Whether you consider yourself an athlete or not, the game of life often results in injuries that require the care of medical professionals. Louisiana boasts a number of orthopedic and sports medicine resources to get patients back on track. Orthopedics is the branch of medicine concerned with diseases, injuries and conditions of the musculoskeletal system. Physicians and other medical specialists tend to various conditions relating to the body’s muscles and skeleton, including the joints, ligaments, tendons and nerves. It takes about 14 years of training to become an orthopedic doctor. Orthopedic doctors and surgeons, along with physical therapists, podiatrists, massage therapists and providers of orthopedic goods create a care-giving team to treat musculoskeletal injuries from swollen ankles to more
serious diseases.
Under the leadership of Dr. Raoul Rodriguez, Tulane Orthopaedics provides cutting-edge orthopedic care while training the next generation of outstanding orthopedic surgeons at Tulane Medical School. Utilizing the latest technologies, such as the three-dimensional imaging O-arm, Tulane Orthopaedic’s physicians can handle the most complex cases.
In addition to general orthopedic care, Tulane has leading specialists in the areas of surgical and non-surgical spine care; pediatric orthopedics and scoliosis; hand, foot and ankle surgery; total joint replacement; and sports medicine. Dr. Buddy Savoie of Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine is world-renowned for arthroscopic surgery on the shoulder and upper-extremities.
Tulane offers physical therapy for professional athletes and casual sports enthusiasts and patients often travel more than 100 miles to receive the best possible care. Whether Uptown at the Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine on the Tulane University campus, Tulane-Lakeside in Metairie for rehabilitation services, or Tulane Medical Center downtown, Tulane has a physician to solve all orthopedic problems.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 988-5800.
A Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at LSU Medical School and an expert in shoulder surgery, Dr. Neil J. Maki is well known throughout the area as an orthopedist specializing in sports injuries and shoulder work. Board-certified as an orthopedic surgeon, and a member of the prestigious American Shoulder and Elbow Society and of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, Dr. Maki is one of the few in the area who performs carpal tunnel procedures endoscopically. He also performs shoulder replacement surgery, shoulder arthoscopy and treats rotator cuff injuries. Specializing in Orthopaedic/Sports Medicine Surgery, Dr. Maki is past president of the Louisiana Orthopedic Association and has given multiple presentations on shoulder disorders at national and international meetings. He developed instrumentation and techniques for arthroscopic shoulder procedures and was the first surgeon in Louisiana to do shoulder arthroscopy. Dr. Maki is a team physician for the Nicholls State University athletic programs and has also served as a team physician for the New Orleans Saints training camp from 2000-’02.
Dr. Maki’s office is located at 525 St. Mary Street in Thibodaux. X-rays, ultrasound and physical therapy are also available at his clinic. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Maki, call (800) 521-2647 or (985) 446-6284.
Slidell Memorial Hospital offers full-service Surgical and Orthopedic facilities with pain management provided by the exclusive services of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medical Consultants, LLC, composed of five board-certified anesthesiologists available on a 24-hour-a-day basis. As the only St. Tammany Parish hospital-based rehabilitation unit to be awarded three-year accreditation by CARF for its comprehensive Integrated Inpatient Rehabilitation Program, Slidell Memorial Hospital boasts quicker recovery times to help patients return to their everyday life as quickly as possible.
Slidell Memorial Hospital stays up to date with the newest technologies in orthopedics. The department recently invested in a new state-of-the-art hana™ Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Table, which provides extensive maneuverability, continuous LED monitoring and a surgeon-controlled, powered femoral lift for improved surgical access. The new Hana™ Arthroplasty Table – one of just 100 in use across the country – allows for a less-invasive, single-incision anterior hip access with no disturbance of the lateral and posterior soft tissues, providing the patient immediate stability after their hip surgery and can cut the time spent in hospital post-surgery in half.
Slidell Memorial Hospital has appointments available. For more information, call (985) 643-2200 or visit www.slidellmemorial.org.
Dr. Edward Lang of Uptown Podiatry, a practice serving Greater New Orleans, offers expert podiatric services and provides advanced treatment options for the foot and ankle. As a podiatrist, Dr. Lang has a variety of treatment modalities to relieve foot and ankle pain. This may include prescribing orthotic devices, medication and performing inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures. He treats heel pain, diabetic foot wounds, plantar warts, achilles tendonitis and other common podiatric ailments. Uptown Podiatry is committed to patient education. Dr. Lang performs a variety of diagnostics and treatments to ensure total quality patient care. While Dr. Lang’s Uptown New Orleans office is closed for remodeling, he’s available for appointments in Metairie.
