After a fall, Margaret Hirschy got a new start with a new shoulder, thanks to Intermountain St. James Hospital
(PRUnderground) July 14th, 2025
As many unfortunate people can attest, a simple fall can change everything.
“I caught my foot in a strap hanging loose from the door – it was totally preventable but just happened,” recalls Margaret Hirschy when recounting her own experience.
That moment sent her tumbling; first into the door jamb, then hard onto the floor. The pain was immediate and intense. She had fractured her shoulder and was rushed to Intermountain Health St. James Hospital in Butte, Montana.
“It happened on a weekend, but the emergency room team was incredible – they kept me overnight and took care of me,” she said. “I walked back into the hospital for my surgery and couldn’t believe all three of the nurses remembered me.”
It was these nurses who helped guide Hirschy to Bryan Mark, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at Intermountain St. James Hospital, who offers comprehensive surgical treatment of the knee, hip, and shoulder, including cartilage restoration and joint preservation.
In utilizing minimally invasive techniques, Dr. Mark’s goal is to return patients to the lives and activities they love.
“Margaret had a very complex, displaced four-part proximal humus fracture, to the point that fixing it with plates and screws was not an option,” Dr. Mark said. “We did a reverse shoulder replacement using a newer prosthesis which has had great results.”
After her full shoulder replacement, Hirschy stayed one night in the hospital and was discharged. After a few months, she was able to start physical therapy with incredible progress in only a month.
“I’m older, but this has been remarkable for me,” she said, noting that as an active Montanan, she’s stayed in pretty good health and has had very few hospitals experiences in her lifetime.
At her four-month checkup, Dr. Mark reviewed her X-rays and tested her mobility.
“Her fracture is mostly healed,” he said. “And she has returned to basically normal activities – Margaret will be back to driving her tractor here in a couple weeks!”
Both Dr. Mark and Hirschy agree that surgery is just one part of the recovery process. Hirschy stressed that even though it’s challenging, listening to the restrictions and being complaint makes all the difference in the long run.
“I like to play tennis,” she said, noting that if she’s consistent with her physical therapy, and gets cleared by her doctor, she may be able to play once again. “We’ll see.”
About Intermountain Health
Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 33 hospitals, over 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For up-to-date information and announcements, please see the Intermountain Health newsroom at https://news.intermountainhealth.org/.
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Original Press Release.
