Orthopedic Care

Expert Orthopedic Care Dedicated to Your Wellbeing

When a patient is involved in a motor vehicle collision, slip-and-fall, or workplace accident, the musculoskeletal system bears the brunt of the impact. At Integrity Medical Group, our orthopedic specialists work hand-in-hand with our neurosurgeons and interventional pain management providers to provide patients with a single, highly coordinated path toward recovery. This integrated approach ensures that complex structural injuries to the joints, bones, ligaments, and tendons are evaluated with spinal or neurological trauma.

Better Insights for Better Outcomes

Common Orthopedic Injuries We Treat

Shoulder

Rotator Cuff Tears: Acute tearing of the stabilizing shoulder tendons, frequently caused by bracing against the steering wheel or dashboard during a collision.
Glenoid Labral Tears (SLAP Tears): Tears of the cartilage ring surrounding the shoulder socket, common when landing on an outstretched arm during a slip-and-fall.
Shoulder Dislocation & Instability: Traumatic disruption forcing the humeral head out of its socket, which often causes secondary nerve stretching and chronic weakness.
Acromioclavicular (AC) Joint Sprain: Tearing of the ligaments connecting the collarbone to the shoulder blade, typically caused by a direct impact to the side of the shoulder.
Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder): Progressive stiffness, inflammation, and restriction of the shoulder capsule following immobilization or localized trauma.
Proximal Humerus Fractures: Breaks occurring in the upper part of the arm bone near the shoulder joint, often resulting from falls or other trauma.

Wrist & Hand

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Acute nerve compression within the carpal tunnel caused by swelling, inflammation or structural displacement.
Carpometacarpal (CMC) Joint Sprains & Instability: Ligamentous injuries at the base of the thumb (frequently the thumb CMC joint) resulting from a fall or a forced impact while gripping a steering wheel.
Distal Radius & Ulna Fractures: Common wrist breaks occurring when catching oneself during a fall, frequently requiring realignment or fixation to preserve full hand function.

Hip

Labral Tears: Tearing of the fibrocartilaginous ring lining the acetabulum, caused by sudden twisting, rotational forces, or other trauma.
Trochanteric & Greater Trochanteric Bursitis: Painful inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs protecting the outer hip bone, often triggered by direct impact.

Knee & Lower Extremity

Meniscal Tears (Medial and Lateral): Tearing of the knee's shock-absorbing cartilage due to direct impact or sudden twisting forces during an accident.
Cruciate Ligament Tears (ACL, PCL): Acute structural failures of the internal stabilizing ligaments—frequently resulting from "dashboard knee" impacts or noncontact twisting injuries.
Collateral Ligament Sprains & Tears (MCL, LCL): Injuries to the outer stabilizing bands of the knee, typically occurring when a sideways force pushes the joint sideways.
Patellar Fractures & Tendon Tears: Direct blunt force trauma to the kneecap sustained during dashboard impacts or hard falls onto concrete.

General Fractures, Dislocations & Extremity Trauma

Extremity Fractures: Acute breaks in the long bones of the arms (humerus, radius, ulna) and legs (femur, tibia, fibula) that require alignment, immobilization, or surgical fixation.
Intra-articular Fractures: Complex bone breaks extending directly into a joint capsule (such as the wrist, ankle, or elbow) that demand meticulous anatomical restoration to prevent rapid-onset post-traumatic arthritis.
Severe Joint Sprains & Ligamentous Disruption: High-grade tearing of structural ligaments in the wrists, ankles, or hips that destabilizes the limb and severely impairs baseline mobility.

What Sets Us Apart

Comprehensive, Team-Based Care

Your recovery shouldn't be limited by a specialist's singular focus. By bringing neurosurgery, orthopedics, and pain management under one umbrella, our integrated team looks at the big picture. We collaborate to design the exact care plan you need, from diagnosis through recovery.

Advanced Diagnostics

We utilize advanced, state of the art imaging and diagnostic protocols to accurately pinpoint injury pathology.

Surgery Only When the Medical Evidence Suggests It

We believe in exhausting all evidence-based, conservative treatment before considering the operating room.

Minimally Invasive Techniques for Rapid Recovery

When surgery is required, our orthopedic surgeons utilize advanced, minimally invasive techniques wherever possible. This means, less pain, less risk, and faster recovery times.

How We Treat

When conservative treatments fail to provide relief after high-impact trauma, our board-certified orthopedic specialists perform advanced, minimally invasive surgeries and complex reconstructions to restore structural stability and mobility.

The most common orthopedic surgery types performed for accident-related trauma include

Minimally Invasive Joint Arthroscopy

Arthroscopic surgery is an advanced, minimally invasive technique where a tiny camera (an arthroscope) and specialized micro-instruments are inserted through small, buttonhole incisions. This spares surrounding muscle tissue, minimizes post-operative pain, and shortens recovery timelines. Common arthroscopic procedures include:

Rotator Cuff Repair: Reattaching or stabilizing torn tendons in the shoulder joint, which are frequently damaged when bracing for impact during a car crash.
Glenoid Labrum (SLAP) Repair: Anchoring and stabilizing torn cartilage rings in the shoulder socket, highly common after slip-and-fall impacts.
Meniscal Repair or Meniscectomy: Suturing or trimming torn shock-absorbing cartilage in the knee capsule following a twisting injury or direct impact.
Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACL/PCL): Reconstructing completely torn internal knee ligaments using a tissue graft to restore joint stability.

Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF)

For complex, displaced, or shattered bones that cannot heal with a simple cast, an ORIF procedure is required. The surgeon makes an incision to manually realign the bone fragments (open reduction) and holds them securely in place using specialized, medical-grade hardware (internal fixation). This includes:

Extremity Fracture Fixation: Using plates, screws, or intramedullary rods to stabilize fractures of the long bones in the arms (humerus, radius, ulna) and legs (femur, tibia, fibula).
Intra-articular Fracture Reconstruction: Meticulously reconstructing complex bone breaks that extend directly into a joint capsule, such as the wrist, ankle, or elbow. Precise anatomical alignment is vital in these surgeries to prevent the rapid onset of post-traumatic arthritis.

Targeted Hand & Nerve Decompression Surgeries

Carpal Tunnel Release: A precise microscopic or endoscopic procedure to cut the transverse carpal ligament, immediately relieving pressure on the median nerve following trauma-induced carpal tunnel syndrome.
CMC Joint Reconstruction / Ligament Stabilization: Rebuilding damaged ligaments at the base of the thumb using local tissue grafts to eliminate instability, relieve arthritic pain, and restore pinching mechanics.

Surgical Stabilization for Joint Dislocations & Separations

High-velocity trauma can tear the primary ligaments holding a joint together, causing severe instability or complete dislocation. When structural integrity is compromised, surgical options include:

Shoulder Stabilization: Repairing the stretched or torn ligaments surrounding the shoulder capsule following a traumatic dislocation to prevent chronic instability and re-injury.
Acromioclavicular (AC) Joint Reconstruction: Repairing or reinforcing the torn ligaments connecting the collarbone to the shoulder blade after severe direct impact to the side of the shoulder.
Patellar Tendon Repair: Reattaching the vital tendon that connects the kneecap to the shinbone following high-impact blunt force trauma.

Total Joint Replacement (Total Shoulders, Hip & Knee Arthroplasty)

When trauma causes unsalvageable joint destruction, post-traumatic arthritis, or complex fractures that cannot be repaired, joint preservation is no longer possible. Total joint arthroplasty involves permanently removing the damaged bone and cartilage surfaces of the shoulder, hip, or knee and replacing them with advanced, high-grade metal and medical-grade plastic implants. These procedures restore a smooth mechanical axis, eliminate chronic pain, and re-establish full functional mobility when conservative measures and native repairs fail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to have surgery?

Not necessarily, we believe in exhausting all evidence-based, conservative treatment before considering the operating room. Our multidisciplinary team begins by exploring all conservative, non-operative treatment options first—such as specialized physical therapy, targeted interventional pain injections, or targeted medications. Surgery is only recommended if these conservative therapies fail to provide relief, or if advanced imaging indicates it is immediately necessary for your structural safety and long-term recovery.

What is arthroscopic surgery, and what are its benefits?

Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical technique used to visualize, diagnose, and treat joint injuries. Instead of making a large, open incision that damages healthy muscle tissue, our orthopedic surgeons insert a tiny camera (an arthroscope) through a small incision to view the inside of the joint on a high-definition monitor. Through separate, miniature incisions, we use specialized micro-instruments to repair tears or remove damaged tissue. This technique vastly reduces post-operative pain, limits scarring, and drastically shortens your overall recovery time.

What should I expect regarding pain management right after surgery?

It is completely normal to experience localized pain and swelling immediately following a procedure. Our integrated team will provide you with a customized post-operative pain management plan before you leave the surgical facility. This may include a combination of prescribed short-term medications, targeted anti-inflammatory drugs, ice therapy, and specific elevation protocols to ensure you stay as comfortable as possible while your tissue heals.

When can I start physical therapy after my procedure?

The timing depends entirely on the type and complexity of your surgery. For some minimally invasive arthroscopic procedures, gentle movement or physical therapy may begin within days to prevent stiffness. For more complex reconstructions or structural stabilization, a period of immobilization in a brace or cast may be required before rehabilitation can safely start. Your surgeon will outline a precise, phased rehabilitation timeline at your first post-operative follow-up appointment.

How long will I be out of work following surgery?

Return-to-work timelines vary based on the physical demands of your job and the nature of your procedure. Patients with sedentary desk jobs can often return within 1 to 2 weeks, especially after minimally invasive treatments. If your job requires heavy lifting, driving, or prolonged standing, you may need anywhere from 6 weeks to several months of recovery and physical therapy before being safely cleared to return to full duty.

TESTIMONIALS

Customer Reviews

I'm elated to be receiving medical care from to me an all star doctors with the greatest staff. I am blessed. Dr. P. Shuler perform surgery on me and took all my fears and after thoughts away. My hat is off.

Diane Thomas

☆☆☆☆☆

The best staff. They take very good care of you. I have going to them since 1999 and they are awesome & respectful & pleasant. I would give them a 10 out of 10.

Laurene Francis