Patient Stories
Second opinion gets cyclist back in the saddle after major shoulder injury
Date posted: 7/6/2025
Last updated: 7/6/2025
Runner-turned-cyclist Paul Rosenblum, 60, is no stranger to hard work and challenges. Following his successful career at the Chicago Board of Trade, Rosenblum leaned into his passion for long distance running and opened a store for athletes called Running Away Multisport. While running the store, he logged hundreds of miles in marathons, half marathons, and triathlons. During that time, he also organized popular race events in the Chicago area, including the Hot Chocolate Run in 2008. Today, it remains one of the top events for area runners and has expanded to become a national series in major cities across the country.
Like many long-time, competitive runners, Rosenblum began to shift his focus from running to competitive cycling. Back surgery then confirmed that cycling was a better fit for his body and overall fitness goals. He eventually worked his way up to an average of 10,000 miles a year on his bike.
Multiple fractures after a fall
Almost two years ago, Rosenblum went out for a cycle race simulation on the Des Plaines River Trail. This is what an athlete does to essentially rehearse before a big event. While taking a turn on the gravel path, he skidded and was thrown high into the air. “I went up so much it was like I was flying,” Rosenblum explains. He came down hard directly onto his left shoulder.
“I knew instantly I had done something serious,” Rosenblum says. “But fortunately, I have a good riding friend who is an orthopedic surgeon, so I called him to pick me up.”
X-rays confirmed that Rosenblum had sustained multiple fractures in his clavicle (collarbone), one of the most common traumatic injuries sustained by both amateur and professional riders. He underwent surgery to insert a plate and 13 screws to stabilize the shoulder. All seemed well, and he proceeded into the recovery and rehabilitation phase of his treatment.
Healing stalled
However, five weeks post-surgery, Rosenblum noticed that the incision had reopened and was quite red. His orthopedic surgeon put him on oral antibiotics, but he spiked a high fever, which sent him to the local emergency department. After a stay in the hospital on IV antibiotics, the surgeon re-did the original clavicle surgery, removed the old hardware, cleaned the wound, and replaced it with a new plate and screws. He went home with a wound vacuum and an IV. His arm was in a sling.
Unfortunately, he then developed a condition called adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder,) meaning that he had very limited range of motion in his entire shoulder area. His orthopedic surgeon became concerned after X-rays showed that his fracture hadn’t healed.
The surgeon suggested that he find “another set of eyes” to help assess the best course of treatment for his complex set of problems. Together, they agreed that shoulder surgery specialist Dr. Grant Garrigues at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush was the best choice for a second opinion.
“I told Dr. Garrigues that I heard he’s the guy who fixes all the bad cases,” Rosenblum says. “Dr. G confirmed that he has experience in both tough and straight-forward cases, and I trusted him right away.”
Specialized surgical fix
Right away, Dr. Garrigues performed testing on Rosenblum to evaluate his bone loss, among other clinical evaluations. He ultimately recommended surgery to remove a small piece of bone from Rosenblum’s hip, which would then be inserted to fill in the gap in his shoulder fracture. He carefully explained the procedure and answered all of Rosenblum’s questions.
“Mr. Rosenblum had a difficult constellation of problems, but he also had what all top athletes have: grit,” Dr. Garrigues recalls. “I explained that the surgery would be complex, but I believed I could help remove any residual infection and reconstruct his clavicle with structural bone from his pelvis.”
Rosenblum consented to another surgery, after which he was hopeful. “I really never thought I wouldn’t be OK,” he admits.
Once home, he followed the doctor’s orders and remained in a sling with no activity for another six weeks. He put on a few pounds and missed his annual bike trip to Italy with his cycling pals. Then, four months following surgery, Dr. Garrigues cleared him to get back on the bike. Ready to ride, little by little, he added mileage and confidence. The extra weight came off, and his fitness level rose.
“He got back on a stationary bike first, but the hardest part of the recovery was keeping him off the road bike,” says Garrigues. “Once the fracture successfully and fully healed, he was ready to get back at it.”
Today, Rosenblum is cycling 200 miles a week and recently completed a bike trip to Italy with friends. “I’ll admit I’m a little more risk-averse now,” he says. “But I’m just really proud of myself that I came out whole after all of this.”
He is looking forward to many more cycling events ahead.
“I don’t know if I’d be where I am today if not for Dr. Garrigues’ expertise,” Rosenblum reflects. “I appreciate his skills and conservative approach, which really paid off in the end.”
About Dr. Grant Garrigues
Dr. Garrigues is an internationally recognized expert in shoulder and elbow surgery. His clinical focus is shoulder and elbow conditions, with specialties in minimally-invasive treatments for shoulder arthritis (including shoulder replacement), rotator cuff tears, and shoulder instability.
