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Workers' Compensation

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Treatment under workers’ compensation requires expert knowledge in medical treatment and a legal understanding of the intricacies of workers’ compensation in order to provide optimum care and benefits to patients. While Dr. Mochizuki is not an attorney himself, he has extensive experience over more than 25 years in the management of work-related illnesses and injuries covered by workers’ compensation. Dr. Mochizuki’s focus is on early diagnosis and minimally invasive treatment techniques for cost-effective and timely recoveries that promote healthy healing while reducing time lost from work.

Dr. Mochizuki has taken a special interest in workers’ compensation from the time he became one of the first physicians certified as a Qualified Medical Examiner for the State of California. Medical treatment often requires special reports and appeals to be filed for patients before insurance companies will provide authorization for treatment. When written reports and appeals are unsuccessful, Dr. Mochizuki is required to speak on a peer to peer basis with other orthopedic surgeons in order to obtain authorizations for medical treatment. Dr. Mochizuki performs these tasks promptly because delays in reporting cause delays in treatment. Dr. Mochizuki’s knowledge of the California Workers’ Compensation system and his experience as a Qualified Medical Examiner have resulted in a greater than 99% success rate in obtaining authorization for medical treatment for his patients.

For effective results and optimal communication, Dr Mochizuki works in conjunction with the patient, employer and insurance carrier to establish appropriate work restrictions for each individual patient.  The ongoing collaboration ensures that the orthopedic care provided is of the highest medical and legal standards. To provide these valuable services to patients and employers alike, Dr. Mochizuki continues to update his knowledge in this specialized field.

Our workers’ compensation services include:

• Treatment from a board-certified orthopedist
• Completion of PR-4 and PR-2 reports at the completion of treatment.
• Timely appointments within 48 hours of obtaining authorization for treatment.
• Concise written reports that fulfill all legal requirements
• Fees in compliance with Official Medical Fee Schedule

Patient Education

One of the most effective tools against costly and counterproductive workplace injuries is proper education and training to prevent injuries from occurring in the workplace.  By training employees about safe work techniques and regularly monitoring safety conditions, the frequency of injuries can be significantly reduced.  Furthermore, knowledge of proper post-injury rehabilitation promotes healthy healing and a more successful recovery.

Click here to view our Patient Education topics.

Rotator Cuff Injury Treatment

A rotator cuff injury is a strain or tear in the group of tendons and muscles that hold your shoulder joint together and help move the shoulder.

A rotator cuff injury may result from:

• Impingement from bone spurs
• Using your arm to break a fall
• Falling onto your arm
• Lifting a heavy object
• Normal wear and tear in an older person
• Use of your shoulder in sports with a repetitive overhead movement, such as swimming, baseball (mainly pitchers), football, and tennis, which gradually strains the tendon;  manual labor such as painting, plastering, raking leaves; or housework.
• Severe pain at the moment the injury occurs
• Limited shoulder movement and tenderness on top of your shoulder at the end of your collarbone, swelling and bruising of your shoulder area, or a misshapen shoulder.

Most rotator cuff tears can be repaired using arthroscopic surgery techniques. Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is Dr. Mochizuki's primary method for treating rotator cuff tears that can not be treated with rest, medication and/or physical therapy.

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair should be distinguished from mini open rotator cuff repair. In mini open rotator cuff repair, a small incision is made through the skin and deltoid muscle, and the surgical repair of the rotator cuff is carried out. The major disadvantage of the mini open repair is the potential injury to the deltoid muscle, which can result in deltoid muscle atrophy and additional scar tissue. This can lead to muscle weakness and the loss of shoulder movement. Additionally, the surgical scar from the mini open incision can be unsightly and create a shoulder asymmetry.

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair can overcome most of the disadvantages of mini open repairs. The incisions are much smaller and generally involve the skin only. A probe is then used to push between the deltoid muscle fibers which helps to prevent injury to the deltoid muscle. Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair also reduces the amount of scar tissue formation and provides a better range of motion. The scars from arthroscopic rotator cuff repair are cosmetically more pleasing. Further, shoulder asymmetry is a rare occurrence. Postoperative rehabilitation is generally less painful and normal range of shoulder motion is achieved more rapidly with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

To learn more about the Shoulder, click here »

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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition involving numbness, pain, tingling and instability in the wrist, hand and fingers. It occurs when pressure is put on a nerve in the wrist called the median nerve, which controls motor function in the wrist and hand. This pressure, called impingement, is most often caused by bone spurs, rheumatoid arthritis, repetitive use or injury.

Carpal tunnel syndrome can be diagnosed with tests such as an electromyogram or a nerve conduction study. It can often be effectively treated with non-surgical therapies such as wrist splints, anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids. In cases where pain and numbness persist, surgery (usually endoscopic surgery) may be necessary to relieve pressure on the nerve.

To learn more about the Hand, click here »

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Knee Injury Treatment

The knees are the strongest joint in the human body, allowing the legs to bend and straighten while carrying almost all of the weight of the individual when they are standing. The knees are a hinge joint, but still have substantial capacity for lateral (side-to-side) motion.

As an active, weight-bearing joint, the knee is a source of pain and problems for many people. This pain may be acute or chronic, and may be a result of injury, overuse or growth. It can stem from the tendons, ligaments, bones, cartilage or any other structure within the knee. Some of the most common knee conditions include:

To learn more about the Knee, click here »

View animation on Knee Injuries »

Patella Injuries

The patella, commonly known as the kneecap, helps increase leverage and support within the knee joint. Pain may develop in the patella as a result of overuse or injury, and often causes a fracture. Patella fractures can involve a single crack across the kneecap or a break into several pieces, and usually causes severe pain and swelling.

Surgery may be required for more intense patella fractures, and aims to repair the patella by realigning the fractured ends and holding them in place with pins, screws and wires. Part of the bone may just be removed in smaller fractures. During the healing process, the knee must be kept straight, and patients will often undergo physical therapy to help restore movement to the joint.

• If you would like to discuss these symptoms or signs further with Dr. Mochizuki, call the office today.