Published: April 17, 2025 | Updated: May 6, 2025
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
The outdoors are where Eddie Boone feels most at home.
His last name traces back to the Kentucky frontiersman Daniel Boone, legendary for his wilderness exploits. Given that family history, no wonder Eddie loves spending time in nature.
The career electrician built his Nelson County log home with his bare hands back in the ’70s. If you look closely, you can see Bernheim Forest from his back deck. And, adorning the walls are elk busts and antlers, memories of family hunting and backpacking trips as far west as Alaska.
“It’s always fun to know that [my family] can enjoy the outdoors as well, and I used to say I’ve got to be in shape enough to make the trek,” Eddie said.
In 2019, Eddie and his family drove to Dotsero, Colorado, for a horseback hunting trip. While driving through the mountains, Eddie noticed his left shoulder would seemingly catch when he turned the steering wheel.
“Extensive driving became a problem,” he said. “Maybe [it was] the hills and stuff out there, but I was noticing a little trouble then.”
Then it got worse. Eddie couldn’t saddle his own horse. He knew he had a bigger issue. He was losing hope.
“I was thinking, ‘Something’s got to change,’” Eddie said.
Eddie started conservative treatments on his shoulder.
He began a series of injections, both with and without steroids. He tried dry needling, a physical therapy treatment that involves inserting thin needles. Those treatments worked, but only for a short time.
“I didn’t know my shoulder was completely damaged,” Eddie said. “I’ve had several shots, but … every time I had that, it would only help it for a little while, and then it would get worse.”
Making matters more complicated was the damage in Eddie’s knees, both of which needed to be surgically repaired. He put off the shoulder issue for a little while longer and visited Chad E. Smith, M.D., orthopedic surgeon with Norton Orthopedic Institute. In robotic-assisted surgeries, Dr. Smith repaired both of Eddie’s knees.
Meanwhile, the pain in Eddie’s shoulder only worsened. It affected his everyday life.
“Even though I’m right-handed, you don’t realize how much that left hand assists everything you do,” he said. “And one major thing right now that I notice is just trying to do anything toward your belt — getting your pants on the right way, or even getting them on, period. Putting a shirt on. Brushing your hair. All this is normal stuff that is showing me I’ve got to have my shoulder better than it’s been.”
He was introduced to Justin M. Givens, M.D., shoulder and elbow orthopedic surgeon with Norton Orthopedic Institute, who determined Eddie was a candidate for a reverse shoulder replacement.
“He had a big rotator cuff tear that was unrepairable,” Dr. Givens said. “He had arthritic changes. And so, you have two issues going on that the reverse shoulder replacement was specifically made for. And then you say, ‘OK, is it affecting his life?’ He can’t lift his arm. He’s in terrible pain. He can’t sleep at night. So for me, that’s someone who has an injury we have a fix for and has an issue that’s significantly affecting his life.”
Dr. Givens and Eddie discussed the options and determined Eddie was a candidate for an innovative shoulder procedure. Eddie was a candidate for robotic-assisted reverse shoulder replacement.
This new technology is designed to elevate Dr. Givens’ control and confidence by providing him with a 3D image of the patient’s unique shoulder anatomy. Dr. Givens then can study those 3D simulations before surgery and view them on a screen during the procedure. The robotic arm assists him in shaving down the patient’s glenoid (shoulder socket), creating the ideal surface for the implant. From there, the robotic arm’s capabilities help ensure that the implant is positioned within the preplanned boundaries, while aiming for improved accuracy. The goal is to allow for a more natural range of motion and better long-term outcomes for patients.
In March 2025, Dr. Givens became one of the first five surgeons in the country — and the first in Kentucky — to perform this procedure.
“This technology gives me precision to ensure every cut and movement is exactly what the individual patient needs,” Dr. Givens said. “We’ve never had this level of accuracy before in this field. Now, the procedures we’ve theorized can be put into practice. And for me, when I’m talking about trying to give you the best outcome, and I have technology that can get within 0.1 millimeters of precision, it’s a pretty easy decision to make.”
Eddie, who’d had the two robotic-assisted surgeries performed on his knees, knew the benefits of the new technology and agreed to have it done. So on March 19, 2025, Dr. Givens performed the successful robotic-assisted reverse shoulder replacement.
“If there’s a medical procedure to fix this, then I’m all for it,’” Eddie said. “And Dr. Givens came up with this diagnosis that [my shoulder] is completely shot, and told me he’s got a new robotic application. Like I said, I’m ready for it. That’s what it’s all about for me.”
In the first two weeks since surgery, Eddie already has seen dramatic improvement. He was out of his sling in just seven days. His range of motion is returning closer to normal by the day.
“This is something that I was not able to do just a few days ago,” Eddie said as he swung his arm around.
Now, Eddie’s goal is to rest up, continue his physical therapy regimen and eventually get back to the outdoors, spending time hiking, hunting and fishing with his family. He also wants others to know there is hope for them too, if they’re experiencing daily pain.
“I hope they can see that there is light at the end of the tunnel as far as your health goes. If you can just stay with it and be lucky enough to run across good surgeons, like Dr. Smith and Dr. Givens. And the technology needs to be the major push, as far as I’m concerned, because of the accuracy, and this is a pretty good show of it.”