time I came to see Dr. Badia in Miami, FL, he touched my hand and pre-diagnosed that it wasn’t a bone problem, as I had been diagnosed in Peru.”
Dr. Alejandro Badia, MD – Orthopedic Surgeon at Badia Hand to Shoulder Center – Doral, FL
“Sebastián, as many people know, is a top-level professional golfer, originally from Peru. He has been a champion in his country and is now competing in international tournaments. He started having a very serious problem with his wrist. Interestingly, the first time I saw him, I think it was in 2010, he complained quite a bit about his shoulder at that time, but the main problem, which was preventing him from playing, was his wrist.”
“I think I had seen three or four doctors, some of them excellent orthopedists. But they weren’t really wrist specialists, and more importantly, they lacked the necessary experience in arthroscopy; because you can’t diagnose something subtle like carpal instability. In his case, he had something called a lunate-triquetral ligament injury. That injury causes a lot of pain on the ulnar side of the wrist (the lower border—between the palm and the back of the hand). It’s a very difficult diagnosis to make.”
“When I performed the arthroscopy, we found the problem, because often MRIs or other studies don’t show it. The injury, which I see quite frequently, was visible during the arthroscopy. I cleaned the ligament area and inserted two pins. These pins, which are inside the wrist, fix the overlap and allow a new ligament to form.
The pins are removed after 7 or 8 weeks, and then the rehabilitation therapy begins, which is key, right here at our clinic in Doral, Miami. Later, the patient continues therapy in Peru with a physiatrist, in this case, Dr. Jorge Sarango, who is highly regarded both in Peru and throughout Latin America.”
“The great thing about operating on athletes is that they always have a much faster recovery than regular patients. They’re used to discomfort, the famous ‘no pain, no win’ mentality. They understand that when they do therapy, it’s going to be uncomfortable, but they’re also more trained, so the joint has better blood flow and more strength. Therefore, the patient recovers much faster.”
Continued testimony from Professional Golfer Sebastián Salem from Lima, Peru
“It all started when I left Jorge Chávez Airport (in Lima, Peru) to travel here to Doral to see Dr. Badia. He has truly helped me a lot.
“After the first surgery, I think I was sidelined for about four months, and after that, my golf took a different turn. I’ve been doing very well at the Latin American level. I’ve been playing very well, and I hope that after this second surgery, my game will continue to improve.” The truth is, this second operation isn’t as complicated as the first, but it’s something I’ve had for a while due to an anatomical issue. The doctor slightly “remodeled” the bone and tendon so that when I move it backward to lift the golf club, it’s easier and doesn’t hurt.
“I have complete confidence in Dr. Badia,” and honestly, when you have these kinds of procedures, you’re afraid, because this is how I make a living. I wouldn’t let anyone else touch me, except Dr. Badia, for anything related to my shoulders or hands, which is what allows me to continue my professional life as a golfer.
“Come and see him!” That’s my message… get checked out in your country, and if you can’t find a solution there, honestly… choose to come to Badia Hand to Shoulders, because both times I’ve come here, I’ve left with a huge smile on my face. This is my second time, as I said, and I’m sure I’m going to recover. And we have everything we need here. We have the clinic, the operating rooms, and the rehabilitation center is just a door away. Everything is right here, and the doctor is always attentive to his patients’ needs. This last point is fantastic, because a busy person like the doctor is always available. There are many others like me, and I don’t know where the doctor finds the time, but he’s always there to see all his patients, and that’s the most important thing.”
Golfer’s Injuries Dr. Alejandro Badia Golfer’s Elbow Orthopedic Surgeon – Golfer’s Elbow or Epicondylitis
Dr. Alejandro Badía, Orthopedic Surgeon specializing in surgery and operation of the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder.
We treat these conditions: Finger Arthroplasty, Hand Arthroscopy, Elbow Replacement, Elbow Bursitis – Olecranon, Dislocated Elbow, Golfer’s Elbow, Hand Tendonitis, Elbow Trauma, Endoscopy, Flexor Tenosynovitis – Trigger Finger, Frozen Shoulder, Glenomeral Shoulder Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Rotator Cuff, Rotator Cuff Tear, Rotator Cuff Tendinitis, Shoulder Arthritis, Synovitis/Joint Edema, Tendonitis, Tennis Elbow or Lateral Epicondylitis, Tenosynovitis, Arthritis in the Fingers – Osteoarthritis or Arthritis of the Hand or Fingers, Trigger Finger, Bankart Lesion, Biceps/Triceps Rupture, Bicipital Tendinitis, Shoulder Bursitis or Rotator cuff tear, carpal or cubital tunnel syndrome, clavicle fracture, De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, distal humerus fractures, Dupuytren’s contracture, elbow contracture/stiffness, metacarpal phalangeal fractures, skier’s thumb, ulnar collateral ligament tear.
VIP services for patients of the Badia Center – Hand to Shoulder:
For more information, call:
Madeline Martinez
305-670-6550
Atlantic Corporate Travel
The Badia Hand to Shoulder Center team looks forward to meeting you personally and assisting you efficiently with the high-quality, personalized care that characterizes the center. For more information, please contact us by phone at [phone-englishg section=”Content”] or online at drbadia.com/es.
Badia Hand to Shoulder Center
Tel. (305) 227-4263
3650 NW 82nd Ave. Suite 103
Doral, Florida 33166
