How To Find The Best Orthopedic Surgeon Near Me in Gilbert AZ and the East Valley
There are plenty of orthopedic surgeons in the East Valley with excellent training, certifications, and many are fairly qualified. But how do you know which one is the BEST?
You deserve the best for you. Scroll down to the section which discusses the body part you need help with below.
Note: We don’t research or vet foot, ankle, or hand surgeons. If you have a foot/ankle or hand problem, please seek help elsewhere.
Best Hip Surgeons in Gilbert and the East Valley
Most hip pain that lasts more than 12 weeks is caused either by arthritis or a tear in the labrum of hip. Do you know which one is affecting you? Arthritis shows up on a plain x-ray. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is required to show a labral tear.
Total hip replacement is the definitive treatment for hip pain due to severe arthritis that fails physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and an injection when appropriate. We certify orthopedic surgeons for hip replacement if they meet ALL the following criteria:
- Board certified orthopedic surgeon.
- Fellowship trained in joint replacement.
- Perform a high volume of total hip replacements (>50 per year).
- Use registry proven implants that are not likely to be recalled.
- Have a robotic assistant, and
- Use a minimally invasive approach (anterior, direct superior or superPATH) so they can operate out of an ambulatory surgery center.
Orthopedic surgeons certified for Total Hip Replacement near Gilbert are shown here:
The second most common cause of intractable hip pain is a labral tear. The key to arthroscopic labral tear repair is finding an orthopedic surgeon who does a high volume. We do not list these separately, but you can call around your community and usually find the right person.
Best Neck and Low Back Surgeons in Gilbert and the East Valley
Spine doctors come in 3 different flavors: pain management, neurosurgeons, and orthopedic spine specialists. The key is to find one who is board certified and performs microsurgery using minimally invasive techniques. We will discuss the features of surgeons you should look for by procedure below.
Laminectomy Surgeons in Gilbert AZ & East Valley:
Laminectomy for spinal stenosis is done by neurosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons. The preferred minimally invasive form of this operation currently being done is with a specialized retractor, such as the Medtronic METRx (Minimal Exposure Tubular Retractor) system. Once you have a surgeon in mind, call and ask the office if the doctor uses this equipment. If not, try again.
Microdiscectomy Surgeons in Gilbert AZ & East Valley:
Epidural injection and Microdiscectomy surgeons for herniated discs require a tag team. Start out with epidural injection by a pain management doctor who is double board certified in anesthesia or physiatry, and pain. The spine surgeon should use minimally invasive surgical technique such as the microscope or endoscope for visualization on all procedures.
RFA Surgeons in Gilbert AZ & East Valley:
Radiofrequency ablation for low back pain due to arthritis is best done by a double board certified pain management doctor.
Spinal Fusion Surgeons in Gilbert AZ & East Valley:
Spinal fusion for spondylolisthesis or instability in the low back is best done by a neurosurgeon or orthopedic spine surgeon who offers a minimally invasive approach and image guidance for placement of pedicle screws in the low back. The image guidance can come from an O-arm or robot. In the neck anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for cervical radiculopathy and neck pain can be done well by any competent spine surgeon.
Best Knee Surgeons in Gilbert and the East Valley
Knee pain that lasts longer than 12 weeks is usually due to arthritis, or a tear in a meniscus or anterior cruciate ligament.
The definitive treatment for severe arthritis is partial or total knee replacement. We certify knee replacement surgeons using criteria similar to those we use for the hip. The Best Practice certified knee replacement surgeons in an around Gilbert are:
Meniscal and anterior cruciate ligament tears are best treated surgically using an arthroscopic approach. This type of surgery requires extra training that orthopedic surgeons obtain in a Sports Medicine fellowship. We do not yet certify sports medicine orthopedists, but you can find a list of the board certified ones here: AAOS. Set the method of search to “Choose a specialty,” and set the specialty to “Sports Medicine.”
Best Shoulder Surgeons in Gilbert and the East Valley
Just like with knees, the best shoulder surgeons wear two hats. They start out as board certified orthopedic surgeons, then go on to a year of specialty training in arthroscopic surgery and achieve double board certification in Sports Medicine. The title is misleading: most knee and shoulder problems are not due to sports. In addition to training and double board certification, arthroscopic rotator cuff and Bankart tear repairs require high volume and training for surgical excellence.
If you have shoulder pain due to arthritis, then find an orthopedic surgeon who does at least 50 total shoulder replacements a year. Volume is key.
