Orthopedic Services: Expert Bone & Joint Care in Athens, GA
At St. Mary’s Health Care System, we provide comprehensive orthopedic care for patients throughout Athens-Clarke County, Oconee County, Madison County, and all of Northeast Georgia. Our experienced team diagnoses and treats a wide range of bone, joint, muscle, and ligament conditions using advanced techniques and personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient’s needs.
Helping Northeast Georgia Stay Active, Mobile, and Pain-Free
Why Orthopedic Care Matters
At St. Mary’s Health Care System, we provide comprehensive orthopedic care for patients throughout Athens-Clarke County, Oconee County, Madison County, and all of Northeast Georgia. Our experienced team diagnoses and treats a wide range of bone, joint, muscle, and ligament conditions using advanced techniques and personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient’s needs.
Orthopedics focuses on the care of the musculoskeletal system, which includes your bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. You might consider seeing an orthopedic specialist if you’re experiencing ongoing joint pain, stiffness, limited mobility, or an injury such as a fracture, sprain, or sports-related issue. Whether your symptoms are new or have been building over time, early evaluation can help prevent further damage, reduce pain, and restore your ability to move with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Orthopedic Care
Orthopedic care is a branch of medicine focused on diagnosing, treating, and preventing conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system — your bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Orthopedic specialists, also called orthopedic doctors or orthopedic surgeons, help patients manage everything from chronic arthritis and joint pain to acute injuries like fractures and torn ligaments. At St. Mary’s in Athens, GA, our orthopedic team offers both surgical and non-surgical treatment options to help you move better and live without pain.
Orthopedic specialists treat a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, including:
- Arthritis (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis)
- Fractures and broken bones
- Sports injuries (ACL, meniscus, rotator cuff)
- Joint degeneration and chronic joint pain
- Back and neck pain
- Tendonitis, bursitis, and overuse injuries
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Shoulder, hip, and knee conditions
- Spine conditions (herniated discs, spinal stenosis)
If you’re experiencing persistent pain, swelling, stiffness, or limited range of motion in any joint or muscle, an orthopedic evaluation can help determine the cause and the best course of treatment.
St. Mary’s offers a comprehensive range of orthopedic services, including diagnostic evaluations, non-surgical treatments (physical therapy, injections, medication management), minimally invasive surgery, total and partial joint replacement for hips and knees, robotic-assisted surgery using Mako SmartRobotics, spine surgery, sports medicine, and fracture care. We also provide a complete recovery continuum including inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient therapy, and home health care.
You should consider seeing an orthopedic specialist if you’re experiencing joint pain that lasts more than a few days, swelling or stiffness that doesn’t improve with rest, difficulty performing everyday activities like walking or climbing stairs, an injury that limits your range of motion, or pain that disrupts your sleep. Early evaluation often leads to better outcomes — many orthopedic conditions are easier to treat before they progress.
No. Many orthopedic conditions can be effectively treated without surgery. Non-surgical options include physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injections, bracing and support devices, activity modification, and regenerative therapies. Our orthopedic team always explores conservative treatments first and recommends surgery only when it offers a clear benefit over non-surgical approaches.
Minimally invasive orthopedic surgery uses smaller incisions and specialized instruments to perform procedures with less disruption to surrounding tissues. Compared to traditional open surgery, minimally invasive techniques can result in less pain after the procedure, smaller scars, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery times. At St. Mary’s, our surgeons are experienced in minimally invasive approaches for joint repair, ligament reconstruction, and other orthopedic procedures.
Robotic-assisted orthopedic surgery uses advanced robotic technology to help surgeons plan and perform joint replacement procedures with greater precision. St. Mary’s uses the Mako SmartRobotics system by Stryker for total hip and total knee replacement. The system creates a 3D model of the patient’s anatomy before surgery, allowing the surgeon to customize the surgical plan. During the procedure, the robotic arm assists with bone preparation and implant positioning, which may lead to better alignment, improved implant longevity, and faster recovery.
Recovery after orthopedic surgery varies depending on the procedure, but our team provides detailed guidance at every stage. Most patients begin physical therapy shortly after surgery to rebuild strength and mobility. For joint replacement patients, our continuum of care may include inpatient rehabilitation at our Center for Rehabilitative Medicine, outpatient physical therapy, and home health care services. Many patients return to daily activities within weeks, with full recovery typically taking several months, depending on the procedure.
Yes. Physical therapy is a core component of orthopedic treatment — both before and after surgery, as well as for conditions treated without surgery. At St. Mary’s, our Outpatient Rehabilitation Center provides individualized therapy programs designed to restore strength, flexibility, and function. Therapy may include manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, balance training, and sport-specific conditioning.
There are several steps you can take to protect your musculoskeletal health and reduce the risk of orthopedic problems. Maintaining a healthy weight reduces stress on weight-bearing joints. Regular exercise — especially low-impact activities like walking, swimming, and cycling — strengthens the muscles that support your joints. A calcium- and vitamin D-rich diet supports bone density. Wearing proper footwear and using protective equipment during sports can help prevent injuries. And if you do experience joint pain or an injury, seeking prompt evaluation can prevent small problems from becoming serious conditions.
St. Mary’s Emergency Center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is equipped to evaluate and treat acute orthopedic injuries, including fractures, dislocations, and severe sprains. For non-emergency orthopedic concerns, our orthopedic team at St. Mary’s Orthopedic Specialists can often accommodate same-week appointments. Call (706) 389-3590 to schedule.
Orthopedics at St. Mary's Health Care System
Certified by the Joint Commission
St. Mary’s Hospital is proud to be certified by the Joint Commission for Spine surgery.
The Joint Commission developed these specialty certification programs in response to the growing number of patients undergoing these procedures. Certification indicates that St. Mary’s adheres to the Joint Commission’s evidence-based patient care standards for safety, pain management, quality-of-life issues, functional mobility, and return to normal daily activities.
Spine Surgery
Spine surgery is an important component of orthopedic surgery. St. Mary’s is the first hospital in the Athens area to earn the Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval for Spine Surgery.
Anterior Hip Replacements
St. Mary’s and our highly experienced orthopedic surgeons offer the anterior approach to hip replacement, an innovative method that can spare tissue and improve recovery time. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about Anterior Hip Replacements at St. Mary’s, please call Beth Ricketson, RN, at (706) 389-3610.
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