Orthopedic Medicine

Orthopedic medicine involves the prevention or correction of injuries or disorders of the skeletal system and associated muscles, joints, and ligaments.


Some common orthopedic problems are as follows:


  • Fractures (broken bones)
  • Sprains and strains (muscles)
  • Tendonitis and bursitis (tendons and ligaments)
  • Back, shoulder and neck pain
  • Hip, knee and ankle pain
  • Scoliosis or spinal deformities
  • Foot disorders
  • Hand injuries
  • Sports injuries
  • Dance and other performing arts injuries
  • Work-related injuries

HEALTHPOINTE specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic injuries and disease. Our surgeons are fellowship trained in orthopedic sub-specialties—knee, neck, back, hand, shoulder, ankle, and foot—and take a team approach to treating every patient. In the event of an injury, a complete evaluation is carried out to diagnose the problem and assess function.  Medical therapies, including pain management, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, chiropractic adjustments, and acupuncture are always considered before surgery is recommended. We pride ourselves in managing the majority of patients without surgery.


Arthroscopic Surgery


Orthopedic surgeons use arthroscopic surgery to visualize, diagnose and treat problems inside the joint. Arthroscopic surgery is done through several small incisions, each about the size of a finger tip. Pencil-sized instruments containing a small lens and lighting system are used to magnify and illuminate the structures inside the joint. The images are projected onto a television screen, allowing the surgeon to see the details inside the joint and repair many orthopedic problems.


Arthroscopic surgery has revolutionized orthopedic surgery. In the past, large incisions and extensive dissections were required as part of most operations. The smaller incisions of arthroscopic surgery result in a shorter healing time, less pain, and a decreased chance of damage to surrounding structures.  Arthroscopic surgery can be performed for a wide spectrum of injuries to the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle and even some of the smaller joints in the foot.


Arthroscopic surgery is usually done as an outpatient procedure, allowing patients to return home several hours after surgery. Complications are uncommon. Although the puncture wounds are small and pain can be minimal, it may still take several weeks to fully recover.  Candidates for arthroscopic surgery can have many different diagnoses and preexisting conditions, so each patient’s experience is unique.


Examples of conditions treated by arthroscopic surgery include:


  • Removal or repair of a torn meniscus (a rubbery, C-shaped disc that cushions your knee)
  • Reconstruction of knee ligaments
  • Rotator cuff repairs of the shoulder
  • Repair of labrum (shoulder joint) and ligament tears of the shoulder
  • Removal or repair of loose debris or injured cartilage in the hip, knee, wrist or ankle

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery


Back pain is a leading cause of lost productivity at work and diminished quality of life at home. Most of us will have at least one serious episode of back pain in our life. Some will face constant pain, causing some form of disability. Conventional treatments, such as avoiding strenuous activity, taking anti-inflammatory medications, and undergoing physical therapy, will prove sufficient to control the symptoms for many back and neck pain patients. A small percentage, however, will become candidates for spine surgery.


There are many different types of spinal procedures, all targeted to the specific problem believed to cause the symptoms. If a nerve is being pinched, resulting in numbness and weakness in an arm or leg, it is often due to a displaced or “slipped” disc. Discs function as shock absorbers between vertebrae. They are made of tissue similar to cartilage, which can bulge out of place and put pressure on a nearby nerve. A discectomy is a form of spine surgery that typically involves removal of the displaced part of the disc and some adjacent bone, which takes pressure off the nerve. Back and neck operations frequently involve a fusion of two or more vertebra in the neck or lower back. This requires the removal of most of the disc and insertion of materials that facilitate bone growth within the space.