For more information or to make an appointment, call 897-3627, visit www.dredwardlang.com or contact the temporary Metairie location at 3939 Houma Blvd., Building 3, Suite 1, Metairie.
The doctors at Louisiana State University’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Sports Medicine/Total Joints Clinic includes Dr. Brett M. Cascio, a Major in the Army Reserve, and Dr. Vinod Dasa. Dr. Cascio completed his residency at Johns Hopkins and his sports medicine fellowship at the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colo., where he mastered the arthroscopic treatment of the knee, shoulder and hip; he’s one of the few physicians in the area performing hip arthroscopy. Dr. Cascio also treats ACL, rotator cuff and shoulder dislocations. Dr. Cascio is the head Orthopaedic Surgeon for the New Orleans Shell Shockers professional soccer team and Brother Martin High School. Dr. Dasa completed his residency at SUNY Buffalo and was fellowship trained at the Insall Scott Kelly Institute in New York in Sports Medicine and Joint Replacement Surgery – internationally recognized as one of the pioneering fellowships in total knee replacement surgery. Dr. Dasa specializes in joint replacement and uses gender specific knee replacements, MIS and computer navigation to treat patients. LSU’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Sports Medicine/Total Joints Clinic offers two locations to serve patients. Visit them at Ochsner – Kenner, 200 W Esplanade Ave., Suite 500 or at Ochsner – Baptist, 2820 Napoleon Ave., Suite 890.
Same day and emergency appointments are available. For more information or to make an appointment, call 412-1700.
The partners at Westside Orthopaedic Clinic deal with all aspects of orthopedic care. Dr. Ralph P. Katz, an orthopedic spine surgeon specializes in treating all spinal disorders. He is one of the few surgeons in the greater New Orleans area who performs minimally invasive spinal surgery. He is a member of the North American Spine Society. Dr. Fernando Sanchez is the clinic’s total joint physician and is an expert in total hip and knee replacements. Dr. Chris DiGrado a shoulder and hand specialist, who handles upper-extremity and sports-related shoulder injuries. All surgeons on staff are board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons and are members of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Also, all partners are clinical associate professors at Tulane’s department of Orthopaedic surgery. In addition to the surgeons’ services, the clinic offers in-house physical therapy, X-rays, EMG/NCS and bone density studies. Westside Orthopaedic Clinic is also the only Louisiana orthopedic clinic to offer Sonocur® by Sonorex. Sonocur® is a nonsurgical medical device used to treat and relieve the pain associated with soft tissue conditions like tendonitis and heel spurs.
For more information about Westside Orthopaedic Clinic, call 347-0243 or visit www.westsideortho.com. Most insurance plans accepted.
Dr. Alexis Waguespack is a fellowship-trained spine specialist, providing treatment of cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine disorders and trauma, including herniated discs, spinal stenosis (pinched nerve), tumors and infection. She also treats adult scoliosis and osteoporotic fractures. “I try things conservatively, not operatively,” says Waguespack. “But if surgery is necessary I do minimally invasive procedures.” Dr. Waguespack uses kyphoplasty for osteoporatic fractures, where cement is injected into the bone in order to restore height and strength and provide immediate pain relief, allowing patients to stand and walk again.
Dr. Waguespack and Spinecare Medical Group offer orthopedic services and pain management services. Dr. Waguespack is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and a member of the North American Spine Society, Cervical Spine Research Society and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. She maintains two offices in the metropolitan New Orleans area to serve the needs of her patients. Her east bank office is located on the Interstate-10 Service Road North at the corner of Lake Villa Drive. Her West Bank office is located in the Meadowcrest Professional Building next to Oschner Medical Center on the West Bank.
For more information, call 887-7207.
Located in the heart of St. Tammany Parish, just off Interstate-12 in Lacombe, the North Institute offers a range of orthopedic and neurosurgical services. The physician staff of six board-certified specialists provide expertise in orthopedics, neurosurgery and physical medicine and rehabilitation. An in-house physical therapy facility provides a continuum of care for North Institute patients.
Dr. John B. Logan, orthopedic spine surgeon, works with neurosurgeons Donald D. Dietze and Alan M. Weems in the treatment of adult spine conditions. The North neurosurgeons also perform brain surgeries. Dr. Richard P. Texada Jr., general orthopedic surgeon, is fellowship-trained in sports medicine. He offers the latest techniques in shoulder and knee procedures as well as total joint replacement. The North Institute physician staff is completed by Drs. Susan Bryant-Snure and Michael A. Braxton, providing patients with non-surgical and pain management treatments.
