Inouye set to undergo
shoulder surgery
Doctors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., plan to partially replace U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye's left shoulder in an operation set for Oct. 6.
Inouye's spokesman, Mike Yuen, noted in a news release yesterday that "Sen. Inouye's left arm and shoulder have done 'double duty' for more than five decades."
Inouye lost his right arm while leading an attack in Italy during the closing months of World War II. In the assault on April 20, 1945, Inouye, wounded in the arm, leg and stomach, killed 25 German soldiers and captured eight others, knocking out at least two machine gun emplacements. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and later the Medal of Honor.
Inouye is expected to rehabilitate in the hospital for one or two weeks following the operation, technically called a shoulder hemiarthroplasty, according to Dr. John S. Xenos, director of adult reconstruction in Walter Reed's orthopedics department.
"Full recovery is expected by three months following the procedure, but he will likely be able to resume his usual duties within three to four weeks of the procedure," Xenos said.
Inouye, 79, said he plans to get back to work as soon as possible.
"I expect that after a few days, I will be able to carry on some of my official duties from my hospital bed, and soon afterward be able to get back to my office," Inouye said in the release.
Earlier this year, Inouye announced plans to run for re-election. He has served continuously in Washington since 1959 and in the Senate since 1962.
In 1998, he had operations to remove cataracts in both eyes, and shoulder surgery.