Staff will work with patients on all insurances. For more information or to make an appointment, call (985) 871-4114 or visit www.northinstitute.com for patient policies, download registration forms or view a map.
Southern Orthopaedic Specialists is the comprehensive orthopaedic clinic of metro-New Orleans. Patients find their conditions treated competently, rapidly and efficiently without traveling from place to place. SOS clinic provides trained physicians and therapeutic staff to treat all major orthopaedic conditions, diseases or injuries. SOS fellowship-trained sub-specialists include spine, hand, foot and ankle, joint (knee, shoulder and hip) replacement and joint revisions, reconstruction and sports medicine. SOS treats injured workers and provides in-house licensed physical therapy, occupational and certified hand therapy, X-ray and MRI imaging.
The SOS physicians have served the metro New Orleans public since 1945. All SOS physicians are board-certified or board-eligible. SOS provides team physician services to the New Orleans Saints, many area high schools, colleges and professions, baseball, basketball and football teams
The SOS website, currently under re-construction www.southern-ortho.com, will supply patients with online registration, online appointment options, office policies and procedures, online office and insurance forms, current list of insurance plans accepted and email links with the office.
SOS appointments are available at either 2731 Napoleon Ave., in New Orleans or 3800 Houma Blvd., in Metairie. For more information or to make an appointment, call 897-6351.
Southshore Physical Therapy is Metairie’s premier outpatient physical therapy clinic specializing in the treatment of orthopedic, post-surgical and sports related conditions of the extremities and spine. Locally owned and operated, Southshore Physical Therapy’s mission is to provide the highest quality physical therapy care in a fun environment. Physical Therapist and Owner Lee Couret and his passionate team create patient-specific treatment plans based on the latest research that help return their patients to their highest level of function. The compassionate staff is committed to making a positive impact in their patient’s lives by making their whole physical therapy experience fun. For more information, call 885-8969 or visit www.southshorephysicaltherapy.com.
Elizabeth Winkler-Schmit and Lisa George are the co-owners of Magnolia Physical Therapy. They bought a failing physical therapy practice that is now Magnolia Physical Therapy a month before Hurricane Katrina and have since returned to rebuild not only their flooded homes but to rejuvenate their business. Since opening their doors two and a half years ago, Schmit and George have more than quadrupled their business. Their spine program has helped numerous residents of the New Orleans area since being implemented, as well as earn them the utmost respect from physicians and other healthcare professionals around the city.
The trained staff at Magnolia Physical Therapy offers physical therapy, massage therapy and wellness services, including Sports-Specific Exercise, Myofascial Release and Spinal Mobilization. They continue to expand both staff and services, a 4,000-square-foot stand-alone facility is planned for the future, as Magnolia Physical Therapy grows.
For more information, call 733-0254, email info@magnoliatherapyla.com or visit 990 North Corporate Drive, Suite 305, Harahan.
Even with the best medical care, patients need the right equipment to regain their mobility and quality of life. In business since 1972, Jefferson Orthopedic Appliances offers orthopedic appliances (for example, braces) or prosthetic devices (for example, artificial limbs). Board-certified in orthotics and prosthetics, the professionals at Jefferson Orthopedic Appliances are trained to evaluate, fit and fabricate orthotic and prosthetic devices. With a doctor’s referral, they can custom fit any type of brace or artificial limb and fitter’s services are available for men, women and children. They also counsel patients in the use of the devices and offer support and understanding. Each prosthesis is uniquely designed for the individual patient’s need, assuring comfort, function and ease of movement.
For more information, call 888-0213, visit 1612 Clearview Parkway in Metairie; in Marrero, call 347-2324 or visit 909 Avenue C.
Moon Orthopedics Inc., is a local prosthetic and orthotic care facility. They evaluate, fabricate and custom fit all types of artificial limbs and orthopedic braces.
John E. Moon, CPO, is certified by the American Board for Certification. He has over 22 years of experience and has a passion for making and adapting “whatever it takes” to allow his patient (child or adult) regain his or her independence. John Moon says that he and the staff at Moon Orthopedics are never satisfied until optimal fit and function is achieved.
Moon Orthopedics’ accepts all major insurances including VA, Medicare and Medicaid. Moon Orthopedics has offices at 3634 Magazine St., New Orleans and at 139 Bellemeade Blvd., in Gretna. For more information or to make an appointment, call 391-9141. n
